Chris Brandolino

It was an unseasonably balmy weekend for some parts of the country.

April temperature records were broken in Whitianga yesterday when it reached 27.8 degrees celsius.

And Gisborne (29.1C), Wairoa… Audio

Timaru reached temperatures hotter than Rarotonga over the Easter weekend, topping the April weather records at 30.6C on Sunday.

Unseasonably hot and dry weather was felt by much of the South Island… Audio

If you had trouble sleeping last night, it might be down to the muggy conditions arriving from the tropics.

There are more rainy days and humid nights on the way.

NIWA's forecaster Chris Brandolino… Audio

The mercury is expected to reach a blistering 36 degrees in Canterbury today.

The predicted temperature prompted the Canterbury district health board to issue a warning, urging residents to keep out… Audio

We had wildfires over the weekend in the Coromandel and Christchurch and hot, dry weather could be on the cards for a little while yet. NIWA's principal scientist and forecaster Chris Brandolino is… Audio

It's the meteorological first day of summer, but depending where in the country you are, it may not feel like it yet with cold or wet weather forecast for much of the country.

So what sort of summer… Audio

Residents of Plimmerton, just north of Wellington are in the midst of cleaning up after their area was hit by heavy rain which coincided with high tide yesterday. Audio

South Canterbury and North Otago farmers are on the precipice of a drought and NIWA's latest hotspot report shows they have the driest soils in the South Island.

In turn, farmers are having to make… Audio

As the weather warms up, what is the outlook for parts of the country hit by drought last summer? Audio

Severe gales and heavy rain will affect much of the country this weekend and there could be a fresh dusting of snow for some of the ski fields in the North and South Islands.

MetService is describing… Audio

New Zealand has had its hottest winter on record according to to official NIWA data.

So what does that mean for springtime or even summer?

NIWA forecaster Chris Brandolino talks to Lisa Owen. Video, Audio

Tuesday is the first day of spring but wintry temperatures are on their way.

A southerly change will drag cold air up through the country and there will even be some snow in the South Island… Audio

Trucks were snowed in and drivers spent the night in their cabs last night, after the biggest dump of snow so far this winter blocked the Desert Road. Audio

NIWA has recorded a nearly 12-metre wave off the coast of Banks Peninsula this morning.

The Southerly blast is generating huge swells, which are heading up the East coast of the North Island.

… Audio

Perfect conditions for a freezing cold weekend are on their way for the South Island.

A strong high pressure system, combined with clear skies and long nights mean temperatures could drop as low as… Audio

There has been heavy or steady rain in many parts of the country, ending months of drought.

That includes Northland, that was the first of the drought sufferers, Waikato and above all in dehydrated… Audio

With Auckland, Northland and Hawkes Bay in drought, rainfall is needed - but for much of the country this Autumn has been mostly dry and warm - NIWA's Chris Brandolino joins us now, Audio

Temperatures plummeted in the lower south early this morning as snow fell on parts of the region. NIWA weather forecaster Chris Brandolino tells Jesse Mulligan about the early cold snap and what we… Audio