Feature article
Tropical Cyclones
Only three tropical cyclones so far
Three tropical cyclones have occurred so far this season. The season although relatively quiet has not been benign due to the devastation caused in northern Tonga by 'Waka' early in January. The usual period of peak tropical cyclone occurrence for the Southwest Pacific continues, with an average of two tropical cyclones in February and two in March for the whole region, in seasons similar to the present. On average, the highest frequencies have occurred over the Coral Sea east to Fiji, including Vanuatu and New Caledonia.