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  3. Pacific cyclone season

Pacific cyclone season

Last updated
Wednesday, 08/01/2020

 

Are you travelling during the cyclone season?

Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, United States, Taiwan, Fiji  – what do these countries have in common?

These countries have all been hit by devastating cyclones. Only late last year, two people died while more than 2,000 had to be in evacuation centres as Tropical Cyclone Sarai moved through Fiji's south-east.

The Pacific cyclone season is usually between October and May. During this period, even small tropical storms can develop into major cyclones. Their direction and strength can change with little warning. Cyclones lead to landslides, mudslides and flash flooding causing extreme damage to infrastructure. This can cut off communications and access to transportation, emergency assistance, medical care, and food and water.

Cyclones, hurricanes, typhoons, monsoons and tornadoes are serious risks in some destinations. In others, it's severe winter weather you need to prepare for.

If you're travelling somewhere that experiences severe weather, be prepared and be informed.

Before your travel

If you plan to travel to an area that has recently been affected by severe weather, contact local tour operators, hotels and airlines about the condition of infrastructure and facilities in the area. Understanding safety procedures are vital to ensure you and your family are safe during a cyclone.

Our advice if you decide to travel during the cyclone season:

  • Read the travel advice for each destination you’re visiting
  • Subscribe to travel advice and bulletins
  • Share your itinerary and contact details with loved ones
  • Get travel insurance and make sure it covers trip cancellation or interruption in the event of a cyclone
  • Be prepared to change tour travel plans on short notice
  • Closely monitor media and local sources for weather forecasts
  • Carry emergency contact information for your airline or tour operator
  • Follow the advice and instructions of local authorities

You can also bookmark these websites and stay up-to-date with cyclone forecasts and advice.

  • Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System
  • The Fiji Meteorological Service
  • Meteorological Service of New Zealand
  • Papua New Guinea National Weather Service
  • Meteo-France in French Polynesia
  • Australian Bureau of Meteorology
  • Joint Typhoon Warning Center

When you arrive

  • Locate the nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate
  • Carry local emergency and embassy phone numbers in your wallet and programmed into your phone
  • Familiarise yourself with local advice, including from your hotel, on what to do in the event of a natural disaster.
  • Learn about your hotel or cruise ship's evacuation plans

What to do if you are stuck in a cyclone while overseas?

We all know it is best to avoid travelling during the cyclone seasons. Here is our advice if you get caught up in one:

  • Closely monitor the local news for weather updates.
  • Identify your local shelter.
  • If you are on an island, heed all advice to return to the mainland before the boats stop running.
  • Carry bottled water, some non-perishable food, a basic first-aid kit, a battery-operated radio and a torch
  • Get cash from an ATM
  • Carry your travel documents (passport, photo IDs) at all times or secure them in a safe, waterproof location
  • Contact friends and family with regular updates about your situation

Flights in and out of affected areas could be delayed or suspended. Available flights may fill quickly. Contact your airline for the latest flight information.

The cyclone may also affect access to seaports in the region. In some areas, adequate shelter from a severe cyclone may not be available to all who choose to stay.

How to stay up to date

Subscribe to get an email when we update the travel advice for your destination. If you get a local SIM card over there, remember to update your number. Otherwise, you'll miss out on our SMS critical alerts in a crisis.

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Where to get help

During catastrophic storms, the ability of consular officials to help you may be limited. Read the Consular Services Charter for what the Australian Government can and can't do to help you overseas.

Depending on what you need, your best option may be to contact your family, friends, travel agent, travel insurance provider, employer or airline. Your travel insurer should have a 24-hour emergency number.

Australian Government
Contact your nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate. If you're unable to contact one in a consular emergency, you can contact the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 from overseas, or 1300 555 135 within Australia.

Emergency consular assistance

The Australian Government provides 24-hour consular emergency assistance.

+61 2 6261 3305 from overseas

1300 555 135 from within Australia

For how we can help you overseas see the Consular Services Charter.

Enquiries and feedback

For non-urgent enquiries, or to provide feedback on consular services that you've recently received, contact us online.

For information on notarial services, email legalisations.australia@dfat.gov.au

For information about Australian visas, contact the Department of Home Affairs.

About us

Smartraveller is provided by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

For more information go to about us.

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  • HomeHome
  • Before you go
    • The basics
      • Planning to travel during COVID-19: step by step
      • Destinations
      • Passport services
      • Visas
      • Insurance
      • Schengen
      • Travel advice explained
    • Who you are
      • Children
      • Dual nationals
      • LGBTI++
      • Mature
      • School leavers
      • Women
    • Activities
      • Adoption
      • Adventure
      • Backpacking
      • Business
      • Living and working overseas
      • Marriage
      • Studying
      • Surrogacy
      • Volunteering
    • Major events
      • Cultural events
      • Religious events
      • Sporting events
    • Health
      • Mental health
      • Disability
      • Infectious diseases
      • Medical assistance overseas
      • Medical tourism
      • Medication
      • Pregnancy
      • Reciprocal health
      • Vaccinations
      • Death
    • Staying safe
      • Armed conflict
      • Assault
      • Cyber security
      • Demonstrations
      • Earthquakes and tsunamis
      • Kidnapping
      • Natural disasters
      • Partying safely
      • Piracy
      • Scams
      • Severe weather
      • Sexual assault
      • Terrorism
      • Theft and robbery
    • Laws
      • Carrying or using drugs
      • Child sex offences
      • Female genital mutilation
      • Forced marriage
    • Getting around
      • Air travel
      • Boat travel
      • Cruising
      • Public transport
      • Road safety
  • Destinations
    • View all destinations
    • AfricaBrowse destinations in Africa.
    • AmericasBrowse all destinations in the Americas.
    • AsiaBrowse all destinations in Asia.
    • EuropeBrowse all destinations in Europe.
    • Middle EastBrowse all destinations in the Middle East.
    • PacificBrowse all destinations in the Pacific.
  • While you're away
    • When things go wrong
      • Arrested or jailed
      • Lost property
      • Medical assistance
      • Money problems
      • Someone is missing
      • Someone died
    • Crime overseas
      • Assaulted
      • Kidnapped
      • Robbed or mugged
      • Scammed
      • Sexually assaulted
    • Crisis or emergency
      • Demonstration
      • Armed conflict
      • Earthquake
      • Severe weather
      • Terrorist situation
      • Volcanic eruption
      • Bushfire
      • Nuclear incident
    • Australia's biosecurity and border controls
  • Urgent helpLinks to help
  • Our servicesLinks to services
    • Consular Services Charter
      • Arabic
      • Chinese Simplified
      • Chinese Traditional
      • Indonesian
      • Thai
      • Vietnamese
    • Travel advice explained
    • Subscription
    • Crises
    • Passport services
    • Notarial services
      • Documents
      • Documents in Australia
      • Documents overseas
      • Certificate of No Impediment
      • Notarial forms
    • Voting overseas
    • Communities
      • العربية (Arabic)
      • Bahasa Indonesia
      • 中文 简体 (Chinese Simplified)
      • 中文繁體 (Chinese Traditional)
      • 日本語 (Japanese)
      • ภาษาไทย (Thai)
      • Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
      • Filipino community
      • Indian community
    • Resources
      • Consular State of Play
      • CHOICE travel insurance guide
      • Fact sheet: Travel Smart
      • Fact sheet: Missing overseas
      • Fact sheet: Arrested or jailed overseas
      • Fact sheet: Sexual assault overseas
      • Fact sheet: Death overseas
      • Consular Privacy Collection Statement