1989–90 Southern Hemisphere cyclone season
Nov 1, 1989 – Apr 30, 1990 · Season ended
The 1989–90 Southern Hemisphere cyclone season produced 25 named storms, 13 at hurricane strength and 5 major storms, against a 1991–2020 average of 26.7, 13.8 and 7.5. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 215, 99% of the average.
1989–90 season at a glance
- Named storms: 25 (1991–2020 average 26.7).
- Hurricane strength (64 kt+): 13 (average 13.8).
- Major, 96 kt+: 5 (average 7.5).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 215.3, 99% of the 217 average.
- Named-storm days: 141.8, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Tropical Storm 2S, July 15, 1989.
- First storm at hurricane strength: Pedro, November 10, 1989.
- First major storm: Alibera, December 20, 1989.
- Last storm to dissipate: Ikonjo, May 23, 1990.
- All systems tracked: 29, including 4 that stayed below tropical-storm strength.
Counts use 1-minute best-track winds: named storms reached 34 kt (39 mph), the next column 64 kt (74 mph) and major storms 96 kt (111 mph). Regional agencies here use 10-minute winds (3-minute in India), so their official counts can differ.
Every storm of the 1989–90 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TD 1S | – | TD | — | — |
| TD 2S | – | TS | — | — |
| TD 3S | – | TD | — | — |
| TD 4S | – | TD | — | — |
| TD 5S | – | TS | — | — |
| Pedro | – | C1 | 982 mb | — |
| Felicity | – | TS | 970 mb | Yes |
| Alibera | – | C4 | 954 mb | Sahavato, Madagascar |
| Baomavo | – | C2 | — | — |
| Rosita | – | TS | 988 mb | — |
| Sam | – | TS | 966 mb | — |
| Tina | – | TS | 976 mb | Yes |
| Nancy | – | C1 | 980 mb | — |
| Ofa | – | C4 | 925 mb | — |
| Dety | – | C2 | 954 mb | — |
| Cezera | – | C1 | 976 mb | — |
| Peni | – | C1 | 970 mb | — |
| Vincent | – | C1 | 966 mb | — |
| Edisoana | – | C3 | 954 mb | — |
| Greg | – | TD | 990 mb | Yes |
| Hilda | – | TS | 970 mb | — |
| Gregoara | – | C3 | 927 mb | — |
| Felana | – | TS | 991 mb | — |
| Ivor | – | C1 | 965 mb | Ayr, Australia |
| Alex | – | C4 | 927 mb | — |
| Rae | – | TS | 985 mb | — |
| Hanta | – | TS | 991 mb | — |
| Bessi | – | TS | 990 mb | — |
| Ikonjo | – | TS | 976 mb | — |
- TD 1S: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in July 1989 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- TD 2S: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in July 1989 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- TD 3S: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in September 1989 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- TD 4S: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in October 1989 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- TD 5S: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in October 1989 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Pedro: Pedro formed in the Southern Hemisphere in November 1989 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 982 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Felicity: Felicity formed in the Southern Hemisphere in December 1989 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 970 mb. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- Alibera: Alibera formed in the Southern Hemisphere in December 1989 and peaked as a Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 155 mph (250 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 954 mb. It made landfall near Sahavato, Madagascar. The system was tracked for 24 days.
- Baomavo: Baomavo formed in the Southern Hemisphere in December 1989 and peaked as a Category 2 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph (155 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- Rosita: Rosita formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 1990 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 988 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 13 days.
- Sam: Sam formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 1990 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 966 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- Tina: Tina formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 1990 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 976 mb. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Nancy: Nancy formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 1990 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 980 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 12 days.
- Ofa: Ofa formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 1990 and peaked as a Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 925 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 14 days.
- Dety: Dety formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 1990 and peaked as a Category 2 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (175 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 954 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 12 days.
- Cezera: Cezera formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 1990 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 976 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 11 days.
- Peni: Peni formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 1990 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 970 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Vincent: Vincent formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 1990 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 966 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- Edisoana: Edisoana formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 1990 and peaked as a Category 3 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 954 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- Greg: Greg formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 1990 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 990 mb. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Hilda: Hilda formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 1990 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 970 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Gregoara: Gregoara formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 1990 and peaked as a Category 3 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph (205 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 927 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 24 days.
- Felana: Felana formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 1990 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 991 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 11 days.
- Ivor: Ivor formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 1990 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 965 mb. It made landfall near Ayr, Australia. The system was tracked for 12 days.
- Alex: Alex formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 1990 and peaked as a Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph (240 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 927 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 12 days.
- Rae: Rae formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 1990 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 985 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Hanta: Hanta formed in the Southern Hemisphere in April 1990 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 991 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Bessi: Bessi formed in the Southern Hemisphere in April 1990 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 990 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Ikonjo: Ikonjo formed in the Southern Hemisphere in May 1990 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 976 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 14 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 1989–90
Cyclone Alibera was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 155 mph (250 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 954 mb, on December 20, 1989. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
39 Southern Hemisphere storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 13 matched it. It produced 21% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 1989–90
5 of the season’s 29 systems made landfall, 1 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
- December 13, 1989: Felicity, 30 mph (tropical depression)
- December 15, 1989: Felicity, 70 mph (tropical storm)
- January 1, 1990: Alibera near Sahavato, Madagascar, 80 mph (Category 1)
- January 27, 1990: Tina, 50 mph (tropical storm)
- March 5, 1990: Greg, 30 mph (tropical depression)
- March 19, 1990: Ivor, 60 mph (tropical storm)
- March 21, 1990: Ivor, 40 mph (tropical storm)
- March 21, 1990: Ivor, 35 mph (tropical depression)
- March 24, 1990: Ivor near Ayr, Australia, 30 mph (tropical depression)
How 1989–90 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 28th of 47 Southern Hemisphere seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 6 other seasons), 25th for hurricane strength (tied with 8 other seasons) and 20th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 37 named storms, in 1997, and the highest ACE is 364, in 1997.
1989–90 storm names
The 1989–90 season used 24 names: Pedro, Felicity, Alibera, Baomavo, Rosita, Sam, Tina, Nancy, Ofa, Dety, Cezera, Peni, Vincent, Edisoana, Greg, Hilda, Gregoara, Felana, Ivor, Alex, Rae, Hanta, Bessi, Ikonjo.
5 systems were tracked without a name and are listed by number.
1989–90 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 1989–90?
The 1989–90 Southern Hemisphere cyclone season had 25 named storms, 13 at hurricane strength and 5 major storms, from 29 systems tracked in all. The 1991–2020 average is 26.7 named storms, 13.8 at 64 kt or more and 7.5 major per season. The first to form was Tropical Storm 2S and the last was Ikonjo.
What was the strongest storm of 1989–90?
Cyclone Alibera. It peaked at 155 mph (250 km/h, 135 kt) with a lowest pressure of 954 mb on December 20, 1989. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 39 Southern Hemisphere storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 21% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 1989–90 season end?
Australia’s official season ran from November 1, 1989 to April 30, 1990. Our counts follow IBTrACS, which files every storm from July 1989 to June 1990 under the 1989–90 season. The busiest months are January–February. The last system, Ikonjo, dissipated on May 23, 1990.