This New Zealand summer might seem exceptionally bad, but experts say this is likely the new normal. Speaking to the New Zealand Herald, Professor James Renwick says, “All of this is just going to keep getting worse into the future … the rainfalls today are 10 or 20% worse than they were 10 years ago and they’ll be 20% worse in another 10 or 20 years.”

There have been stormy summers in the past and there will likely be storm-free summers in the future, but increased water vapour in the atmosphere caused by warming oceans means that when the storms come, they will be more severe and more damaging.

Made with the support of NZ On Air.