A new island‑scale tropical cyclone outlook for southwest Pacific nations and territories

The southwest Pacific (SWP; 0°–35°S, 135°E–120°W) is a vast region, home to a number of diverse island nations and territories that are vulnerable to the impact of natural disasters. Tropical cyclones (TCs) account for 76% of disasters within the SWP region, which bring extreme winds, intense storm surge, coastal inundation, and prolonged and intense rainfall that induces landslides and flooding. The relative isolation of SWP islands, their high shoreline to land area ratio and the low relief of coral atolls and fringes of volcanically composed islands that are occupied by people further amplifies physical impacts from TCs.