Cyclone Flurry in the Southern Hemisphere

In February 2025, the South Pacific and Indian Ocean faced an uncommon spate of tropical cyclones. Five active storms were analyzed using satellite imagery, with Cyclone Rae already weakening after impacting Fiji. Other cyclones, including Alfred, Seru, Bianca, Honde, and Garance, posed varying levels of threat, particularly to regions like Mauritius and Madagascar, due in part to warm sea temperatures.

In late February 2025, two oceans experienced an unusual concentration of tropical cyclones. The South Pacific observed three concurrent storms, which is a rare but not unprecedented event, while the Indian Ocean also contended with three active cyclones. A false-color image captured by the NOAA-20 satellite on February 26 depicted five tropical cyclones, highlighting variations in cloud temperatures to differentiate storm structures. Tropical Cyclone Rae had weakened the previous day after causing heavy rainfall in Fiji.

The occurrences of multiple tropical cyclones in both the South Pacific and Indian Ocean during this period are noteworthy. Meteorological conditions, particularly elevated sea surface temperatures and minimal wind shear, likely facilitated the development of these storms. With an ongoing marine heat wave off Western Australia and predictions of increased cyclone activity, this season’s tropical cyclone threats are expected to remain significant.

Original Source: earthobservatory.nasa.gov