Unprecedented Bounty of Tropical Cyclones in Southern Hemisphere

On February 25, 2025, the Southern Hemisphere recorded six active tropical cyclones simultaneously, a rare event signifying the influence of La Niña conditions. Tropical Cyclones Honde and Garance, along with Hurricanes Bianca and Alfred, were among those impacting various regions, with Cyclone Rae recently inflicting damage in Fiji. This simultaneous activity highlights the unusual weather patterns for this time of year.

The Southern Hemisphere experienced an unusual event on February 25, 2025, with a total of six tropical cyclones present simultaneously. Three tropical cyclones formed in the South Pacific Ocean, tying the record for concurrent storms, while an additional two cyclones were situated in the Southern Indian Ocean. This marked a rare occasion, as the last instance of three simultaneous tropical cyclones in the South Pacific occurred in January 1999.

Among the active storms, Tropical Cyclone Honde emerged off the Mozambique coast, while Cyclone Garance moved near Madagascar. Additionally, Hurricane Bianca and Hurricane Alfred were situated west and northeast of Australia, respectively. Tropical Cyclones Seru and Rae rounded out the active systems, with the latter having caused significant damage in Fiji shortly before its advisement ceased.

The current proliferation of storms can be attributed to conditions such as weak wind shear and elevated sea-surface temperatures, largely resulting from the prevailing La Niña phenomenon, according to AccuWeather Lead International Expert Jason Nicholls. Cyclone Garance is expected to affect Reunion Island in the days ahead, marking a rare occurrence not seen since 1989. The last hurricane impacting Reunion directly was Cyclone Beryl in 1961, despite numerous tropical storms affecting the region in the interim.

Hurricane Alfred, on the other hand, developed in the Coral Sea on February 24 and is predicted to intensify as it moves southward, impacting northeast Queensland over the weekend. AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Expert Paul Pastelok noted, “The storm should make an impact on northeast Queensland this weekend with flooding rainfall and gusty winds.”

In summary, the Southern Hemisphere witnessed a rare occurrence of six tropical cyclones simultaneously active, driven by contributing weather patterns associated with La Niña. These include Cyclones Honde, Garance, Bianca, Alfred, and Tropical Cyclones Seru and Rae. Particularly, Hurricane Alfred and Cyclone Garance are poised to significantly impact affected regions, including Queensland and Reunion Island, respectively, showcasing the extraordinary nature of this weather phenomenon.

Original Source: www.accuweather.com