Cyclone Robyn (2024)

This article is about the 2024 Australian region tropical cyclone. For other storms of the same name, see List of storms named Robyn.

Tropical Cyclone Robyn was a deadly and erratic tropical cyclone that contributed towards heavy rains and flooding throughout the Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Java in November 2024. Robyn was the first tropical system to form during the 2024–25 Australian region cyclone season.

Tropical Cyclone Robyn

Robyn at peak intensity on 28 November
Meteorological history
Formed	18 November 2024
Dissipated	30 November 2024
Category 2 tropical cyclone
10-minute sustained (BOM)
Highest winds	100 km/h (65 mph)
Lowest pressure	985 hPa (mbar); 29.09 inHg
Tropical storm
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC)
Highest winds	100 km/h (65 mph)
Lowest pressure	988 hPa (mbar); 29.18 inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities	41 total
Injuries	109
Missing	4
Damage	>$213,000 (2024 USD)
Areas affected	Sumatra, Java, Cocos Islands
Part of the 2024–25 Australian region cyclone season

Meteorological history

Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale

Map key

Saffir–Simpson scale

  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown

Storm type

Tropical cyclone

Subtropical cyclone

Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

On 14 November, the Bureau of Meteorology noted that a tropical low could form west of Sumatra.^[1] Several days later, they noted that the tropical low was developing.^[2] Further consolidation due to a westerly wind burst, which also spawned a twin cyclone, prompted the Joint Typhoon Warning Center to first track it on 23 November.^[3] Despite deep convection being displaced due to moderate to high wind shear, the system's circulation became increasingly defined, prompting the JTWC to issue a tropical cyclone formation alert on the disturbance.^[4]

Preparations and impact

Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) warned of heavy rains from 01U across Sumatra and Java, and that much of Indonesia's coastline could experience waves of up to 1.25–2.5 m (4.1–8.2 ft), with waves of 2.5–4 m (8.2–13.1 ft) expected along the coastlines of western Sumatra, Banten in Java, and at the Sunda Strait.^[5]

Heavy rains killed ten people in Karo Regency, North Sumatra,^[6] including nine from one landslide alone.^[7] In Padang Lawas Regency flooding killed five people and destroyed two houses.^[8] In Sibolangit, flooding caused four deaths, injured nine and left two missing by 24 November.^[9] On 26 November, a landslide occurred in the town, killing nine and injuring 24.^[10][11] Severe flooding in South Tapanuli Regency killed two people, injured 76, destroyed 16 houses and damaged 345 others, with three villages recording severe damage.^[12][13][14] In Medan, floodwaters damaged 7,699 homes, affecting 24,874 residents.^[15] Damage of the flooding in North Aceh Regency was Rp3.4 billion (US$213,000).^[16]

In Lima Puluh Kota Regency, West Sumatra, flooding killed two people and destroyed three houses.^[17] A child drowned at Subulussalam, Aceh, where 17 villages were flooded.^[18] Additionally, four people were killed by a landslide in Purworejo Regency^[19] and a man died after a river overflowed at Semarang, Central Java.^[20] Landslides also damaged 209 houses in Cianjur, West Java.^[21] The Citarum River overflowed in Bandung Regency, flooding 30 villages and damaging 2,000 homes.^[22] In Malang Regency, East Java, floodwaters killed two students,^[23] while a man died of electrocution.^[24]

See also

• Tropical cyclones portal
• Indonesia portal

• Tropical cyclones in 2024
• Weather of 2024
• Cyclone Fengal - The twin of Cyclone Robyn.