Weather

Rapid drying comes after a growthy spring, which has created a heavy fuel load.

Summer is being pretty good to us, Phil Duncan says.

Forecaster gives current event six or seven out of 10 on seriousness scale.

Farmers up and down the islands are enjoying one of the best seasons in a while – but still keeping an eye out for dry.

Months of relentless weather events have left even Phil Duncan a bit twitchy every time it rains hard.

Repost’s donation of 12,400 recycled posts for use on farms pummelled by Cyclone Gabrielle is a “fantastic demonstration of support".

Relentless rain and sodden conditions have made it incredibly difficult for growers to get crops underway.

There is no doubt that ALL forecasters got the eastern North Island’s outlook wrong, says Phil Duncan.

Animal health support after floods and Gabrielle.

It’s the high pressure zones north and west of NZ that will make good on El Niño’s ‘hot and dry’ threat, says Phil Duncan.

The Plymouth Brethren Christian Church has now donated $1.4m worth of posts, wire and more.

Wairoa and Gisborne look to new Provincial Growth Fund as they mop after yet more heavy rain.

Delayed El Niño drought prospects blamed for pullback in GDT prices after surge.

Phil Duncan’s Spidey senses have been warning him about the drier pattern that is now emerging.

FMG has resolved 80% of Cyclone Gabrielle and Auckland flooding insurance claims.

Many have Commence the Re-Fence to thank for helping relieve rebuild pain.

More high pressure will encourage more westerlies over NZ, says Phil Duncan.

Phil Duncan has a conversation that highlights how farmers and forecasters can work together intelligently.

Summer 2023/24 will be running hot and cold, with widely divergent conditions over the North and South Islands.

For many, the financial hurt continues from income disruption and damage wreaked during that storm and flooding, “never mind whatever hardship might be ahead of them”.

Cyclone Lola could mean ours is a broken El Niño, and that’s a good thing, says Phil Duncan.

Economic factors may mean that some farmers will not be able to buy their way out of feed shortfalls, Feds warns.

Orchardists preparing for rough weekend, but with most lambing finished, late spring falls and flurries were welcomed by farmers.

Phil Duncan warns farmers to slip, slap, slop as NZ’s unjustly high rays start to sting.

Phil Duncan takes the country’s temperature and gauges its rainfall.

Phil Duncan focuses on the shorter term and likes what he sees.

The well-known bull sale shed was relatively unharmed, but the farm suffered extensive damage to several other buildings. 

In other words, the weather pattern has been emerging for several weeks now and many around NZ have noticed the change to milder and drier conditions. 

Arrival of El Niño has fire services on the alert.

Today’s threat comes from high river flows breaching their banks.

A ‘significant event, and particularly impactful for the rural community given the time of the year’.

It takes a very particular set-up to break 40degC in New Zealand, says Phil Duncan.

Otago Regional Council installs remote solar-powered gauge as it extends flood warning system.

A gradually drier and drier weather pattern will emerge in the east and north.

The first signs of the weather system are apparent in the dry conditions taking hold in eastern regions.

Phil Duncan takes NZ’s temperature as spring arrives in NZ.