SUVA, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- The tropical cyclone season running between November and April has started in the South Pacific region with one to four tropical cyclones being expected to affect some island countries such as Vanuatu and Fiji.
The Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-Hazards Department (VMGD) said on Monday that at least two to four tropical cyclones are expected to pass through the island nation during the 2020/2021 season.
The VMGD said that as compared to others, the cyclone risk level for this cyclone season is "normal to normal-elevated risk". At least one or two cyclones may reach category 3 status but the expected occurrence of a category 4 or 5 is low.
Vanuatu usually sees two to three cyclones in a cyclone season, and most of these cyclones occur during the period from January to March.
While urging communities in the island nation to take necessary precautionary measures, the VMGD said it will continue to monitor the tropical cyclone situation and will provide an update if La Nina conditions change over the coming months.
In Fiji, the Nadi Weather Office has predicted that one to three tropical cyclones are likely to hit the island nation during this cyclone season.
The office said that the past cyclone seasons saw a number of tropical cyclones pass through the west of the Fiji islands. There is again an elevated risk of such cyclones for this season.
With a La Nina event established in the tropical Pacific, there is an increased risk of flooding across the Fiji islands this season, the office warned.
In Tonga, its meteorological services agency said on Monday that there are currently no tropical cyclones in the Tonga area and the likelihood of one forming in the next five days until Nov. 6 is very low.
It is reported that tropical cyclone activities in the South Pacific region are closely associated with the El Nino Southern Oscillation, which is a fluctuation of oceanic and atmospheric condition between the eastern and western tropical Pacific Ocean.
The tropical cyclone season, which runs from Nov. 1 to April 30 every year, can cause widespread rainfall and flooding in the cyclone-hit island countries. Enditem
