Australia expects delay in the storm season. by Steph Ball
Whilst last year saw quite an active storm season for the northwest of Australia with four tropical cyclones crossing the coast, and a further two coming perilously close, this year the season is expected to be less active and somewhat delayed.
The developing El Niño is already believed to have quelled this years hurricane season across the US, and it is thought that it will have similar effects for Australia. The El Niño pattern tends to shift cyclone activity further towards the Eastern Pacific, and the Northern Territory’s Bureau of Meteorology is predicting that the first storm may not arrive until January.
This will not come as welcome news to the Farmers Federation, at least as far as the impending lack of rain. As scientists are advising the government that Australia could be in the grip of its worst drought ever.
Despite the predictions of a less active season, this has not deterred the Bureau and the State Emergency Service from beginning a tour of the northwest to promote cyclone and flood awareness. As they said, “it only takes one cyclone to have a devastating impact”.
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