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Tropical cyclones in 2025
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In 2025, tropical cyclones have been forming in seven major bodies of water, commonly known as tropical cyclone basins. Tropical cyclones are named by various weather agencies when they attain maximum sustained winds of 35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph). The strongest and costliest system this year so far is Hurricane Melissa, which attained a minimum barometric pressure of 892 hPa (26.34 inHg), and caused damages of around $8 billion in Jamaica, Cuba and Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic). The deadliest system so far is a deep depression in the North Indian Ocean which caused 111 deaths in Nepal, India and Bhutan. The accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) index for the year (seven basins combined) so far, as calculated by Colorado State University (CSU), is 681.9 units overall.[1]
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Tropical cyclones are primarily monitored by ten warning centers around the world, which are designated as a Regional Specialized Meteorological Center (RSMC) or a Tropical Cyclone Warning Center (TCWC) by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). These centers are: National Hurricane Center (NHC), Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPHC), Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Météo-France (MFR), Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG), Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM), Papua New Guinea's National Weather Service (PNGNWS), Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS), and New Zealand's MetService. Unofficial, but still notable, warning centers include the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA; albeit official within the Philippines), the United States's Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC), and the Brazilian Navy Hydrographic Center.
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Global atmospheric and hydrological conditions
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North Atlantic Ocean
Tropical cyclogenesis in the Atlantic Ocean began on June 23 with the formation of Tropical Storm Andrea,[2] three weeks after the official start of the season and three days later than the basin's average first named storm date.[3] This marked the latest start to an Atlantic hurricane season since 2014, when Hurricane Arthur developed on July 1.[4] Andrea remained over open waters in the central Atlantic.[2] The second storm, Tropical Storm Barry, formed in the Bay of Campeche on June 28[5] and made landfall near Tampico the following day.[6]
Early-season storm formation was limited by several factors. A sprawling North Atlantic High steered tropical waves emerging from West Africa farther south than usual, toward Central America and into the eastern Pacific Ocean. In addition, persistent Saharan dust and the interaction of Kelvin and Rossby waves over the Americas contributed to a hostile environment for tropical development.[7][8]
The third storm, Tropical Storm Chantal, developed off the Atlantic coast of the Southeastern United States on July 4[9] and made landfall two days later in South Carolina.[10] All three early-season storms were short-lived, lasting a combined 2.5 days as named storms, well below the 1991-2020 average of 9.1 days through August 2.[11]
After nearly a month of inactivity, Tropical Storm Dexter developed along a stalled front off the North Carolina coast on August 4 before moving out to sea.[11] Hurricane Erin formed near Cape Verde on August 11[12] and traversed the Atlantic, intensifying into a Category 5 hurricane near the northern Leeward Islands on August 16.[13] It then brought rain, wind, and rip currents to Puerto Rico, Turks and Caicos, the Bahamas, and the East Coast of the United States, while remaining off shore.[14] Shortly after Erin became extratropical, Tropical Storm Fernand formed in the open Atlantic, southeast of Bermuda.[15] Wind shear along with dry air and stable atmospheric conditions inhibited tropical cyclogenesis during the first half of September, the climatological peak of hurricane season.[nb 1][16] This highly unusual, nearly three-week long inactive stretch came to an end with the formation of Hurricane Gabrielle on September 17, far to the east of the northern Leeward Islands.[17] The only other season in the weather satellite era to have no named storm active between the end of August and mid-September was the 1992 season.[16][18] Gabrielle approached Bermuda at Category 4, completed a right turn just southeast of the island, then moved toward the Azores.[19] Next, Hurricane Humberto formed in the central Atlantic on September 24.[20] It ultimately became the second Category 5 hurricane of the season.[21] To its west, Hurricane Imelda formed on September 27.[22] On September 30, the centers of these two systems came within 465 mi (750 km) of each other, closer together than any other two storms in the Atlantic in the satellite era.[23]
On October 7, Tropical Storm Jerry formed in the tropical Atlantic, bringing heavy winds and rains to the Leeward Islands; then came short-lived Subtropical Storm Karen, which formed in the Northern Atlantic on October 10.[24] Next, on October 13, Tropical Storm Lorenzo formed in the open Eastern Atlantic. Later, on October 21, Hurricane Melissa formed in the Caribbean Sea.[25] It became the third Category 5 hurricane of the season, and the third-most-intense Atlantic hurricane by central pressure on record, tied with the 1935 Labor Day hurricane. These three Category 5 hurricanes are the second-most of any season after 2005, the only other season to have more than two Category 5 hurricanes.[26]
Eastern & Central Pacific Oceans
