‘Weather’ in New Zealand Last night … “A record amount of rain had fallen on Auckland in 24 hours - by 1am, the region had recorded 249mm of rain, smashing the previous 24-hour record of 161.8mm, back in February 1985. And monthly records have also been broken - the wettest January rec... john.philpin.com

2 dead, 2 missing as rain pounds New Zealand’s biggest city | San Luis Obispo Tribune

the news is so big that this is San Luis Obispo reporting!!

@JohnPhilpin I see Australia as a dry continent, is that about to change, or is it only my flawed perception of it that does?

Wayne Brown defends Auckland flood response, takes swipe at Wellington - NZ Herald

I used to expect more from leadership .. now out of the window even in New Zealand. Typical ‘attack is the best kind of Defence’ that we expect from these types … #Loser

@odd this New Zealand .. which is naturally wetter than the bulk of Australia … center of which is very desert … but the storms this winter have been really bad.

There is a road called desert road that you would likely drive down if going from Auckland to Wellington … when I first drove it .. it definitely looked nothing like the deserts I have seen around the world

@JohnPhilpin 🤦🏻‍♂️No, I did that error. Didn’t think it would happen. Of course it is a difference. All the time I was thinking Australia…Australia is dry isn’t it?

In pictures: Dramatic images of Auckland’s big flood - NZ Herald

Just to choose one from the airport where International flights remain grounded.

@odd The Australian climate is influenced by the temperature of the South Pacific Ocean, with a 2-7 year cycle called the El Niño Southern Oscillation. So if it's cold and wet now, wait a couple of years and it'll be hot and dry. We're nearing the end of a wet spell (La Niña), which began early 2020.

@odd No worries. Took me years of living in Australia to understand El Niño, and it's still quite mysterious!

@writingslowly I guess the only way is to manage what comes. There’s no point in fighting it.