<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Australia's cyclone season has officially begun, with experts warning that signs are showing there is an increased risk of cyclones over the summer months.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The upcoming cyclone season, between November 1 and April 30, could be unusually severe due to warmer sea surface temperatures in the northern parts of the country.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"All tropical cyclones need sea surface temperatures at or above 26.5 degrees to form," Weatherzone's Ben Domensino said.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>EXCLUSIVE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/trent-merrin-former-nrl-star-alleged-fraud-charges/6b3ba774-d66a-4685-8347-cdbc947b805c" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Ex-NRL star arrested at Barrack Point home</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Once over this threshold, the rate at which tropical cyclones can intensify generally increases with higher ocean temperatures."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Domensino warns temperatures in some areas are already above 27 degrees, with some temperatures of 31 degrees in the top end of Australia in Queensland and the Northern Territory.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"These temperatures are about one to three degrees above average and rank in the top 10 per cent of historical records for this time of year," Domensino said.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/wild-weather/australia-weather-cyclone-season/e30662b0-649c-4786-8d45-b05b11bc80ad" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>As a result of the higher water temperatures, there is a higher possibility of more severe cyclones in the upcoming season.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/crystal-hanley-charlie-nowland-child-abuse-victim-impact-statements/06fa46f7-0ed2-43c5-a819-28d8cddd00e8" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Charlie died from horror living conditions. Mum called her a 'd---head'</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>This could pose a risk to millions of Australians living in tropical coastal areas in multiple states and territories. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Tropical cyclones that form in the Australian region in the coming months will have a higher-than-normal potential to strengthen into severe tropical cyclones, thanks to the abnormally warm oceans surrounding northern Australia.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>There were 12 cyclones in the last season, the highest number in 18 years.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>This included Cyclone Alfred, which struck Queensland and New South Wales in March and was the fourth costliest cyclone in Australia, causing nearly $2 billion in damage.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f"><em><strong><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></strong></em></a><em><strong><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727"><em><strong><span>Apple App Store</span></strong></em></a><span> </span><em><strong><span>and</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1"><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a><em><strong><span>.</span></strong></em></div></div>