Increased Cyclone Activity in Southern Hemisphere: February 2025 Overview
Late February 2025 witnessed an unusual concentration of tropical cyclones in the South Pacific and Indian Ocean, including Cyclones Rae, Alfred, Seru, Bianca, Honde, and Garance. Challenging weather conditions led to various storm warnings and cancellations, particularly affecting regions like Fiji and Mauritius. Meteorologists attributed this cyclone activity to warmer sea temperatures and favorable conditions for storm formation.
In late February 2025, two oceans— the South Pacific and the Indian Ocean—were simultaneously affected by tropical cyclones. The NOAA-20 satellite captured a false-color image on February 26, depicting five active tropical storms, including Cyclone Rae, which was weakening after heavy rainfall in Fiji. Cyclones Alfred and Seru were also present in the South Pacific, with Seru briefly achieving Category 1 strength before lingering offshore Australia. Meanwhile, Alfred was predicted to threaten southern Queensland, originally at Category 2 but expected to escalate to Category 4 shortly after.
The unprecedented occurrence of multiple cyclones in two oceans may be attributed to warmer sea surface temperatures and favorable wind conditions, as noted by meteorologists. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology anticipates a higher likelihood of severe tropical cyclones this season due to these climatic factors. Overall, this period highlights significant storm activity in the Southern Hemisphere, impacting regions such as Australia and the Indian Ocean islands.
Original Source: earthobservatory.nasa.gov