Activity within the Eastern Pacific began with the formation and development of Tropical Storm Alvin on May 28, two weeks after the official start of the season, but nearly two weeks earlier than the average formation date of the basin's first named storm.[27] Alvin persisted off the coast of Mexico for a few days before degenerating into a remnant low on May 31.[28] The pace of activity quickened in early June. Two storms, Hurricane Barbara and Tropical Storm Cosme, formed on June 8, off the coast of southwestern Mexico.[29] Next came Tropical Storm Dalila, which formed near the coast of southern Mexico on June 13.[30] Hurricane Erick followed early on June 17, off the coast of southern Mexico.[31] Erick was the earliest major hurricane on record to make landfall on either coast of Mexico (Pacific or Atlantic); the previous Pacific coast record was set by Hurricane Kiko on August 26, 1989.[32][33]
Next came Hurricane Flossie on June 29,[34] which became a Category 3 hurricane off the southwestern coast of Mexico[35] Dalila, Erick, and Flossie became the earliest fourth, fifth, and sixth named storms respectively in the Eastern Pacific since official naming of storms began there in 1960.[36] Tropical activity in the Central Pacific commenced in late July, with the formation of Hurricane Iona on July 27 and Tropical Storm Keli the following day.[37] Both tracked to the south of Island of Hawaiʻi, with Iona crossing the International Date Line. Soon thereafter, Hurricane Gil formed in the open Eastern Pacific on July 31, far south-southwest of the Baja California peninsula.[38] Four tropical cyclones formed during the month of August. The month began with Hurricane Henriette, which formed on August 4 southwest of the Baja California peninsula[39] and eventually moved northeast of Hawaii.[40] It was soon joined by Tropical Storm Ivo on August 6.[41] Developing later in the month were: Tropical Storm Juliette, on August 24; and Hurricane Kiko, on August 31. Each formed well offshore of the southern tip of Baja California.[42][43] Four systems developed during September: Hurricane Lorena, on September 2;[44] Tropical Storm Mario, on September 11;[45] Hurricane Narda, on September 21;[46] and Hurricane Octave, on September 30.[47]. In early October, Hurricane Priscilla formed, ultimately paralleling the Southwestern coast of Mexico, causing rain, high surf, and rip currents.[48] Additionally, heavy rainfail was recorded in the Southwestern United States. Tropical Storm Raymond followed, bringing rainfall to Arizona, particularly Pinal County.[49] In late October, Tropical Storm Sonia formed, tracking westward out to sea.[citation needed]
Western Pacific Ocean
A short-lived depression formed on February 11 in the South China Sea. It did not strengthen and dissipated into a tropical low late the next day. The system then brought heavy rains to Vietnam, causing flooding. On June 4 a Tropical Disturbance formed assigned as 92W. As it continued westward to the South China Sea, it briefly strengthened into Tropical Depression 01W. The next day it intensified into Tropical Storm Wutip.[50] On the next day, a tropical depression formed, named Auring by PAGASA the next day.[51] On June 12, Wutip had strengthened to a Severe Tropical Storm after getting more organized. Wutip made landfalls on both Hainan and western Guangdong as a minimal typhoon, as estimated by the JTWC.[52] Auring made landfalls on Taiwan and Eastern China. Auring soon dissipated due to land interaction, with Wutip dissipating after making its second landfall. After 6 days of inactivity, 02W formed north of the Northern Mariana Islands. Wind shear soon decreased, and 02W was improving, letting it intensify to Tropical Storm Sepat. It soon degraded in an increasingly unfavorable environment and dissipated near Japan on June 24. 03W formed in the South China Sea and impacted China and Vietnam, killing six people on June 26.
Tropical Depression 04W formed near the Northern Mariana Islands on July 1, and soon strengthened to Tropical Storm Mun, which peaked at 60 mph as a Severe Tropical Storm. No damage occurred from Mun. Whilst Mun was active, a depression formed in the northeastern South China Sea. It soon strengthened into a tropical storm, named Danas by the JMA or Bising by PAGASA, shortly before it exited the PAR. Danas rapidly intensified into a typhoon before making landfall in Budai in southwestern Taiwan as a Category 3-equivalent storm. It exited to the north of Taiwan and turned west, making two landfalls as a tropical storm in Zhejiang. Following Danas was Severe Tropical Storm Nari, which took a similar track to Mun, but made landfall as a weakening storm in Hokkaido. At the same time, a depression formed in the East China Sea, designated Tropical by the JMA but subtropical by the JTWC. It was initially expected to strengthen slightly, but made landfall over Kyushu without reaching storm status. The JTWC recognized a fast-moving tropical storm that formed near the Ogasawara Islands on July 15, unofficially making a landfall on Japan the same day. It then dissipated without being recognized by the JMA, mostly due to its potentially incomplete low-level circulation. The next day, a tropical depression formed east of the Philippines, named Crising by PAGASA. The JMA soon upgraded it to a tropical storm, naming it Wipha. The JTWC followed suit the next day, and the JMA declared it a severe tropical storm on July 19. It made landfall in southern China on July 20, after extreme preparations were taken, including Wind Signal No.10, the highest possible state in Hong Kong. The JTWC estimated it as a Typhoon at landfall. Wipha emerged into the Gulf of Tonkin and briefly restrengthened before landfall in Vietnam. It dissipated the next day. Within the next few days, three more systems formed, Francisco, Co-may, and Krosa. Francisco formed east of Kyushu Island, and moved westward before degrading into a remnant low before making a landfall due to a Fujiwhara effect with Co-may, which formed west of northern Luzon and turned northeastward due to Francisco, making landfall as a Typhoon before degrading into a depression. After Francisco dissipated, Co-may began to restrengthen near where Francisco formed. It fluctuated between Storm and Depression status on July 27 and 28. It slightly strengthened before it made landfall near Shanghai. Flooding from the storm caused 55 deaths. Meanwhile, Krosa formed near Guam and strengthened to a Typhoon, before dry air intrusion caused it to weaken to a tropical storm, and fluctuated in intensity before passing near Japan. Behind that, Bailu became a short-lived tropical storm.
