FOUR cyclones are forecast to form in the Coral Sea off the Queensland coast this season, with one predicted to make landfall.
The Bureau of Meteorology has released its tropical cyclone outlook for the 2018-19 season, which runs from November to April.
The Bureau is forecasting a less active season than average, due to the possible development of El Nino weather patterns in the Pacific Ocean and near average ocean temperatures to the north and east of Australia.
In the Eastern region, which takes in North Queensland, four cyclones are expected to form.
RELATED READING
Of them, only one is expected to make landfall.
However, the Bureau has warned that the accuracy of their outlook for this region is low.
Throughout the Australian region, on average, there are 10 to 13 tropical cyclones each season, of which four typically cross the coast.
While El Niño typically reduces the number of coastal crossings, at least one tropical cyclone has crossed the Australian coast each season since reliable records began in the 1970s.
Bureau of Meteorology senior climatologist Greg Browning stresses that all coastal communities in northern Australia can be impacted by a tropical cyclone.
"On average Australia sees 11 cyclones in its region in every season with four coastal crossings and we've never had a season on record without at least one cyclone crossing the coast," Mr Browning said.
"So, while this season's outlook suggests the potential for a slightly lower than average number of cyclones, the chances of a community being affected by a tropical cyclone remain high.”
In the Northern region, which takes in the Northern Territory and Gulf, three cyclones are likely to form.
- This story first appeared on the North Qld Register.
