The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) has officially confirmed the arrival of La Nina conditions, which means we are in for another record-breaking hot, dry summer in Canterbury, Otago and Southland. "This La Nina overall, is tracking on the borderline of moderate to strong. He said the 2017-18 La Nina brought New Zealand’s hottest summer on record, and given its similarities to the present La Nina system, it was likely temperature records would tumble again this summer. The La Nina of 2017-18 coincided with the strongest marine heatwave ever observed around New Zealand. "If current ocean and atmosphere trends continue, marine heatwave conditions will be possible in November and/or December."

Source: Otago Daily Times November 01, 2020 19:07 UTC