Southern Hemisphere Experiences Unprecedented Six Tropical Storms

Six tropical storms were active in the Southern Hemisphere on February 25, 2025, including three in the South Pacific. Key storms include Tropical Cyclone Honde, Cyclone Garance, and Hurricane Alfred, with La Niña contributing to favorable conditions for their formation. Cyclone Garance may affect Reunion Island, while Hurricane Alfred is expected to bring severe weather to northeast Queensland.

On February 25, 2025, the Southern Hemisphere witnessed an unprecedented occurrence with six tropical storms actively swirling in the oceans. Three tropical cyclones were simultaneously present in the South Pacific, matching a historical record. In total, five storms were recorded in the Southern Indian and Pacific Oceans, marking a noteworthy event as tropical cyclones intensified in both regions.

The five active storms included Tropical Cyclone Honde, located off the coast of Mozambique; Cyclone Garance near Madagascar; Hurricane Bianca to the west of Australia; Hurricane Alfred northeast of Australia; and Tropical Cyclones Seru and Rae situated north of New Zealand. Notably, this extreme weather situation can be attributed to weak wind shear and elevated sea-surface temperatures—factors often associated with La Niña, as explained by AccuWeather Lead International Expert Jason Nicholls.

Cyclone Garance is expected to track southward off the Madagascar coast, potentially impacting Reunion Island shortly. The last hurricane to directly affect this island was Cyclone Firinga in 1989, and Garance’s development marks a significant event for the area.

Meanwhile, Hurricane Alfred originated in the Coral Sea on February 24, 2025, and is poised to intensify as it moves southward. It is expected to bring heavy rainfall and strong winds to northeast Queensland over the weekend, as noted by AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Expert Paul Pastelok.

In summary, the Southern Hemisphere has recently experienced a rare occurrence of six simultaneous tropical storms, mainly influenced by favorable wind and temperature conditions. Cyclone Garance is set to approach Reunion Island, while Hurricane Alfred is anticipated to impact Australia. Such weather phenomena underline the evolving dynamics of tropical cyclones in these regions, presenting challenges and concerns for affected areas.

Original Source: www.accuweather.com