Thursday, 07 December 2023
KaitaiaWhangareiDargavilleAucklandThamesTaurangaHamiltonWhakataneRotoruaTokoroaTe KuitiTaumarunuiTaupoGisborneNew PlymouthNapierHastingsDannevirkeWhanganuiPalmerston NorthLevinParaparaumuMastertonWellingtonMotuekaNelsonBlenheimWestportReeftonKaikouraGreymouthHokitikaChristchurchAshburtonTimaruWanakaOamaruQueenstownDunedinGoreInvercargill
NZ HeraldThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay Of Plenty TimesRotorua Daily PostHawke's Bay TodayWhanganui ChronicleThe Stratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu CourierVivaEat WellOneRoofDRIVEN Car GuideThe CountryPhoto SalesiHeart RadioRestaurant Hub
Voyager 2023 media awards
Subscribe

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
Home / New Zealand

Explained: Why New Zealand will face heatwave similar to UK

Georgina Campbell
By
Georgina Campbell
20 Jul, 2022 03:40 AM3 mins to read
Saveshare

Share this article

facebookcopy linktwitterlinkedinredditemail
The heat wave across Western Europe continues as parts of the UK reached record breaking highs. Video / @CommsCreatives via Storyful / AP

EXPLAINER:

It's a matter of when not if New Zealand will experience the same sweltering conditions described as "absolute hell" in parts of Britain.

A "major incident" has been declared with several large fires raging across London as 34 weather stations around the country recorded their highest ever temperatures.

A record-breaking high of 40.3C was recorded at the Royal Air Force base of Coningsby in Lincolnshire in England's east.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

But as it turns out, New Zealand has actually experienced even hotter temperatures than that before.

NIWA meteorologist Ben Noll said the highest temperature on record in New Zealand occurred in 1973 when it surged to 42.4C in Rangiora.

This was when a perfect storm of conditions led to an air mass from Australia crossing the Tasman Sea.

Noll said the characteristics of the air mass almost "returned to their Australian desert-like state" when it descended the Southern Alps into North Canterbury.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

"It's more of a matter of when rather than if - I think we will see such temperatures again one day and perhaps as we go later in the century, even more commonly," he said.

The effects of climate change will only increase the frequency of heatwaves and their severity, Noll said.

"You're kind of loading the dice, increasing the odds to observe very very high temperatures."

In the future it wouldn't just be Rangiora with a record-breaking temperature, it could be several locations across the eastern South Island, Noll said.

🗣️ New Zealand’s weather is proving no exception to the record-breaking extremes occurring around the globe.

The first six months of 2022 have been Aotearoa New Zealand’s 2nd warmest on record, sitting 1.2˚C above the long-term average from January-June.https://t.co/q8KUnMB6PI pic.twitter.com/PcMMVKRzr8

— NIWA Weather (@NiwaWeather) July 20, 2022

The type of weather pattern that sent the temperature sky-rocketing in 1973 is the same set of circumstances Noll expected would be associated with similar extremes in the future.

He expected forecasters would be able to issue a warning three to five days ahead of such an event.

While London is literally smouldering right now, New Zealand is pretty warm too.

Analysis undertaken by NIWA meteorologists has revealed the first six months of 2022 were Aotearoa's second warmest on record.

With an average national temperature of 15˚C, the period between January and June was 1.2˚C above the long-term normal.

Noll said if oceans continued to run warmer than average, then New Zealand could very well be in line for intense heat this summer.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

But just because it has been warmer than usual and the UK is experiencing a heatwave, doesn't necessarily mean New Zealand will also be slammed by sizzling temperatures.

Firstly, the UK's heatwave is being driven by a surge of warm air being driven off Northern Africa, not Australia.

Secondly, every summer has its own characteristics, Noll said.

Last summer more winds came from the east, off the Pacific Ocean, which meant typical hotspots like Canterbury and Hawke's Bay were not quite as hot if there was a westerly wind, he said.

This far out, it was difficult to predict exactly what summer would bring, Noll said.

"Overall, we're kind of in stride with the rest of the world, which is heating up and seeing more extreme temperatures."

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
Saveshare

Share this article

facebookcopy linktwitterlinkedinredditemail

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

New Zealand

Lotto luck for Hamilton player

06 Dec 05:25 PM
New Zealand

Tempers fly as 54th Parliament kicks off, Mitchell releases expectations for Coster

06 Dec 05:07 PM
New Zealand

'Beautiful kaupapa': Fill the Bus greeted with generous donations

06 Dec 05:05 PM
New Zealand

Road extension facing ‘frustrating’ delays

06 Dec 04:00 PM

Toy trends for Christmas

sponsored

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

Lotto luck for Hamilton player

Lotto luck for Hamilton player

06 Dec 05:25 PM

The lucky Waikato punter was one of 13 second division winners.

Tempers fly as 54th Parliament kicks off, Mitchell releases expectations for Coster

Tempers fly as 54th Parliament kicks off, Mitchell releases expectations for Coster

06 Dec 05:07 PM
'Beautiful kaupapa': Fill the Bus greeted with generous donations

'Beautiful kaupapa': Fill the Bus greeted with generous donations

06 Dec 05:05 PM
Road extension facing ‘frustrating’ delays

Road extension facing ‘frustrating’ delays

06 Dec 04:00 PM
More houses coming
sponsored

More houses coming

About NZMEHelp & SupportContact UsSubscribe to NZ HeraldHouse Rules
Manage Your Print SubscriptionNZ Herald E-EditionAdvertise with NZMEBook Your AdPrivacy Policy
Terms of UseCompetition Terms & ConditionsSubscriptions Terms & Conditions
© Copyright 2023 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP