Simultaneous Activity of Six Tropical Cyclones in the Southern Hemisphere
On Tuesday, six tropical cyclones were recorded simultaneously in the southern hemisphere, including Severe Tropical Cyclone Alfred near Australia and Intense Tropical Cyclone Garance by Madagascar. While infrequent, this occurrence reiterates the complex dynamics of tropical weather systems.
On Tuesday, an extraordinary meteorological phenomenon transpired as six named tropical cyclones became active concurrently in the southern hemisphere, with several situated in close proximity. This event is noteworthy within the context of tropical cyclone activity.
Three of the cyclones emerged in the south-west Pacific. Severe Tropical Cyclone Alfred, which formed on February 20 in the Coral Sea northeast of Australia, intensified to category-4 hurricane strength on the Thursday following its formation. Alfred currently boasts sustained winds of 105 mph (170 km/h) with gusts reaching approximately 140 mph and is tracking southward, parallel to the Queensland coast. Warnings regarding strong winds and rough seas have been issued, as the cyclone’s proximity to the coast remains uncertain.
Additionally, two shorter-lived tropical storms, Rae and Seru, developed in the same region. Tropical Cyclone Rae formed just north of Fiji on February 22 and moved southward across the islands, causing significant damage due to heavy rains, strong gusts of 100 mph, and resulting flooding. In contrast, Tropical Cyclone Seru, which formed over the southern Solomon Islands on February 24, traveled southwards, passing east of Vanuatu and New Caledonia while remaining offshore.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Bianca also contributed to this rare occurrence, becoming active between February 18 and February 27 in the Timor Sea, just northwest of Australia. Bianca reached a peak intensity equivalent to a category 3 hurricane and navigated west before veering south without making landfall, effectively avoiding any destructive impact on land.
In the south-west Indian Ocean, two additional cyclones were noted. The intense category-3 Tropical Cyclone Garance developed northeast of Madagascar on Monday and subsequently moved southward. Following its path near Mauritius, Garance is expected to impact Réunion Island with gusts up to 120 mph and potential rainfall totals approaching 600mm. Meanwhile, Severe Tropical Storm Honde, a category-1 equivalent storm, formed in the Mozambique Channel and is progressing south-east, skirting the southern coast of Madagascar.
Though the occurrence of six simultaneous tropical cyclones is infrequent, it is not entirely unprecedented. In August 1974, the Pacific Ocean recorded a similar event of six concurrent named storms, while the Atlantic’s record stands at five storms simultaneously active, set in September 1971, underscoring the rarity yet possibility of such meteorological events.
In conclusion, the simultaneous activity of six tropical cyclones in the southern hemisphere represents a significant and unusual meteorological phenomena, with the most notable cyclones being Severe Tropical Cyclone Alfred and Intense Tropical Cyclone Garance. While such occurrences are rare, they highlight the dynamic nature of weather systems and the evolving patterns within our climate. Monitoring efforts by meteorological agencies remain critical in navigating these challenging weather conditions.
Original Source: www.theguardian.com
