Meteorologists say this is the fourth year in a row fewer tropical cyclones (TC) have been observed than forecast over November 2023 to April 2024 in the Southwest Pacific (SW), which includes Fiji.
At their meeting in Sigatoka last week, the Pacific National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NHMS) held discussions focused on reviewing the SW Pacific 2023-2024 TC prediction and the outlook for the coming season.
The TC forecasts were based on the analysis of El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) oceanic and atmospheric conditions over July to September 2023.
“With the forecasted La Niña, we predict increased rainfall in the West. In countries such as Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Island, New Caledonia, Vanuatu and Fiji,” the senior climatologist for the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), Philip Malsale, said.
He highlighted the need to monitor TCs and climate outlooks through the monthly Ocean and climate Outlook forums.
“For this reason, we must develop timely and relevant climate information to specific inform sectors to prepare our Pacific communities ahead of the impacts of such climate events,” he added.
