2 or 3 cyclones to pass through Fiji waters this season – Weather Office

The Weather Office is expecting as many as two to three tropical cyclones to pass through Fiji waters this season with one anticipated to reach Category 3 or above.

Nadi Weather Office Director Ravin Kumar says this year’s cyclone season is expected to have five to seven tropical cyclones within our region, with three to five predicted to reach category 3 and one to two predicted to reach category 4 or 5 status.

There were 8 cyclones in the region during the last cyclone season.

Kumar says these predictions are based on statistical and scientific evidence and not actual forecasts.

However Permanent Secretary for Infrastructure and Transport, Paul Bayly says that based on the latest information, the probability of tropical cyclone occurrences is elevated for Fiji and Tonga while Cook Islands, New Caledonia, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Vanuatu and Wallis and Futuna is predicted as normal during the upcoming 2016/2017 season.

The 2016/2017 cyclone season begins on November 1st 2016 and ends on 30th April 2017.

The Ministry also says that it is also critical that communities across Fiji act responsibly and pay close attention to all weather forecasts, warnings and advisories.