NIWA Drought Index

New Zealand Drought Index (NZDI) - 5 February 2024

 NIWA Drought Index and Hotspot Forecast

New Zealand Drought Index (NZDI) - 5 February 2024

As of 5 February, the New Zealand Drought Index (NZDI) map above shows that abnormally dry conditions are currently found in parts of Northland, Auckland, much of the lower North Island, Tasman, Nelson, Marlborough, Canterbury, Otago, and far northern Southland. 

Very dry to extremely dry conditions are located in southern Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, eastern Tasman, Nelson, Marlborough, parts of Canterbury, and northern Otago, while small areas of meteorological drought are indicated in southern Marlborough and far northern Canterbury. 

Please note: some hotspots in the text above may not correspond with the NZDI map. This difference exists because the NZDI uses additional dryness indices, including one which integrates the rainfall deficit over the past 60 days. Changes are therefore slower to appear in the NZDI compared to soil moisture anomaly maps that are instantaneously updated.

Hotspot Forecast

Soil moisture anomaly (mm) at 9am on 06/02/2024

Pictured above: Soil Moisture Anomaly Map, relative to this time of year. The map show soil moisture anomalies over the past weeks. NIWA.

A weekly update describing soil moisture patterns across the country to show where dry to extremely dry conditions are occurring or imminent. Regions experiencing significant soil moisture deficits are deemed “hotspots”. Persistent hotspot regions have the potential to develop into drought.

Recent rainfall and current soil moisture conditions:

South Island:

• Widespread rainfall amounts of more than 200 mm affected Fiordland in the past week, while the West Coast generally received 50-100 mm.
• Lower Southland received 30-60 mm, while the rest of Southland, Otago, and the upper South Island generally received up to 25 mm.  
• However, much of Canterbury received less than 10 mm.
• While many areas didn’t see much change in soil moisture in the past week, some increases were observed in the upper South Island and Southland, while central and southern Canterbury saw soil moisture decreases.  
• The driest soils across the South Island, when compared to normal for this time of the year, are found in Nelson, Marlborough and parts of Canterbury, while the wettest soils for this time of the year are found in the upper West Coast and western Tasman.  
• The previous hotspot in portions of southern Marlborough and northern Canterbury dissipated in the past week, and no other hotspots are currently present. However, parts of the upper and eastern South Island remain close to hotspot status.  
• As of 5 February, the New Zealand Drought Index (NZDI) map below shows that abnormally dry conditions are currently found in Tasman, Nelson, Marlborough, Canterbury, Otago, and far northern Southland. Very dry to extremely dry conditions are located in eastern Tasman, Nelson, Marlborough, parts of Canterbury, and northern Otago, while small areas of meteorological drought are indicated in southern Marlborough and far northern Canterbury.

NIWA.