Simultaneous Cyclone Activity in the Southern Hemisphere: A Rare Event
On Tuesday, six tropical cyclones were active simultaneously in the southern hemisphere, including Severe Tropical Cyclone Alfred in the south-west Pacific, which reached category-4 status. Other cyclones include Rae, Seru, Bianca, Garance, and Honde, with varying impacts and intensities. Although rare, simultaneous cyclones within the southern hemisphere do occur, with previous records noted in both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
On Tuesday, an unusual meteorological phenomenon was observed as six named tropical cyclones became active simultaneously in the southern hemisphere, with several located near each other. Three cyclones formed in the south-west Pacific region, with Severe Tropical Cyclone Alfred emerging on February 20 in the Coral Sea, north-east of Australia. Alfred reached a category-4 hurricane status, with sustained winds of 105 mph (170 km/h) and gusts of 140 mph, tracking southward along the Queensland coast, prompting warnings for strong winds and rough seas.
Further east, Tropical Cyclones Rae and Seru developed in close succession. Cyclone Rae, forming on February 22 just north of Fiji, caused significant impact with heavy rainfall and gusts reaching 100 mph, damaging several islands. Cyclone Seru, forming on February 24 over the southern Solomon Islands, travelled southward, affecting regions east of Vanuatu and New Caledonia without making landfall.
In the Indian Ocean, Severe Tropical Cyclone Bianca formed in the Timor Sea and was active from February 18 to 27. It achieved a peak intensity equivalent to a category 3 hurricane as it navigated westward and then south, avoiding land impact.
Two additional cyclones were identified in the south-west Indian Ocean, both originating on Monday. Intense Tropical Cyclone Garance, which reached category 3 status, formed to the north-east of Madagascar. It is projected to impact the French island of Réunion with gusts up to 120 mph and significant rainfall potential. Meanwhile, Severe Tropical Storm Honde, rated as category 1, developed in the Mozambique Channel and moved south-east, skirting the southern coast of Madagascar.
Simultaneous occurrences of this many named storms are relatively rare but not unheard of. The Pacific Ocean witnessed an instance of six simultaneous named storms in August 1974, while the record for the Atlantic stands at five, recorded in September 1971.
The occurrence of six tropical cyclones simultaneously in the southern hemisphere is notable, with significant meteorological impacts from Severe Tropical Cyclone Alfred, Rae, and Seru in the Pacific, alongside Bianca, Garance, and Honde in the Indian Ocean. This highlights the complex dynamics of tropical storm formation in the region, indicating that while such events are infrequent, they are within the realm of meteorological possibilities.
Original Source: www.theguardian.com