To start off August, several tropical depressions formed which did not intensify, including a crossover of Iona from the Central Pacific. Also there was an unnumbered, 14W, 15W, Fabian, and 17W, all depressions. While those formed, Podul moved toward Taiwan and made landfall as a Typhoon, crossing into China as a tropical storm. Following that was Lingling, which made landfall in northern Kagoshima before dissipating. Another depression formed near the Philippines on August 22, soon upgraded to Tropical Storm Kajiki. It began quick intensification as it moved westward through the northern South China Sea and approached Vietnam as a Typhoon, or a Category 2, becoming the strongest system of the season so far. After Kajiki, there was Tropical Storm Nongfa, which had a similar track to Kajiki.
The month of September began with Tropical Storm Peipah on September 2. Typhoon Tapah formed three days later, making landfall in Taishan, Guangdong, China, as a Category 1 typhoon on September 8, killing 12 people. During the peak of the season, three tropical cyclones formed: Mitag, Ragasa, and Neoguri. Typhoon Ragasa became the first super typhoon of the season, as well as the first Category 5 typhoon recorded in the basin, making it the latest Category 5 typhoon since Typhoon Hinnamnor in 2022. Typhoon Neoguri strengthened into a Category 4 tropical cyclone in fresh waters without affecting some areas. Tropical Storm Bualoi formed on September 22 near the Philippines. Before weakening, Neoguri strengthened into an unusually high-latitude Category 4 typhoon near the 40°N, making it one of the strongest unusually high-latitude cyclones on record. Meanwhile, Bualoi caused extensive damages and losses of life in the Philippines and Vietnam.
October began with the formation of Matmo, Halong, and Nakri, one of which became a very strong typhoon. Typhoon Matmo caused extensive flooding in the Philippines and Thailand, resulting in at least 23 deaths, and the damage caused by the storm is $2.24 billion which became the second costliest storm this year.
North Indian Ocean
A Depression formed in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Konkan, named ARB 01. It made a landfall on India soon after, bringing heavy rain to the region after degrading into a tropical low. It peaked with 30 mph 3-min winds and a minimum barometric pressure of 997 hPa (mbar). On May 29, Depression BOB 01 formed near West Bengal. It strengthened into a Deep Depression three hours later on the IMD scale. It made landfall on the border of West Bengal and Bangladesh 6 hours later at its peak of 35 mph 3-min winds and a minimum barometric pressure of 988 hPa (mbar). It weakened and dissipated over Bangladesh over the next 36 hours, bringing heavy rain to the region. 65 people died from the resulting landslides and flooding.
After a lull in activity, Depression BOB 02 formed over West Bengal on July 14 from a well-marked low that moved inland a day prior. The next day, another depression was designated LAND 01. It quickly dissipated after forming over Northwestern India. BOB 02 dissipated but soon regenerated, causing it to be assigned a new name, LAND 03, despite there being no recorded evidence of a LAND 02. Soon after it dissipated for good, a new Depression emerged in the extreme northern Bay of Bengal, designated as BOB 04, but, similar to BOB 02/LAND 03, there was no evidence of a BOB 03. It moved inland and soon dissipated, but brought extreme rain and flooding to the affected areas. The remnants of Wipha crossed the North Indian basin and concentrated into depression BOB 04, which brought torrential rainfall to the Kolkata area, causing many parts of the city to become waterlogged.
South-West Indian Ocean
January–June
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Dikeledi formed on January 6, gradually intensifying over the next four days until making landfall in Northern Madagascar as a Category 2 equivalent cyclone on January 11. The cyclone weakened to a tropical storm south of Mayotte before rapidly strengthening back to Category 2 intensity, making landfall near Nacala at that strength on January 13. In late January, two tropical cyclones formed; one of them, moderate Tropical Storm Faida, brought heavy rainfall to Madagascar on February 5, while the other, moderate Tropical Storm Elvis, brought rain on the South of Madagascar in the end of January[53]. After Faida dissipated, Tropical Cyclone Vince entered the basin from the Australian region on February 4. Four days later, it became the most intense cyclone of the season and the first very intense tropical cyclone since Cyclone Freddy two years before. At February 12, Vince had transitioned to being extratropical. At the same day, Taliah had entered the basin fluctuating between a moderate tropical storm and a strong tropical storm before becoming a post-tropical cyclone at February 18. Six days later, Garance and Honde had formed, Garance receiving its name the day after. Garance intensified rapidly into an Intense Tropical Cyclone, making landfall at Réunion at February 28 as a Category 2. Honde brought heavy rainfall to Mozambique and then southern Madagascar as a Category 1. Jude formed as a disturbance south of the Chagos Islands on March 6. It intensified at March 8, receiving its name. Ivone entered the basin on March 8 and on the same day intensified to a Moderate Tropical Storm and received its name. Jude made landfall in Mozambique as a Category 1 at March 10. Courtney from the Australian region entered the basin on March 29, becoming an intense tropical cyclone. After nearly a month of inactivity, on April 20 Subtropical storm Kanto was named reaching a peak intensity of 75 km/h (10 minute sustained) winds with a central pressure of 993 hPa. This was the first subtropical storm named by Météo-France, which added the subtropical cyclone category starting with this cyclone season.
On 25 October 2025, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that a depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal was moving westwards and likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm before crossing the Andhra Pradesh coast near Kakinada with wind speeds up to 100 km/h.[54]
July–December
The season began with the crossover of a tropical low from the Australian basin on July 16. The low was designated Tropical Depression 01 by Météo-France, while the JTWC designated the depression as Tropical Storm 01S a little later.[citation needed] The system did not strengthen and dissipated 2 days later without affecting land. On August 7, a tropical disturbance formed well north of the Mascarenes. Later that day it was upgraded to a tropical depression then subsequently named Awo that evening as it strengthened into a Moderate Tropical Storm. Awo was the first named storm to form in August within the South-West Indian Ocean basin since Severe Tropical Storm Aline in 1969, though Severe Tropical Storm Tony did enter the basin during August in 1979. Awo only briefly survived, encountering high shear and dissipating the next day. On the 7 September, Météo–France started monitoring a disturbance south of Diego Garcia, on the 9 September. Briefly on 9 September, it intensified into a tropical depression. The system was then classified as a Moderate Tropical Storm and named Blossom, becoming the second named storm of the season. Blossom maintained its intensity in a marginal environment, before degenerating into a remnant low–pressure area on 11 September. On 17 October, a low–pressure area formed near Diego Garcia and was marked by Météo-France as the fourth Zone of Disturbed Weather of the season.
Australian Region
January–June
The season officially started on 1 November 2024. On 14 November, the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) noted that a tropical low may form west of Sumatra.[55] A westerly wind shear enhanced the disturbance's development. Despite moderate to high wind shear displacing deep convection, the tropical low further developed and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) issued a tropical cyclone formation alert. [56] On 28 November, the BoM named Tropical Cyclone Robyn.[57] The storm officially peaked as a high-end tropical storm before increasing wind shear caused the storm to dissipate. On 4 December, Tropical Low 04U formed off the coast of Java and headed west before dissipating on 11 December. Unfortunately, the disturbance caused landslides and floods, killing eleven people and leaving seven missing.[58][59] The rest of December had Tropical Lows 02U, 06U, 07U, and 08U. Tropical Low 07U formed southeast of the Cocos Islands and JTWC designated it as a tropical storm. 08U later became Category 3 Cyclone Dikeledi in the Southwest Indian Ocean.[citation needed]
