Significant Cyclonic Activity in the Southern Hemisphere on February 25, 2025
On February 25, 2025, the Southern Hemisphere witnessed six active tropical storms, including three simultaneously in the South Pacific, the first occurrence since 1999. Contributing factors include La Nina, leading to favorable storm conditions. Cyclones Garance and Alfred pose significant threats to Madagascar and Australia respectively.
On February 25, 2025, six tropical storms were reported in the Southern Hemisphere, with three tropical cyclones occurring concurrently in the South Pacific Ocean. This situation marked the first instance of three simultaneous tropical cyclones in the South Pacific since January 1999. Currently, the tropical storm season in this region spans from November to April, intensifying the occurrence of these storms.
The five active storms included Tropical Cyclone Honde, which was situated off the coast of Mozambique; Cyclone Garance, located near Madagascar; Hurricane Bianca to the west of Australia; Hurricane Alfred in the northeast of Australia; and Tropical Cyclones Seru and Rae, which were positioned to the north of New Zealand. Such a high incidence of tropical storms can be attributed to factors such as weak wind shear and elevated sea-surface temperatures, which are partly influenced by La Nina conditions, as explained by AccuWeather Lead International Expert Jason Nicholls.
The most recent advisory regarding Cyclone Rae was issued at 4 p.m. EST on Tuesday, coinciding with the formation of Tropical Cyclone Honde. Cyclone Rae had previously caused notable damage in Fiji on Monday. Cyclone Garance is projected to continue moving southward off the coast of Madagascar and is expected to affect Reunion Island in the coming days. It is anticipated that Cyclone Garance will approach Reunion Island as a hurricane, a rare occurrence since Cyclone Firinga in 1989.
Hurricane Alfred was also active off the northeast coast of Australia on February 25, 2025. This storm developed in the Coral Sea a day earlier and has been intensifying while moving southward. AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Expert Paul Pastelok noted that Hurricane Alfred is expected to impact northeast Queensland over the weekend, bringing with it potential flooding and strong winds.
The Southern Hemisphere is currently experiencing an unusual concentration of tropical storms, with six active cyclones as of February 25, 2025. Factors such as La Nina are contributing to this phenomenon, providing conditions conducive to storm formation. The occurrence of these cyclones, especially Cyclone Garance’s potential impact on Reunion Island and Hurricane Alfred’s threat to Queensland, underscores the importance of ongoing monitoring and preparedness during the tropical storm season.
Original Source: www.accuweather.com
