Another cyclone predicted in March

THE National Weather Service (NWS) office in Port Moresby has predicted there could be another cyclone at the close of the wet season which is likely to occur sometime in March or May.
“We cannot rule out the possibility that the country may be experiencing another cyclone in coming months because we were still in the cyclone period” assistant director for climate and support services Jimmy Gomoga said yesterday.
Mr Gomoga said the start to the wet season last November saw the destructive tropical Cyclone Guba, which destroyed parts of Milne Bay province and left Oro province in total devastation and predicted we could be heading toward another cyclone at the end of the La Nina period.
The rainfall outlook issued by NWS for the next three months (which includes April) shows Southern region which include Central province, Port Moresby, Milne Bay and Oro to experience normal to above normal rainfall and higher than normal rain for the New Guinea Islands, while northern coast from Vanimo, Sandaun, towards Madang to experience normal to below normal rainy period.
Mr Gomoga said La Nina was well in progress accompanied by thunderstorms and would continue until April.
The wet atmosphere and thunderstorms had enabled a shift to monsoon with north-westerly wind surges and gale force winds that destroyed more than 10 homes belonging to Kairuku and Rigo villagers, including two classrooms and a pastor’s house and left more than 50 villagers including Hanuabada in NCD homeless.
The winds, which started a day after New-Year was also responsible for the destruction of almost entire hectares of banana plantations belonging to Rigo and Kairuku villagers in the Central province.
Central province disaster coordinator Daniel Mona said he would be visiting affected areas of the province next week with the technical team comprising officers from the provincial works, education, health and agriculture divisions to assess damages to homes and food crops.
Mr Mona said provincial administrator Raphael Yibmaramba had directed district administrators to furnish situation reports on the devastation wrought by strong winds in parts of the province.
Mr Yibmaramba had also instructed Mr Mona to carry out his own assessments, while waiting for the reports from the districts.
Mr Mona has visited Kaiau village in Kairuku district and talked to the family whose house was hit by a fallen rain tree.
He also assessed damages to a pastor’s house and the Elementary School that was destroyed by the strong winds.
He said he has received reports from Rigo, Hiri and Abau districts but will visit the areas soon to make assessments.
According to Mr Gomoga, gale warnings issued for Southern, Central and Milne Bay coast should be called off sometime tomorrow while strong winds are said to continue but at a reduced 22 to 30 knots toward the end of the week.