This year has already brought almost every possible weather extreme to Northland, with record rain hot on the heels of a drought, a cyclone and even a tornado. Are Northlanders experiencing a new normal? Is this a sign of things to come? Or just par for the course in a region that's always had its share of extremes?
First came the tornado that struck Mangawhai in the early hours of 26 January, tearing off roofs and leaving two people badly injured.
Then came the big dry, with some areas recording just 10 per cent of their normal rainfall. Drought was declared on 7 March.
Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf
Next, the heavens opened and Northland switched almost overnight from drought to flood. Kerikeri, KaitΔia and WhangΔrei all set new records for April rainfall.
Next, on 17 April, Cyclone Tam trashed Northland's power networks, leaving more than 24,000 households in the dark. It was a week before some homes had their power restored.
And it did not stop there, with slips triggered by more torrential rain closing State Highway 1 through Mangamuk
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