If you want to develop your listening skills, try these tasks as you listen to the text. The answers are at the bottom of this page, after the Vocabulary and Focus on grammar. Thanks to Natasha Groves for preparing the tasks.
If you want to listen and read, just scroll down to the text.
1. Listening for main ideas
First, just listen to the text, taking notes if you wish. What information can you catch during this first listening?
2. Now listen again and answer the following questions:
1. Which parts of New Zealand have had the coldest January so far?
2. What is the weather forecast for this week?
3. How do southerly winds usually affect the water in the Cook Strait?
4. How are the southerly winds affecting ferry sailings?
5. What does the NIWA climate summary show?
Text
Most parts of New Zealand have had a cooler than usual summer in January, and southerly winds have caused cancellations for ferries across Cook Strait.
Since Christmas there have been several southerly fronts which have meant some days with below average temperatures, especially in eastern and southern parts of the country. For example, both Wellington and Christchurch have had only four days with the maximum temperature above 20 degrees, compared with eight days between 12 and 25 December. On Tuesday 7 January, Alexandra (which is in Central Otago in the South Island) reached 27.2 degrees in the afternoon, but within an hour dropped to 18 degrees as a cool southerly arrived. Today MetService said that it expects that most parts of New Zealand will have another cool week this week, although there should be less rain.
When there are southerly winds, waves in Cook Strait can become quite high which makes it too dangerous for ferries to travel. The southerlies over the past couple of weeks led to swells of four metres, so both the Interislander and Bluebridge ferries cancelled ferry crossings around New Year and again between 4 and 6 January. The Interislander cancelled two ferries yesterday, and although Bluebridge didn’t, it said sailings from yesterday (Sunday) to tomorrow (Tuesday) could be uncomfortable and longer than normal.
However, December was warmer and in fact was the fifth warmest December on record. The annual climate summary for 2024 was released by NIWA (The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research) last week. It showed that temperatures were slightly cooler compared to 2023, but that 2024 was still the tenth-hottest year on record. Eight of New Zealand’s ten warmest years have occurred since 2013. This mirrors trends around the world, with every year becoming hotter. 2024 was the hottest year on Earth, and the last ten years are the ten hottest on record, according to the European Commission’s Copernicus Climate Service.
Vocabulary
southerly winds, southerlies – winds from the south
cancellation – a decision that something that was planned will not happen – in this context, the ferries did not travel
front – in this context, a technical weather term, meaning the place where two areas of air of different temperatures meet. This is often shown as a line on weather maps
swell – (noun) the way the sea moves up and down
Focus on grammar: Comparative language
Now listen again and complete the gaps in these sentences. Then read the text to check your own answers.
- Most parts of New Zealand have had _______ _________ _________ _________ ________ in January.
- … it said sailings from yesterday to tomorrow could be uncomfortable and ________ ________ ________.
- However, December was _________ and in fact was ________ _________ _________ December on record.
- It showed that temperatures were _________ _________ _________ _________ 2023, but that 2024 was still the _________ _________ year on record. Eight of New Zealand’s 10 _________ years have occurred since 2013.
- This mirrors trends around the world, with every year __________ __________. 2024 was _________ _________ year on Earth…
Answers
1. Which parts of New Zealand have had the coldest January so far?
Eastern and southern parts of the country; Examples: Wellington and Christchurch
2. What is the weather forecast for this week?
Another cool week but less rain
3. How do southerly winds usually affect the water in the Cook Strait?
The waves can become high, e.g. swells of four metres in recent weeks
4. How are the southerly winds affecting ferry sailings?
Some ferries have been cancelled; crossings could be uncomfortable and take longer than normal
5. What does the NIWA climate summary show?
Temperatures were slightly cooler compared to 2023, but 2024 was still the tenth-hottest year on record.