2024–25 South Pacific cyclone season
The 2024–25 South Pacific cyclone season was one of the least active seasons on record within the 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 ended 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 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.
Seasonal forecasts
Ahead of the season officially starting on 1 November, the Fiji Meteorological Service and New Zealand's National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, both issued a tropical cyclone outlook that discussed the upcoming season. 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.The Southwest Pacific tropical cyclone outlook issued by New Zealand's National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research 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. 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.
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. 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.
Both outlooks 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. It was 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.
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. File:Alfred, Seru, Rae 2025-2-25.jpg|200px|thumb|Three systems active on 25 February: Cyclone Alfred, Cyclone Seru, and Cyclone Rae.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 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 turned post-tropical on 26 February and Seru degenerated into a remnant low on 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
Tropical Depression 01F
On 28 December, A disturbance Formed near Fiji, designated as Tropical Disturbance 01F by the FMS. Soon. 01F strengthed, and then the FMS upgraded it into a tropical depression. It then went over Fiji with tropical storm-force winds. Soon on 30 December, it dissipated. It's max winds were 60mph. It didn't cause damage, and no deaths were reported.Tropical Disturbance 02F
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 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. 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.
Tropical Depression 05F
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.Tropical Disturbance 06F
Tropical Depression 07F
Tropical Depression 08F
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. 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. 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 14 April by the Fiji Meteorological Service. By 15 April Tam peaked at 85km/h winds and 986 hpa. Tam 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. Strong waves caused by Tam resulted in 5 drownings in New South Wales. By 17 April, Cyclone Tam had caused power outages at 6,000 properties in Northland, the Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty and Gisborne.By 18 April, Cyclone Tam had caused flooding in the Coromandel Peninsula, disrupting roads and highways. In addition, flooding and strong winds were also reported in the Far North District, causing road closures and flight disruptions. By 19 April, Auckland authorities had issued an emergency alert in response to flooding, thunderstorms and travel disruptions. On 20 April, Auckland authorities issued a second emergency alert in response to flooding caused by Cyclone Tam.
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. By 22 April, line companies had restored power to most houses in Northland, with about 25 Far North homes still remaining disconnected.