17 Oct 2016

Ten cyclones predicted for Pacific

7:37 am on 17 October 2016

Weather agencies around the Pacific say the region can expect about 10 named tropical cyclones over the November to April cyclone period.

That is the typical annual number over the past 30 years and the agencies say conditions are likely to be near average over most islands through this time.

They warn that all countries should remain vigilant in case conditions in the equatorial Pacific change during the cyclone season.

They warn that intensification, especially late in the season, is common.

In the past two years the Pacific has been battered by two severe cyclones - Pam, which caused a lot of damage in Vanuatu last year and Winston which hit Fiji with record ferocity in February of this year.

Nasau village is still shattered.

Cyclone Winston devastated parts of Fiji last cyclone season Photo: RNZ / Alex Perrottet