The first half of January had Tropical Cyclone 09U and Tropical Low 10U.[60] The latter half had Sean, 13U, Taliah, and Vince. On 17 January, the BoM designated Tropical Low 11U, which absorbed 10U, and later named Sean on 19 January. A day later, the storm rapidly intensified to a Category 4 major cyclone on the Australian cyclone scale, possessing a distinct eye and intense winds. Sean dissipated a couple days later.[61] The cyclone caused heavy rainfall and gale-force winds across portions of Western Australia. A record amount of rain fell in Karratha, with 274.4 mm recorded within 24 hours on 20 January.[62] Tropical Low 13U briefly tracked along the coast of Queensland and flooding killed a 63-year-old woman.[63] On 31 January, the BoM designated Tropical Lows 14U and 15U, which were later named Taliah and Vince. After dealing with moderate wind shear, on 3 February, Taliah peaked as a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone on the Australian cyclone scale and Category 2 on the SSHWS scale. Taliah exited the basin on 12 February.[64] Vince was named on 2 February and also intensified to a Category 3 on the Australian cyclone scale before exiting BoM area of responsibility on 4 February.[65] February started with Tropical Lows 16U and 19U, though both disturbances exited the basin and entered the Fiji Meteorological Service area of responsibility. Meanwhile, the BoM designated Tropical Low 18U on 7 February, which was named Zelia on 11 February. Two days later, Zelia underwent rapid intensification due to warm sea surface temperatures and relatively low wind shear. At 00:00 UTC 13 February, Zelia intensified to a Category 4 severe tropical cyclone and later to Category 5 intensity.[66] Afterward, the cyclone stalled and underwent an eyewall replacement cycle (EWRC), which ended its rapid intensification phase.[67] Radar imagery showed an EWRC, which was later completed before landfall near De Grey, northeast of Port Hedland.[68] On 18 February, the Bureau of Meteorology designated Tropical Low 21U in the eastern side of the Indian Ocean. BOM later named the system Tropical Cyclone Bianca. On 20 February, a tropical low was spotted by the Bureau of Meteorology in the Coral Sea. The disturbance, initially designated by the agency as 22U, was noted to likely develop into a tropical cyclone over the next several days. Two days later, BOM upgraded the system to a category 1, with the name Alfred being assigned to it. On 25 February, Bianca peaked as a Category 4 severe tropical cyclone on the Australian cyclone scale and Category 3 on the SSHWS scale. Afterward, increasing wind shear and cooler sea surface temperatures caused the storm to rapidly weaken, dissipating on 27 February.[69] Over the next couple of days, Alfred continued to gradually move to the east, and was upgraded to a Category 2 tropical cyclone in the Australian scale at 16:00 AEST on 24 February. As Alfred turned south, it intensified to Category 3 status on 26 February at 22:00 AEST. The next day, the BOM further upgraded Alfred to a Category 4 cyclone, with a small eye appearing on visible satellite imagery. Later that night, an eyewall replacement cycle (ERC) occurred, prompting Alfred to fluctuate between Categories 3 and 4 on 1 March, before further weakening down to a Category 1 the following day. The cyclone then restrengthened slightly to Category 2 status by 3 March, before being downgraded to Category 1 intensity on 8 March. Alfred made landfall at Moreton Island on 01:00 AEST 8 March as a Category 1 tropical cyclone, and was downgraded to a tropical low five hours later.[70]
Tropical Low 23U formed on 4 March before exiting the basin on 8 March. The system later intensified into Tropical Storm Ivone in the South-West Indian Ocean. Tropical Cyclone 25U formed on 17 March before dissipating on 21 March.[71] Tropical Low 27U formed on 22 March and strengthened into Tropical Cyclone Courtney three days later. Afterward, Courtney intensified to a Category 5 cyclone on the Australian cyclone scale before entering the South-West Indian Ocean on 29 March.[72] Tropical Cyclone Dianne formed near North Australia on 28 March and made landfall near Derby on 29 March.[73] On 8 April, Tropical Low 29U formed in the Arafura Sea. Three days later, JTWC designated Tropical Cyclone 29S. Later on 15 April, 29S was designated as Errol by BoM. Shortly after the designation, the cyclone explosively intensified to a powerful Category 5 severe tropical cyclone cyclone.[74] Tropical Low 30U formed in the Arafura Sea on 16 April.[71] On 18 April, JTWC designated 30U as 31P. It was expected to strengthen, but wind shear soon caused it to dissipate on 23 April.
On 9 May 2025, Tropical Low 33U formed near Papua New Guinea. During 11 May, this system was upgraded to a tropical storm by the JTWC and designated 32P. 33U dissipated the next day.[71] On 14 May, Tropical Low 34U formed near the Solomon Islands. It meandered around the southern Solomon Sea but dissipated the next day.
July–December
The season began with a tropical low in TCWC Jakarta's area of responsibility on July 15. It moved into the South-West Indian Ocean a day later.
South Pacific Ocean
January–June
Tropical Disturbance 03F was designated on January 5 and stayed out to sea moving southeastwards before dissipating three days later.
The first named storm of the season, Tropical Cyclone Pita formed on January 9. 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.[75]
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 February 22 Tropical Cyclone Rae developed passing just east of Fiji. On February 23, the Fiji Meteorological Service named Tropical Cyclone Rae. Rae peaked on February 25 with winds of 110 km/h and 975 hpa. A few days later on February 24, Tropical Cyclone Seru formed north of most islands of Vanuatu. Seru peaked with 110 km/h and 980 hpa on February 25. Rae turned post-tropical on February 26 and Seru degenerated into a remnant low on March 1, respectively.
