Photo: RNZ/ Calvin Samuel
Explainer - Much of New Zealand is still cleaning up from heavy winds, rains and even snow over the past week.
States of emergency were declared around the country and many properties damaged in the series of wind-driven storms.
Does this mean spring is just going to be wilder and windier in the future? It depends, but warming temperatures driven by climate change do make a difference.
Climate scientist and 2024 New Zealander of the Year Dr Jim Salinger told RNZ the wind set several records.
"It's pretty unusual - you just have to look at some of the wind gusts we've had," he told Afternoons' Jesse Mulligan.
"We see areas like southwest cape having a gust of 190km/h - That's the strongest wind gust ever recorded at that location."
Photo: RNZ / Katie Todd
Why was that wind so strong, anyway?
It's all about pressure differences. Very basically, high pressure systems - where air is descending - usually bring settled weather while low-pressure - where air is rising - tends to cool and cause unsettled and wetter weath
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