Over 1 500 lightning strikes pummeled the South Island during a six-hour storm that hammered Canterbury, with destructive hailstones around 4.3 cm (1.7 inches) in diameter hitting Timaru on Wednesday, November 20, 2019. It was the second storm to hit the region in…
A tornado hit Christchurch in New Zealand on November 18, 2019, leaving a trail of damage from central suburbs to coastal areas, according to the nation's Fire and Emergency. The twister injured two people, scattered debris through the air, and disrupted power…
Volcanic unrest continues at Whakaari/White Island and some monitored parameters show further increases in activity. Hazards on the island are now greater than during the past few weeks, forcing authorities to raise the Volcanic Alert Level to 2 and Aviation Color…
Volcanic unrest continues at Whakaari/White Island and some monitored parameters show an increase in activity, with a level of uncertainty about what this means, GeoNet Duty Volcanologist Yannik Behr reported October 30, 2019. Hazards on the island remain unchanged…
Despite the upcoming summer season, a huge storm is expected to hit New Zealand this week, bringing strong winds, snow, and waves over 9 m (30 feet). Severe weather is set to begin in the South Island on Tuesday afternoon, October 22, with a front dropping the…
A landslide has been developing for some time on State Highway 4, between Whanganui and Raetihi in the district of Ruapehu in New Zealand. Reports on October 9, 2019, said the recurring landslide has destroyed roads, resulting in considerable local disruption. The…
Small, muddy, geyser-like explosions are taking place in the active crater at Whakaari/White Island volcano over the past three weeks, GNS Science reported on September 26, 2019. The explosions are occurring due to a rising crater lake drowning the active vents. GNS…
Torrential rains caused serious flooding and slips in Coromandel, North Island, New Zealand forcing various roads to close on September 10, 2019. Although forecasts stated that 110 mm (4 inches) of rain is expected, over 260 mm (10 inches) of rainfall hit The…
Banned pesticides in several European countries were found in New Zealand waterways and agricultural streams, according to a study by a team from the University of Otago. The study was led by Associate Professor Christoph Matthaei from the University of Otago's…
A tornado type waterspout hit Auckland's waterfront on August 12, 2019, causing severe damage. The tornado caused many yachts at Westhaven Marina to lose their moorings, vehicles got swept into the ocean, one catamaran was overturned and a yacht was struck by…
