The Tasman Nelson region is getting its own rain radar thanks to government funding.
The radar will provide a more detailed picture of rainfall and thunderstorm activity as it happens in the region.
It will help forecasters monitor the progression of storms, refine short-term forecasts and warnings, and provide more specific guidance to our hydrologists and emergency management about the distribution and intensity of rainfall.
It will also provide enhanced information on significant weather hazards, in particular identifying areas where icing may occur on aircraft flying through clouds.
While the Wellington radar provides some coverage in the region, improved local radar coverage has become a pressing need.
Our Principal Hydrologist Martin Doyle says the new technology will allow us to give two to three hours of warning, and in some cases even more, to residents about to be flooded, allowing time to evacuate before roads are cut off.
He says those few hours are critical because they allow people to make those key decisions.
It’s hoped the new rain radar will be up and running in summer 2026/2027.