A future forecast for summer's end - of extreme heavy rains

NIWA's Annual Climate Summary shows the average temperature was about 13 degrees -- the 10th warmest year on record.

Eight of New Zealand's warmest years have been in the past 10.

2022 was the warmest.

NIWA's Principal Scientist Chris Brandolino says this year, we're seeing El Niño-like patterns.

He says there'll surges of North and North east winds, making heavy rain events likely for the upper North Island.