After a second, even more significant lull in activity, Tropical Cyclone Tam was named on April 14 by the Fiji Meteorological Service. It intensified into a deep subtropical cyclone by April 16, bringing severe weather and flooding to northern New Zealand and causing 5 deaths in New South Wales in Australia.[76]
July–December
South Atlantic Ocean
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Systems
Summarize
Perspective
January
In January, the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), which allows for the formation of tropical waves, is located in the Southern Hemisphere, remaining there until May.[77] This limits Northern Hemisphere cyclone formation to comparatively rare non-tropical sources.[78] In addition, the month's climate is also an important factor. In the Southern Hemisphere basins, January, at the height of the austral summer, is the most active month by cumulative number of storms since records began. Of the four Northern Hemisphere basins, none is very active in January, as the month is during the winter, but the most active basin is the Western Pacific, which occasionally sees weak tropical storms form during the month.[79] January was unusually active, with twelve systems forming and seven storms getting named.
The month started off in the South-West Indian Ocean with Cyclone Dikeledi, which intensified into a major cyclone before it made two landfalls at Antsiranana, Madagascar and Nampula Province, Mozambique, Cyclone Elvis and Cyclone Faida also formed but was downgraded into a depression by MFR in post-storm analysis. Meanwhile, short-lived Cyclone Pita formed on January 6, affecting some islands in the South Pacific basin. Weeks later, in the Australian basin, Cyclone Sean developed on January 17. Sean rapidly intensified into a Category 3-tropical cyclone, marking it the second major tropical cyclone of the year after Dikeledi. Cyclone Taliah and Cyclone Vince formed as well, with the latter rapidly intensifying into a Very Intense Tropical Cyclone in the South-West Indian Ocean, making it the strongest cyclone this month.
February
February was extremely active. It was the most active month, and one of the third-most active months in any given year on record, with twelve systems forming and seven storms getting named. A total of seven tropical cyclones reached Category 3 strength or higher, the highest number since records began in 2003.
Historically, February is normally similar to January in terms of activity, with most formations being effectively restricted to the Southern Hemisphere (with the exception of the rare Western Pacific disturbance this year). The month also tends to see more strong tropical cyclones forming compared to January, despite seeing marginally fewer overall storms, due to the monsoon being at its height in the Southern Hemisphere.[79] In the Northern Hemisphere, February is the least active month, with no Eastern or Central Pacific tropical cyclones[83] and only one Atlantic tropical cyclone having ever formed in the month. Even in the Western Pacific, February activity is low: in 2025, the month never saw a typhoon-strength storm, the last being Typhoon Higos in 2015.
The month started off active with five systems forming in January and then persisting into February: Faida, 13U, Vince, Taliah, and 05F. Cyclone Zelia formed on February 7 near the Kimberley region, and rapidly intensified into a Category 5 severe tropical cyclone six days later; it then made landfall near De Grey in Australia as a Category 4 tropical cyclone.[84] A weak depression briefly existed in the South China Sea. Two tropical cyclones formed in the Australian region on February 20 – Bianca and Alfred – while in the South-West Indian Ocean, two cyclones also formed near Madagascar: Garance and Honde. The former eventually became an intense tropical cyclone on February 27 before making landfall in the northern part of Réunion the next day as a slightly weaker tropical cyclone.
March
During March, activity tends to be lower than in preceding months. In the Southern Hemisphere, the peak of the season has normally already passed, and the monsoon has begun to weaken, decreasing cyclonic activity, however, the month often sees more intense tropical cyclones than January or February.[79] Meanwhile, in the Northern Hemisphere basins, sea surface temperatures are still far too low to normally support tropical cyclogenesis. The exception is the Western Pacific, which usually sees its first storm, often a weak depression, at some point between January and April.
March was slightly inactive, featuring five storms, four of which were named. Cyclone Alfred, Honde, and Garance formed in February and persisted into March. The strongest storm of the month is Cyclone Courtney. At the start of the month, Cyclone Jude caused 21 deaths, 4 missing people, and around 130 people injured in Southeastern Africa, primarily Mozambique and Madagascar. Alfred stalled for a day on March 5 about 333 kilometers (107 miles) away from Brisbane, Australia, as a tropical storm (a Category 2 on the Australian scale). An unnamed but tagged tropical cyclone, Cyclone 26S (or 25U) roamed near the Cocos (Kneeling) Islands with its convection mainly on its Western side. On March 28, Cyclone Dianne formed south of the Ashmore & Cartier Islands. Dianne made landfall near Derby, Australia about 37 miles (60 kilometers) on March 29, causing minimal impacts. Cyclone Courtney began weakening towards the end of March and dissipated on April 2.
