2024–25 South Pacific cyclone season
Cyclone season in the South Pacific Ocean From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 2024–25 South Pacific cyclone season was one of the least active seasons on record within South Pacific Ocean to the east of 160°E, seeing four named storms forming, none of which intensified into severe tropical cyclones, the first such occurrence since the 2008–09 season. The season officially started on 1 November 2024, and will end on 30 April 2025; however a tropical cyclone could form at any time between 1 July 2024, and 30 June 2025, and would count towards the season total. During the season, tropical cyclones will be officially monitored by the Fiji Meteorological Service, Australian Bureau of Meteorology and New Zealand's MetService. The United States Armed Forces through the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) will also monitor the basin and issue unofficial warnings for American interests. The FMS attaches a number and an F suffix to tropical disturbances that form in or move into the basin while the JTWC designates significant tropical cyclones with a number and a P suffix. The BoM, FMS and MetService all use the Australian Tropical Cyclone Intensity Scale and estimate windspeeds with a period of approximately ten minutes, while the JTWC estimates sustained winds over a 1-minute period, which are subsequently compared to the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale (SSHWS).
| 2024–25 South Pacific cyclone season | |
|---|---|
Season summary map | |
| Seasonal boundaries | |
| First system formed | 28 December 2024 |
| Last system dissipated | 16 April 2025 |
| Strongest storm | |
| Name | Rae |
| • Maximum winds | 110 km/h (70 mph) (10-minute sustained) |
| • Lowest pressure | 975 hPa (mbar) |
| Seasonal statistics | |
| Total disturbances | 11 |
| Total depressions | 8 |
| Tropical cyclones | 4 |
| Severe tropical cyclones | 0 (record low, tied with 2008–09) |
| Total fatalities | 0 (6) |
| Total damage | Unknown |
| Related articles | |
Seasonal forecasts
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| Source/Record | Region | Tropical Cyclone |
Severe Tropical Cyclones |
Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Records | ||||
| Average (1969–70 – 2023–24): | 160°E – 120°W | 7 | 3 | [1] |
| Record high: | 160°E – 120°W | 1997–98: 16 | 1982–83: 9 | [2] |
| Record low: | 160°E – 120°W | 1990–91: 2 | 2008–09: 0 | [2] |
| Predictions | ||||
| NIWA October | 135°E – 120°W | 9–14 | 4–8 | [3] |
| FMS Whole | 160°E – 120°W | 5–6 | 1–2 | [1] |
| FMS Western | 160°E – 180° | 2–5 | 1–2 | [1] |
| FMS Eastern | 180° – 120°W | 1–2 | 0–1 | [1] |
Ahead of the season officially starting on 1 November, the Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS) and New Zealand's National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), both issued a tropical cyclone outlook that discussed the upcoming season.[1][3] These outlooks took into account a variety of factors such as a developing weak to moderate La Niña event and what had happened in previous seasons such as 1983–84, 1995–96, 2000–01, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2016–17 and 2017–18.[1][3] The Southwest Pacific tropical cyclone outlook issued by New Zealand's National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) in conjunction with MetService and various other Pacific meteorological services, predicted that six to ten tropical cyclones would occur over the South Pacific Ocean between 135°E and 120°W.[3] The outlook also predicted that three to four of these tropical cyclones would intensify further and become either a Category three, four or five severe tropical cyclone on the Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale.[3] In addition to contributing towards the Southwest Pacific tropical cyclone outlook, the FMS predicted that between five and six tropical cyclones would occur within the basin, while one or two of these tropical cyclones were expected to intensify further and become either a category three, four or five severe tropical cyclone on the Australian scale.[1] Both outlooks also predicted that the majority of systems would occur to the west of the International Dateline, which as a result meant that the Solomon Islands had a normal to elevated risk of being impacted by a tropical cyclone.[1][3] It was also predicted that Vanuatu and New Caledonia had a normal chance of being impacted by a tropical cyclone while Fiji, Niue, Samoa, American Samoa, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Wallis and Futuna had a normal to reduced chance of being impacted by a tropical cyclone.[3]
Seasonal summary
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Early season activity
The season began abnormally late, the first system of the season, Tropical Depression 01F formed in late December. The storm eventually made landfall in Fiji and dissipated during the last few days of the year. Tropical Disturbances 02F and 03F were designated on 31 December and 5 January respectively, both stayed out to sea moving southeastwards before both dissipating 3 days later.
