Southlanders need to prepare for ‘Super El Niño’ weather conditions
Earth Sciences New Zealand is predicting a ‘Super El Niño’ weather system to develop later this year. El Niño’s tend to bring colder, windier, and wetter than average weather for Murihiku Southland.
Environment Southland General Manager Strategy & Regulation Hayley Fitchett said it’s essential that Southlanders are aware of what El Niño could mean for them across both rural and urban areas, and how to prepare for it.
El Niño was typically associated with more south-westerly weather. Earth Sciences NZ are forecasting the El Niño system forming could be comparable or exceed to some of the strongest El Niño events on record, she said. These conditions are projected to persist through spring and intensify into summer.
Earth Sciences NZ forecasting indicates dry to very dry conditions for Southland and Otago through mid to late June, then wetter than average conditions from July, especially in western areas.
“Wetter conditions can have significant impacts on agriculture and cause increased erosion and sediment runoff into waterways. Farmers are well aware of the challenges winter presents, but we’re asking them to be especially vigilant, given how quickly our weather can turn nowadays,” Hayley Fitchett said.
As El Niño generally brings colder, wetter, and windier summers to Southland, there could also be increases in flood frequency and magnitude.
Environment Southland Chair Jeremy McPhail encourages farmers to stay on track with their winter grazing plans, but be prepared to tweak them when the weather cuts up rough.
“Over the past few years, Southlanders have had more than their fair share of tough weather and farming families have been right in the thick of it.
“One thing we know about this region is that people get on with the job and look out for each other. It’s that community spirit, along with good planning and being prepared, that will make the real difference as these conditions start to take hold.
“It’s crucial the plans farmers have in place to manage any surface runoff are robust and able to cope with significant rainfall events.”
Water and fuel supplies, animal welfare and farm planning are all important considerations for farmers.
Now was also a good time for households to review their preparedness plans in case of adverse weather or an emergency. A household emergency plan including food, water, torches and a battery-powered radio are crucial, Chair McPhail said.
Conversely, El Niño could also bring drought-like conditions in eastern areas, more often in Canterbury and Marlborough, which could mean more stock than usual being sent south for summer grazing, he said.
Environment Southland has created an information web page aroundEl Niño preparedness with links to information for people in both rural and urban areas: www.es.govt.nz/get-weather-ready
We’re available 24/7 for urgent environmental incidents – call 0800 76 88 45 or email us at: service@es.govt.nz
For non-urgent matters, the free mobile app Antenno is another great way to reach us. It also sends you alerts about High River Watches, Flood Warnings and environmental incidents in your area, plus handy notifications about other council updates.
