Australia is on course for a record low number of cyclones this season, according to a senior climatologist at the Bureau of Meteorology.

Blair Trewin told insuranceNEWS.com.au there have been only three cyclones in the Australian region so far this season, well below the seasonal average of 11.

The current season low since records began in 1970 is five, set in both 1987/88 and 2006/07.

While the main cyclone season runs from November 1 to April 30, Dr Trewin says there remains a “small but not zero chance” of more before the recording year is officially over next month.

Dr Trewin says the low numbers can be explained by the recent El Nino phase.

“You typically get fewer cyclones in El Nino years… and you get more cyclones further east in the South Pacific,” Dr Trewin said.

El Nino and its counterpart La Nina do not influence the number of cyclones, only where they are distributed, he says.

Dr Trewin says there is a 50% chance of a La Nina forming by spring.