April
The factors that begin to inhibit Southern Hemisphere cyclone formation in March are even more pronounced in April, with the average number of storms formed being hardly half that of March.[79][88] However, even this limited activity exceeds the activity in the Northern Hemisphere, which is rare, with the exception of the Western Pacific basin. All Pacific typhoon seasons between 1998 and 2016 saw activity between January and April, although many of these seasons saw only weak tropical depressions.[89] By contrast, only two Atlantic hurricane seasons during those years saw tropical cyclone formation during that period.[90] With the combination of the decreasing temperatures in the Southern Hemisphere and the still-low temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere, April and May tend to be the least active months worldwide for tropical cyclone formation.[88]
April 2025 was an example of this phenomenon, seeing four storms forming, three being named. The month started off in the Australian basin with the formation of Cyclone Errol, which would later become the first Category 5 equivalent cyclone of the year, and was the strongest cyclone of the month. Following that was the formation of Tropical Low 30U. In the South Pacific basin, Cyclone Tam formed and briefly impacted Vanuatu. On April 20, Kanto formed, become the first subtropical cyclone in the South-west Indian Ocean since subtropical storm Issa in April 2022.
May
Around the middle of May, the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), which allows for the formation of tropical waves and has previously remained in the Southern Hemisphere for the first five months of the year, moves to the Northern Hemisphere, allowing the northern cyclone seasons to start in earnest.[77] Without the presence of the ITCZ, Southern Hemisphere cyclones must form from non-wave sources, which are rarer.[78] For that reason, cyclone formation is relatively sparse, with May tending to be the month of the final storm in each of the three basins. Meanwhile, more intense storms are nearly unheard of, with the South-West Indian Ocean having seen only one intense tropical cyclone and no very intense tropical cyclones in the month, and the other two basins having similar levels of activity in May. In the Northern Hemisphere, May is the first month most basins see activity, due to the new presence of the ITCZ. The Pacific hurricane season begins on May 15, and although the Atlantic hurricane season officially begins on June 1, off-season storms are very common, with over half of the 21st century seasons seeing a storm form in May.[92] Although the North Indian Ocean has no official start or end date, due to the monsoon, mid-May is the beginning of a month-long period of high activity in the basin. Even in the Western Pacific, activity tends to increase throughout May.
May was a below average month featuring five cyclones, with only one named. Around the approaching middle portions of the month, Tropical Low 33U & 34U were offseason lows in the Australian region, the former formed near Papua New Guinea and was marked 32P by the JTWC, while the latter formed near the Solomon Islands. By the latter parts of the month, ARB 01 formed off the western Indian coast and moved inland. Tropical Storm Alvin formed in the Eastern Pacific and dissipated while approaching the Baja California peninsula, it was also the strongest storm of the month. BOB 01 was the second North Indian cyclone to form in May, showing the signs of increasing activity alongside ARB 01 in the North Indian Ocean during this month, BOB 01 primarily impacted Bangladesh and East India, it is so far the deadliest tropical cyclone of the year.
June
June was very active with eleven tropical cyclones forming, ten of which have been named, nine of them officially received such. Hurricane Barbara, Tropical Storm Cosme, Tropical Storm Dalila, and Hurricane Erick formed in the eastern Pacific, the latter becoming the first major hurricane in the Northern Hemisphere in the year. In the Western Pacific, Tropical Storm Wutip formed in the South China Sea and crossed Hainan before reaching South China. Tropical Depression Auring formed a few days later that month, passing near the Philippines before crossing Taiwan and reaching East China. Tropical Storm Sepat formed in the Pacific Ocean southeast of Japan. On June 24, a short-lived Tropical Storm Andrea formed in the Subtropical Atlantic, also on that day a tropical disturbance formed near the Philippines in the South China Sea, and the next day became a tropical depression tagged 03W, making landfall in Hainan and the Leizhou Peninsula on the eastern side, nearly 2 weeks after Wutip made landfall on the western side. On June 27, a new tropical disturbance in the Gulf of Honduras has been designated by the NHC,[99] causing scattered heavy rain across eastern Mexico and Guatemala. Mainly light rainfall fell over Central America, particularly Honduras and Costa Rica. It later became Tropical Storm Barry on June 29 in the Gulf of Mexico. Hurricane Flossie also formed on the same day near the Pacific coast of Mexico, persisting into the next month, July.
