Bureau of Meteorology predicts possible cyclone, El Nino this Wet season
Long-range weather forecasters are warning Top Enders to brace themselves for another eventful Wet season with a possible cyclone and heavy rains predicted.
The cyclone predictions come as clouds of uncertainty hang over when the Gunner Government plans to start putting power lines underground, six months after Cyclone Marcus left some 28,000 homes in the dark.
Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Pieter Claassen said on average two to three tropical cyclones hit Northern Australia each year during cyclone season (November to April).
But this year he said those numbers may be slightly below average, if a El Nino forms by the end of November.
“Current climate drivers are weak, but we are looking at 50 per cent chance of a weak El Nino developing by the end of the year,” he said.
“If the El Nino does develop, tropical cyclone numbers are likely to be slightly reduced, so we are looking at a slightly below average to average tropical cyclone season at this stage.”
But Mr Claassen warns that Territorians should not breath a sigh of relief too soon because weather can overpower those climate drivers.
“It is important to note that El Nino or not, we rarely see a Wet Season where a tropical cyclone does not make landfall somewhere in the NT, so it is important to be prepared regardless of the outlook,” he said.
“While the outlook does give us some idea of the number of tropical cyclones expected, it does not forecast the intensity or location in which they will form.”
Even though the cyclone season is right around the corner, Attorney-General Natasha Fyles said the Government were still consulting with Power and Water to ascertain the best locations before they start to underground power lines.
She said they are considering whether to underground whole suburbs or “certain elements of the system” so houses get back on line more quickly.
The Bureau of Meteorology is releasing a more detailed cyclone outlook for the Territory in mid October.
Originally Published by News.com.au, continue reading here.