In late April 2025, a rapidly intensifying low-pressure system over the Tasman Sea brought widespread flooding and severe weather to New Zealand. The national MetService issued a red warning, and a state of emergency was declared in Christchurch. Some areas saw over 100 mm of rainfall in less than 12 hours, causing rivers to overflow and roads to close. In Wellington, wind gusts surpassed 144 km/h.
The impact of the storm is visible in this Copernicus Sentinel-3 satellite image, captured on 4 May 2025, which shows sediment plumes flowing into Pegasus Bay near Christchurch.