July
July was abnormally active compared to the previous year, featuring 18 systems, with only 12 of them being named; this month includes Mun, Danas, Chantal, Nari, Wipha, Francisco, Co-may, Krosa, Iona, Keli, Gil, and Bailu with Iona being the strongest in the month of July. Flossie became the second major hurricane in the Northern Hemisphere, which had formed in June and persisted into the current month. Mun had formed in the open Pacific Ocean with an erratic path, while Danas dropped heavy rain across Taiwan. Chantal moved up north, affecting the Carolinas. Nari made landfall on Hokkaido whilst weakening, and Wipha moved toward China, the remnants of Wipha concentrated into a depression over North Indian Ocean and became BOB 04. Also, notably, Tropical Depression 01 formed in the South-West Indian Ocean on July 16, becoming the first tropical depression or stronger there in July since 2016. Wipha, Francisco, and Co-may enhanced the southwest monsoon, producing floods in Philippines slightly similar to Gaemi in 2024. Co-may formed north of the Philippines and striked Pangasinan since 2009, due to interaction with Francisco which caused to loop northeast towards the Ilocos Region. In the Central Pacific, Hurricane Iona and Tropical Storm Keli formed in the Central Pacific. Iona strengthened to a major hurricane. Hurricane Gil formed in the Eastern Pacific while Tropical Storm Bailu formed in the West Pacific on July 31 and both of them persisted into the next month, August.
August
August tends to be the month where the frequency of tropical cyclones in the Northern Hemisphere starts to increase, mostly due to decreasing wind shear, very warm ocean temperatures, and Saharan dust beginning to play a lesser role in drying out systems.[118] The August 2025 is the first time that ten or more systems had been formed in a single week on the month of August.[citation needed]
August was an average month, Co-may, Krosa, Iona, Gil, and Bailu formed in July and persisted into August. 19 systems formed, with twelve of them named, including: Dexter, Henriette, Podul, Ivo, Awo, Fabian, Erin, Lingling, Kajiki, Fernand, Juliette, Nongfa, and Kiko with Erin being the strongest in this month, and also the first hurricane in the Atlantic basin. Kiko persisted into the next month, September.
September
September was slightly below average, but deadly and costly, with sixteen tropical cyclones forming, and fourteen of them being named. Out of all the tropical cyclones this month, Typhoon Ragasa in the western Pacific was the strongest. It caused heavy rains and devastation in parts of Hong Kong, Macau, South China, and Vietnam, resulting 29 deaths and $100 million in damage. Hurricane Kiko, a tropical storm that formed on the final day of August and persisted into September, rapidly intensified into a Category 4 major hurricane. Typhoon Bualoi first made landfall in the Philippines and then in Vietnam, causing 46 deaths and $34 million in damage. Typhoon Neoguri formed without affecting any areas, and before weakening, it strengthened into a Category 4 typhoon of unusually high latitude near 40°N, making it one of the strongest unusual high latitude cyclones on record. Hurricane Humberto in the Atlantic Ocean became the second Category 5 hurricane of the season, following Erin last month. Hurricane Imelda formed in the Bahamas, causing heavy rains in some affected areas and later peaking as a Category 2 hurricane, while Humberto weakened rapidly. Both persisted into October. The month ends with the formation of Tropical Storm Octave in the eastern Pacific Ocean, which also persisted into the next month, October.
October
October was above average, deadly, and costly, with nineteen tropical cyclones forming, and fifteen of them being named. Out of all the tropical cyclones this month, Hurricane Melissa in the North Atlantic was the strongest and most intense so far in the year globally. The month started with Typhoon Matmo, who devastated Philippines, South China, Hong Kong, Macau, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand, Matmo also killed 39 people while a weak depression called BOB 7 killed 111 people in India without causing damages. Shakhti became the first named cyclone in the 2025 North Indian Ocean cyclone season. Halong recorded heavy rainfall in Japan. Fengshen caused extensive flooding and landslides in the Philippines, despite the minor damage. Melissa explosively intensified into a major hurricane and made landfall in Jamaica as a Category 5, surpassing Hurricane Gilbert that previously held the record of the strongest landfall in Jamaica. It was also tied for the most intense landfall in the Atlantic Basin since the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane.
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Global effects
Summarize
Perspective
There are a total of seven tropical cyclone basins that tropical cyclones typically form in this table, data from all these basins are added.[150]
- The wind speeds for this tropical cyclone/basin are based on the Saffir Simpson Scale which uses 1-minute sustained winds.
- Only systems that formed either before or on December 31, 2025 are counted in the seasonal totals.
- Tropical Storm 08W was recognized by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC), which is included in this table even though it was not named by the Japan Meteorological Agency.
- Iona crossed into the Western Pacific basin according to JTWC and JMA, but it will not be counted on total of systems because the system was formed on Central Pacific.
- Only systems that formed either on or after January 1, 2025 are counted in the seasonal totals.
- The wind speeds for this tropical cyclone are based on Météo-France, which uses wind gusts.
- Although two systems formed in this basin, there are three named storms because after Tropical Low 08U moved into this basin, it was given a name, Dikeledi, by the MFR.
- According to the BoM, Cyclones Vince, Taliah, and Courtney entered the South-West Indian Ocean basin from the Australian region
- The sum of the number of systems in each basin will not equal the number shown as the total. This is because when systems move between basins, it creates a discrepancy in the actual number of systems.
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See also
Footnotes
References
External links
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