The first named storm of the season, Tropical Cyclone Pita formed on 9 January. The storm dropped heavy rains that resulted in flooding across Samoa and Fiji, isolated flooding occurred in the latter nation including the collapse of a bridge.
Peak season activity
After a long pause in activity, two Tropical Depressions (05F and 07F) were monitored in early and mid-February. 06F however failed to reach Tropical Depression status. Tropical Depression 08F were monitored later that month. On 22 February Tropical Cyclone Rae developed passing just east of Fiji. On 23 February, the Fiji Meteorological Service named Tropical Cyclone Rae. Rae peaked on 25 February with winds of 110km/h and 975 hpa. A few days later on 24 February, Tropical Cyclone Seru formed. Seru peaked with 110km/h and 980 hpa on 25 February. Rae and Seru turned extratropical on 26 February and 1 March, respectively.
Late season activity
After a second, even more significant lull in activity, Tropical Cyclone Tam was named on 14 April by the Fiji Meteorological Service. It intensified into a deep subtropical cyclone by 16 April, bringing severe weather to northern New Zealand and causing 5 deaths in New South Wales in Australia.
Systems
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Tropical Depression 01F
 | This section needs to be updated. (January 2025) |
Tropical Disturbance 02F
| This section needs to be updated. (January 2025) |
On 31 December, a low-pressure area formed on the sea northeastern of Australia. It became a tropical disturbance on the same day.
Tropical Disturbance 03F
On 5 January, a low-pressure area formed near Samoa. The Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS) noticed it and designated it as a tropical disturbance on the same day, stating it lay within a low sheared environment with good upper divergence, and over sea surface temperature at 30°C. FMS analysed the potential for tropical cyclone development to be low to moderate.[4] Later that day, the FMS downgraded it to a very low chance. After heading southeastward, it became extratropical on 8 January, causing the FMS to cease advisories.
Tropical Cyclone Pita
The Fiji Meteorological Service named Cyclone Pita as the first tropical cyclone of the season. The storm passed over Niue and Cook Islands before being downgraded to a depression.
Heavy rains associated with the tropical cyclone caused flooding in Fiji and Samoa. In Fiji, this flooding resulted in isolated damages, including the collapse of a bridge, although no fatalities were reported.[5]
Tropical Depression 05F
| This section needs to be updated. (January 2025) |
Tropical Depression 05F was a tropical storm that formed on 31 February. This tropical storm was close to the Loyalty Islands, causing damages and no electricity, until it dissipated on 5 February. [citation needed]
Tropical Disturbance 06F
| Tropical disturbance (Australian scale) | |
| Subtropical storm (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | 4 February (Entered basin) – 8 February |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 75 km/h (45 mph) (1-min); 996 hPa (mbar) |
| This section needs to be updated. (February 2025) |
Tropical Depression 07F
| Tropical depression (Australian scale) | |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | 11 February (Entered basin) – 13 February |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 75 km/h (45 mph) (1-min); 998 hPa (mbar) |
| This section needs to be updated. (February 2025) |
Tropical Depression 08F
| This section needs to be updated. (February 2025) |
Tropical Cyclone Rae
On 22 February, the FMS designated Tropical Depression 09F and later had a moderate to high chance to become a tropical cyclone. On 23 February at 06:00 UTC, the FMS named Tropical Cyclone Rae.[6] Rae brought heavy rainfall and triggered flooding to parts of Fiji. In Sawana, a lot of trees were uprooted by strong winds and blocked roads on Vanua Balavu. Farms were destroyed and the village suffered from food and water shortage.
Tropical Cyclone Seru
On the 24th of February, Tropical Cyclone Seru formed northeast of Vanuatu. It slowly intensified while tracking south over the next few days, becoming a Category 2 tropical cyclone on the Australian scale.[7] Seru caused minimal damage in southern Vanuatu, and dissipated into a remnant low on the 1st of March.
