Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS) director Ravind Kumar says the current El Nino has the potential to change the distribution and frequency of tropical cyclones in the region.
Kumar says there is a possibility that the country should expect to have Fiji cyclone season earlier instead of November, the usual month.
He said the official Tropical Cyclone season was from November to April, but records showed cyclones occurred outside the official tropical cyclone season.
“The current El Nino has a potential to change the distribution and frequency of tropical cyclones in the region. Please note that apart from August and September, tropical cyclones have occurred in all other months in the South Pacific,” Kumar said.
A statement issued by FMS said the central Pacific Sea Surface Temperature (SST) anomalies exceeded the 2002/2003 El Nino SSTs and anomalies were still strengthening.
“In an El Nino year, the cyclone season seems to move forward. Its frequency and strength seem to increase during the El Nino period. We would therefore expect to have our cyclone season beginning in October," FMS said.
“Its frequency and strength seem to increase during the El Nino period. We would therefore expect to have our cyclone season beginning in October.”
International models survey indicate the El-Nino will continue to strengthen and persist into early 2016.