Dunedin has recorded its wettest day of the century, with a staggering 130.8 mm (5.15 inches) of rain falling in just 24 hours between October 3 and October 4, 2024, as a moisture plume from the Tasman Sea drenched parts of New Zealand’s Otago region.
Satellite imagery has captured a continuous low-level eruption at New Zealand’s White Island volcano, with an ash plume rising to 2 100 m (7 000 feet) above sea level and drifting southeast at 9 km/h (5 mph) on Thursday, August 22, 2024. The eruption prompted 10 flight cancellations, according to Air New Zealand.
White Island’s volcanic activity has intensified with increased gas emissions from a new vent, confirmed during a monitoring flight on August 14, 2024. GeoNet reported the findings on August 16, noting that while volcanic ash concentrations have risen, the likelihood of impact on the mainland remains very low.
An increase in sulfur dioxide emissions, alongside minor eruptions observed on August 11, 2024, suggests the presence of shallow magma beneath the White Island volcano in New Zealand. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 3 since August 9, with continued monitoring under difficult weather conditions.
A notable eruption took place at White Island volcano, an active stratovolcano in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, on August 9, 2024, dispersing minor volcanic ash to the east of the volcano. The Volcanic Alert Level was raised to Level 3, and the Aviation Colour Code was increased to Orange. The activity was most active between 01:00 and 03:00 UTC (13:00 and 15:00 LT).
A short-lived, vigorous steam and gas plume was observed rising above the White Island volcano in New Zealand on July 26, 2024. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 2 (moderate to heightened unrest), and the Aviation Color Code remains Yellow.
Continuous moderate gas and steam plum emissions have been rising from White Island volcano since July 10, 2024. Although the Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 2, eruptions can still occur with little or no warning.
Vigorous steaming was observed at the Whakaari / White Island volcano on July 3, 2024. The steaming increased during the morning hours (LT) and is now more visible from the coast.
A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.2 hit the Kermadec Islands region at 15:54 UTC on May 31, 2024. The agency is reporting a depth of 19.6 km (12.3 miles). EMSC is reporting the same magnitude and depth.
A very bright fireball was seen over Otago and Canterbury, New Zealand at 08:04 UTC (21:04 LT) on March 13, 2024. Analysis shows that some 0.5 km (1.1 pounds) of the object survived the entry and ended up scattered on the ground in MacKenzie Country. A public search for meteorites is scheduled for March 21.
