More than 880 000 lightning strikes have been recorded over the Tasman Sea in 24 hours to Tuesday, March 7, 2023. This weather system is moving toward New Zealand’s South Island and is forecast to eventually move up to the North Island late in the week.
An earthquake with a magnitude of 4.4 struck beneath Lake Taupō, New Zealand on March 5, 2023, followed by more than 20 aftershocks. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at 1, which denotes minor volcanic unrest, and the Aviation Color Code is Green. Although there is no immediate risk, the potential for eruption hazards cannot be entirely ruled out, and it is essential that visitors and residents follow the recommended safety guidelines.
A very strong earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.9 hit Kermadec Islands, New Zealand at 06:41 UTC on March 4, 2023. The agency is reporting a depth of 205.7 km (128 miles). EMSC is reporting M6.9 at a depth of 150 km (93 miles).
February 2023 was a month of extremes for New Zealand’s weather and climate. While some parts of the North Island received at least 400% of their normal February rainfall and experienced the 2nd wettest summer on record, the South Island faced below-normal rainfall and the 5th driest summer on record. Cyclone Gabrielle brought destructive winds and historic extreme rainfall, resulting in widespread destruction and loss of life. The nationwide average temperature was 1.1 °C (2 °F) above the February average, making it the 3rd warmest summer on record. Despite the heavy rainfall, some locations experienced high sunshine hours.
MetService, the national weather agency of New Zealand, issued an Orange Warning for Heavy Rain for the Hawke’s Bay region, as a complex weather system continues to affect the country. The agency has grave concerns for vulnerable areas due to the already saturated terrain.
A strong earthquake registered by the GeoNet as M6.3 hit Cook Strait, New Zealand at 06:38 UTC (19:38 LT) on February 15, 2023. The agency is reporting a depth of 50 km (31 miles). USGS is reporting it as M5.7 at a depth of 74.3 km (46 miles); EMSC M5.7 at a depth of 67 km (41 miles).
New Zealand’s North Island has been severely impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle over the past couple of days, with floods, landslides, and ocean swells leaving many people stranded on rooftops. The storm, which caused extensive damage to homes and infrastructure, also closed numerous roads, canceled hundreds of flights, and left about 225 000 people without power. At least 4 people have been killed.
A deep earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.1 hit Kermadec Islands, New Zealand at 09:18 UTC on February 13, 2023. The agency is reporting a depth of 374 km (232 miles). EMSC is reporting the same magnitude and depth.
Despite being downgraded from a tropical cyclone, Gabrielle is intensifying and spreading strong winds and heavy rain across a wider area affecting the whole of the North Island in some way.
Thousands of buildings in New Zealand’s Auckland area are currently unsafe for living after the region was hit by extreme rainfall and severe flooding at the end of January. The amount of rain that fell in a matter of days made January 2023 Auckland’s wettest month in at least the last 170 years. The flooding has put the public’s focus on nature-based alternatives to traditional stormwater systems.
