Although El Niño and La Niña (collectively known as El Niño-Southern Oscillation or ENSO) have an important influence on New Zealand’s climate, it accounts for less than 25 percent of the year-to year variance in seasonal rainfall and temperature at most locations. Nevertheless, its effects can be significant.

El Niño and La Niña are opposite phases of a naturally occurring global climate cycle known as the El Niño Southern Oscillation, or ENSO for short. ENSO influences rainfall, temperature, and wind patterns around the world, including New Zealand. El Niño and La Niña episodes occur on average every few years and last up to around a year or two.

New Zealand’s climate is about to take a “rapid turn”, a meteorologist says, giving Kiwis a taste of the hotter, drier summer much of the country will experience under El Niño.

El Niño continued during October and will likely intensify over the next three months. It has around a 100% chance of persisting during this time. There’s an 80% chance of El Niño continuing through autumn, maintaining an important influence on Aotearoa New Zealand’s climate.

Jun 14, 2023 · El Niño can make New Zealand drier in the east, wetter in the west, and cooler overall, with disruption always on the cards, writes climate scientist Dr Kevin Trenberth.

El Niño can bring increased risks of drought and water scarcity, wildfire, heat-related human and animal health concerns, along with flooding. It’s important to have a plan and to be prepared. What is El Niño? Typically, El Niño peaks during early summer and weakens in the following year.

An El Niño climate pattern expected to spell a hot, dry summer for New Zealand’s north-east is looking to peak unusually late – meaning its mix of influences could linger on through next autumn.

El Niño is a climate pattern that can cause weather to be more extreme in areas of the Pacific Ocean, including New Zealand. MPI and other agencies help farmers and growers affected by El Niño events. Find out what you can do to prepare, and where to get advice and information.

It influences rainfall, temperature, and wind patterns in New Zealand, and globally. In New Zealand an El Niño phase in summer can bring increased westerly winds, more rain in the west, and dryness in the east; in winter it can lead to more frequent, cooler southerly winds.

Jun 12, 2023 · El Niño is officially here, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and with it comes a change from the La Niña weather patterns New Zealand has experienced for the...