One-in-100-year coastal floods now happening twice a year in Wellington - study

Coastal flooding events once considered a "one-in-100-year" occurrence in Wellington are now happening with twice that frequency. This dramatic increase in extreme flooding is attributed to human-induced sea-level rise, which has amplified the occurrence of coastal sea-level extremes by four times since the early 1900s. The changing frequency of these events poses significant challenges for the city's infrastructure and coastal communities.

This escalating frequency of extreme coastal flooding highlights the tangible impacts of climate change and necessitates urgent adaptation strategies for vulnerable coastal areas.