South Pacific Cyclone Season 2012

(Dive Travel Business News - December 30, 2011) -- While tropical cyclones in the South Pacific may occur throughout the year, the U.S. Department of State advises travelers that the South Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season began on November 1 and ends April 30.  Travelers to the region should monitor local weather reports and take other appropriate action as needed.  

Each tropical cyclone season, the South Pacific region experiences approximately nine tropical cyclones, about half of which reach Category 3 intensity, or above, and have the potential to cause severe destruction.  The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recommends that people living or traveling in regions prone to tropical storms and tropical cyclones be prepared; for further information about tropical cyclone preparedness, please visit NOAA's Tropical Cyclones Preparedness Guide at:   http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/hurricane/resources/TropicalCyclones11.pdf.

Minor tropical storms can develop into tropical cyclones very quickly, limiting the time available for you to evacuate safely.  Travelers should tell family and friends in the United States of their whereabouts, and keep in close contact with the tour operator, hotel staff, and local officials for evacuation instructions in the event of a weather emergency.  Protect travel and identity documents against loss or damage, as the need to replace lost documentation could delay or otherwise complicate a return home

Severe tropical cyclones have caused death, injury, and extensive property damage.  In the event of a tropical cyclone, travelers may not be able to depart an affected area for 24 to 48 hours or more, particularly if visiting a South Pacific Island country where air service is limited.  In many places, tropical cyclones are often accompanied by damaging high tides and flooding.  Landslides and mudslides also are a serious concern during periods of heavy rain.  Looting and sporadic violence sometimes occur after natural disasters.  

If traveling to storm-prone regions overseas, prepare by organizing a kit containing a supply of bottled water, non-perishable food items, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio and vital documents, including passport, and/or birth certificate and other photo identification, in a waterproof container.  Emergency shelters often have access only to basic resources and limited medical and food supplies.

For further information on tropical cyclone warnings in the South Pacific region, please consult the Joint Typhoon Warning Center in Honolulu at http://www.usno.navy.mil/JTWC and the National Weather Service's Central Pacific Hurricane Center, http://www.prh.noaa.gov/hnl/cphc, Fiji's regional meteorological center responsible for tropical cyclone warnings in the South Pacific region at http://www.met.gov.fj/, or the Government of Australia's Bureau of Meteorology at http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone.

Receive updated information on travel in cyclone-prone regions from the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 within the United States and Canada, or from other areas, 1-202-501-4444. 

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