A satellite image taken early Tuesday, February 25, 2025, shows three cyclones—Alfred, Seru, and Rae—spinning in the South Pacific, east of Australia. The image was provided by CSU/CIRA and NOAA. AP Phtoto
Three tropical cyclones—Rae, Seru, and Alfred—are swirling in the South Pacific at the same time, something scientists say doesn’t happen often. The region is currently in the peak of its cyclone season, which runs from November to April.
Tropical cyclones in the South Pacific are the same as hurricanes in the North Atlantic. The only difference is the name used in different regions.
Is This Rare?
While it’s common to see three hurricanes in the North Atlantic in September, having three tropical cyclones in the South Pacific at once is unusual but not unheard of.
Brian Tang, an atmospheric science professor, explained that a similar event happened in January 2021 with storms Lucas, Ana, and Bina. However, it is unclear if Bina reached Category 1 status.
Where Are These Storms Now?
- Cyclone Rae formed on Friday north of Fiji, bringing heavy rain and strong winds that damaged fruit trees in some areas.
- Cyclone Alfred developed on Monday in the Coral Sea and is expected to bring heavy rainfall and possible flooding to Queensland, Australia, this weekend.
- Cyclone Seru became a cyclone on Tuesday and is currently moving toward Vanuatu, though it is expected to stay offshore.
Why Are There Three Cyclones At The Same Time?
Scientists aren’t sure, but they believe natural atmospheric changes play a role.
Gabriel Vecchi, a climate scientist, pointed to a phenomenon called the Madden–Julian Oscillation. This weather pattern creates areas of rising air and heavy rainfall that move around the world over several weeks. He suggests that this pattern could be influencing the storm activity in the South Pacific right now.
However, Vecchi also noted that the atmosphere is unpredictable. “There’s a lot of natural fluctuation in it … we need to be open to the possibility that factors that are beyond our ability to predict might have led to these three cyclones at the same time,” he said.