Tropical Cyclone Tam
Tropical Cyclone Tam was named on 14th April by the Fiji Meteorological Service. It transitioned into a deep subtropical cyclone on the 16th April and caused severe weather conditions in northern New Zealand, leading to power outages and travel disruptions in the Northland Region and Auckland.[8] Strong waves cased by Tam resulted in 5 drownings in New South Wales.[9] By 17 April, Cyclone Tam had caused power outages at 6,000 properties in Northland, the Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty and Gisborne.[10][11]
By 18 April, Cyclone Tam had caused flooding in the Coromandel Peninsula, disrupting roads and highways.[11] In addition, flooding and strong winds were also reported in the Far North District, causing road closures and flight disruptions.[12] By 19 April, Auckland authorities had issued an emergency alert in response to flooding, thunderstorms and travel disruptions.[13] On 20 April, Auckland authorities issued a second emergency alert in response to flooding caused by Cyclone Tam.[14]
By 21 April, ex-tropical Cyclone Tam had begun to ease despite heavy rain and thunderstorms in parts of the North and South Island. At its peak, 24,000 homes in Northland had experienced power outages. By 21 April, fewer than 100 houses in Northland remained without power. The Auckland Council inspected 16 properties that had experienced flooding.[15] By 22 April, line companies had restored power to most houses in Northland, with about 25 Far North homes still remaining disconnected.[16]
Other systems
On 13 December, a subtropical cyclone formed near the Cook Islands and was designated 95P by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. It transitioned into an extratropical cyclone on 17 December.[17]
Storm names
Within the Southern Pacific, a tropical depression is judged to have reached tropical cyclone intensity should it reach winds of 65 km/h (40 mph) and it is evident that gales are occurring at least halfway around the center. Tropical depressions intensifying into a tropical cyclone between the Equator and 26°S and between 160°E - 120°W are named by the FMS; should a tropical depression intensify to the south of 26°S between 160°E and 120°W it will be named in conjunction with the FMS by MetService. Should a tropical cyclone move out of the basin and into the Australian region it will retain its original name. The next 12 names are listed below: [18]
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Season effects
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This table lists all the storms that developed in the South Pacific to the east of longitude 160°E during the 2024–25 season. It includes their intensity on the Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale, duration, name, landfalls, deaths, and damages. All data is taken from RSMC Nadi and/or TCWC Wellington, and all of the damage figures are in 2024 or 2025 USD.
| Name | Dates | Peak intensity | Areas affected | Damage (USD) |
Deaths | Refs | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | Wind speed | Pressure | ||||||
| 01F | December 28 – 30 | Tropical depression | Not specified | 1004 hPa (29.65 inHg) | Fiji | None | None | |
| 02F | December 31, 2024 – January 2, 2025 | Tropical disturbance | Not specified | 1006 hPa (29.71 inHg) | None | None | None | |
| 03F | January 5 – 8 | Tropical disturbance | Not specified | 997 hPa (29.44 inHg) | Samoa, Niue | None | None | |
| Pita | January 9 – 12 | Category 1 tropical cyclone | 65 km/h (40 mph) | 995 hPa (29.38 inHg) | Tonga, Niue, Cook Islands | None | None | |
| 05F | January 31 – February 5 | Tropical depression | Not specified | 997 hPa (29.44 inHg) | Loyalty Islands, Vanuatu | None | None | |
| 06F | February 4 – 8 | Tropical disturbance | Not specified | 996 hPa (29.41 inHg) | New Caledonia | None | None | |
| 07F | February 11 – 13 | Tropical depression | Not specified | 998 hPa (29.47 inHg) | New Caledonia | None | None | |
| 08F | February 19 – 22 | Tropical depression | Not specified | 998 hPa (29.47 inHg) | Niue | None | None | |
| Rae | February 22 – 26 | Category 2 tropical cyclone | 110 km/h (70 mph) | 975 hPa (28.79 inHg) | Fiji, Wallis and Futuna, Tonga | Unknown | None | |
| Seru | February 24 – 27 | Category 2 tropical cyclone | 110 km/h (70 mph) | 980 hPa (28.94 inHg) | Fiji, Vanuatu | None | None | |
| Tam | April 14 – 16 | Category 1 tropical cyclone | 85 km/h (50 mph) | 988 hPa (29.18 inHg) | Vanuatu, Norfolk Island, New Zealand, Australia (New South Wales) | Unknown | 0 (6) | |
| Season aggregates | ||||||||
| 11 systems | 28 December 2024 – 16 April 2025 | 110 km/h (70 mph) | 975 hPa (28.79 inHg) | Unknown | 0 (6) | |||
See also
- Weather of 2024 and 2025
- List of Southern Hemisphere cyclone seasons
- Tropical cyclones in 2024 and 2025
- Atlantic hurricane seasons: 2024, 2025
- Pacific hurricane seasons: 2024, 2025
- Pacific typhoon seasons: 2024, 2025
- North Indian Ocean cyclone seasons: 2024, 2025
- 2024–25 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season
- 2024–25 Australian region cyclone season
References
External links
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