Prepare for cyclone season, NT residents urged

Northern Territory residents are being urged to begin preparations for the coming tropical cyclone season. The recommendation comes as the Bureau of Meteorology and the Northern Territory Emergency Service begin their pre-season cyclone awareness education programmes.

This season the Northern Territory is expecting a busier cyclone season than last year, with an average to above average number of cyclones in the Northern Region. The average is 2 to 3.

The Manager of the Bureau’s Darwin Climate Service, Sam Cleland, said cyclone frequency was associated with climate conditions.

“La Niña conditions have developed in the Eastern Pacific”, said Mr Cleland, “but we are yet to see a typical response over northern Australia. Sea surface temperatures are yet to show the expected warming, and the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) – albeit higher than this time last year – is yet to reach values typical of La Niña. In a situation like this, where there are mixed signals, there is added uncertainty in seasonal outlooks.”

Mr Cleland noted the possibility that “seas to our north and west could soon warm to more typical La Niña levels, and so people need to be fully prepared from the start of the cyclone season on 1 November.”

He said that at such an early stage, it is impossible to accurately predict the likely formation, track and severity of any individual cyclone that might occur. Cyclones have formed as early as mid-November near the Northern Territory.

“No matter where you live in the Territory – it is vital that you are prepared”, Mr Cleland emphasised.

The Director of the Northern Territory Emergency Service, Peter Davies, said that while the government provided a general level of community safety - by implementing building codes, providing some shelters and providing an effective counter disaster organisation- every individual had to take responsibility for themselves and their property.

“The protection of your family, home and your possessions is, in the final analysis, your responsibility,” he said. “You need to be well versed in the threats to your community and make appropriate preparations.”

Mr. Davies emphasised that the most valuable action that people can take at this time of year is to be well informed of the dangers posed by cyclones; to better understand the warning service; and to be adequately prepared for such a threat.

For further information on warning services, go to the “Tropical Cyclone Information” section of the web page at: http://www.bom.gov.au/weather/nt/cyclone/

For regular updates on the El Niño/Southern Oscillation go to: http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/enso/.

Further enquiries to:
Todd Smith, e-mail: ntsevere@bom.gov.au
Ph: (08) 8920 3820
Bureau of Meteorology, Darwin