Guam's National Weather Service says category 4 or 5 typhoons are less likely to strike the Northern Marianas this season compared with 2018.
A school building is damaged after Super Typhoon Yutu Photo: RNZ Pacific / Mark Rabago
Last season, Saipan and Tinian were levelled by Super Typhoon Yutu, a strong category 5 storm, and Rota was devastated by Typhoon Mangkhut.
The weather service says the El Niño cycle indicates a 40 percent likelihood of a normal season and 20 percent chance of less typhoon activity.
Conversely it forecasts a 40 percent chance of more activity than normal.