Normal Tropical Cyclone season expected

Satellite image courtesy of JMA.

The Southwest Pacific tropical cyclone season formally starts on November 1.

The average number of named cyclones expected in the upcoming 2017-18 season under the influence of climate conditions heading into La Niña this summer.

Every year MetService works alongside NIWA and national meteorological services from other Pacific nations to produce a Tropical Cyclone Outlook for the upcoming season.

The outlook for the 2017-18 season indicates 8 to 10 named cyclones are expected in the Southwest Pacific, with about 4 of those expected to be severe (Category 3 or higher).

The average number of named tropical cyclones in the Southwest Pacific (including the Coral Sea) is about 10 per season.

This year, with the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle tending to La Nina conditions, tropical cyclone activity is expected to be higher than normal around the Coral Sea and west of the International Date Line, and lower further east, says a statement from the MetService.

For New Zealand, which is affected by about one ex-tropical cyclone on average per season, the risk is expected to be normal to slightly above normal.

Around the globe, the role of monitoring and warning for tropical cyclones is performed by a WMO designated Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre (RSMC) or a Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre (TCWC), depending on the location of the cyclone, says the MetService.

TCWC Wellington, based at MetService, has warning responsibility for the area that extends from 160E to 120W between 25S and 40S.

Although it is very rare for a tropical cyclone to form in the TCWC Wellington area of responsibility, intense tropical cyclones do arrive from the neighbouring Brisbane or Nadi areas and they often retain their named cyclone status until near 30S.

Sometimes an ex-tropical cyclone will approach New Zealand and the official Severe Weather Watches and Warnings need to be issued by MetService.

Even if land areas are not affected, warnings are still issued for vessels over the open sea.

Although the tropical cyclone season typically runs from the start of November until the end of April, cyclone development doesn't always follow the calendar and cyclones can form outside the season.

All communities throughout the South Pacific, including New Zealand, are encouraged to prepare for the coming cyclone season and remain vigilant for developing cyclones or other severe weather.

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1 comment

apart

Posted on 12-10-2017 01:29 | By Capt_Kaveman

from the small one we had hit the bop early this year nz as such are way overdue for a few of them


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