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HurriTracker

2009–10 Southern Hemisphere cyclone season

Nov 1, 2009 – Apr 30, 2010 · Season ended

The 2009–10 Southern Hemisphere cyclone season produced 27 named storms, 16 at hurricane strength and 9 major storms, against a 1991–2020 average of 26.7, 13.8 and 7.5. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 209, 97% of the average.

2008–09 season2010–11 seasonAll Southern Hemisphere seasons
Named storms
27
Avg 26.7 (1991–2020)
Hurricane strength
16
64 kt or stronger · avg 13.8
Major (Cat 3+)
9
Including 2 Category 5
Accumulated energy
97% of normal
ACE 209 vs 1991–2020 avg 217
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Tracks colored by peak strengthTSC1C2C3C4C5

2009–10 season at a glance

  • Named storms: 27 (1991–2020 average 26.7).
  • Hurricane strength (64 kt+): 16 (average 13.8).
  • Major, 96 kt+: 9, including 2 at Category 5 strength (average 7.5).
  • Accumulated cyclone energy: 209.3, 97% of the 217 average.
  • Named-storm days: 113.8, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
  • First named storm: Anja, November 14, 2009.
  • First storm at hurricane strength: Anja, November 15, 2009.
  • First major storm: Anja, November 15, 2009.
  • Last storm to dissipate: Joel, May 29, 2010.
  • All systems tracked: 27, every one of which reached 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 2009–10 season

StormDatesPeakMin pressureLandfall
Anja – C3944 mb—
Bongani – TS993 mb—
Cleo – C4937 mb—
Laurence – C4926 mbYes
Mick – C1974 mbBa, Fiji
David – TS982 mb—
Edzani – C5918 mb—
Magda – C1974 mbYes
Neville – TS997 mb—
Olga – TS987 mbAtherton, Australia
Nisha – TS982 mb—
TD 11S – TS996 mb—
Oli – C4937 mb—
Fami – TS985 mbMorondava, Madagascar
Pat – C2956 mb—
Rene – C3948 mb—
Gelane – C4929 mb—
Sarah – TS996 mb—
Hubert – TS985 mbMananjary, Madagascar
50 – TS995 mb—
Tomas – C4937 mb—
Ului – C5918 mbLuganville, Vanuatu
Imani – C1963 mb—
Paul – C1970 mbYes
Robyn – C1974 mb—
Sean – TS978 mb—
Joel – C1990 mb—
  • Anja: Anja formed in the Southern Hemisphere in November 2009 and peaked as a Category 3 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 944 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
  • Bongani: Bongani formed in the Southern Hemisphere in November 2009 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 993 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
  • Cleo: Cleo formed in the Southern Hemisphere in December 2009 and peaked as a Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 937 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 14 days.
  • Laurence: Laurence formed in the Southern Hemisphere in December 2009 and peaked as a Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph (240 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 926 mb. The system was tracked for 16 days.
  • Mick: Mick formed in the Southern Hemisphere in December 2009 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 974 mb. It made landfall near Ba, Fiji. The system was tracked for 5 days.
  • David: David formed in the Southern Hemisphere in December 2009 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 982 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 19 days.
  • Edzani: Edzani formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 2010 and peaked as a Category 5 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph (260 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 918 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 14 days.
  • Magda: Magda formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 2010 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 974 mb. The system was tracked for 6 days.
  • Neville: Neville formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 2010 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 997 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
  • Olga: Olga formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 2010 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 987 mb. It made landfall near Atherton, Australia. The system was tracked for 11 days.
  • Nisha: Nisha formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 2010 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 982 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
  • TD 11S: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 2010 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 996 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
  • Oli: Oli formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 2010 and peaked as a Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 937 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 11 days.
  • Fami: Fami formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 2010 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 985 mb. It made landfall near Morondava, Madagascar. The system was tracked for 2 days.
  • Pat: Pat formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 2010 and peaked as a Category 2 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 956 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
  • Rene: Rene formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 2010 and peaked as a Category 3 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 948 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
  • Gelane: Gelane formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 2010 and peaked as a Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (230 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 929 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
  • Sarah: Sarah formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 2010 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 996 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 13 days.
  • Hubert: Hubert formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 2010 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 985 mb. It made landfall near Mananjary, Madagascar. The system was tracked for 8 days.
  • 50: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 2010 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 995 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
  • Tomas: Tomas formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 2010 and peaked as a Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 937 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
  • Ului: Ului formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 2010 and peaked as a Category 5 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph (260 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 918 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near Luganville, Vanuatu and last near Cannonvale, Australia. The system was tracked for 12 days.
  • Imani: Imani formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 2010 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 963 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
  • Paul: Paul formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 2010 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 970 mb. The system was tracked for 9 days.
  • Robyn: Robyn formed in the Southern Hemisphere in April 2010 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 974 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
  • Sean: Sean formed in the Southern Hemisphere in April 2010 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 978 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
  • Joel: Joel formed in the Southern Hemisphere in May 2010 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 990 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.

Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.

Strongest storm of 2009–10

Cyclone Edzani was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 160 mph (260 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 918 mb, on January 8, 2010. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.

11 Southern Hemisphere storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 25 matched it. It produced 11% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.

Landfalls in 2009–10

8 of the season’s 27 systems made landfall, 4 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.

  • December 11, 2009: Laurence, 35 mph (tropical depression)
  • December 14, 2009: Mick near Ba, Fiji, 75 mph (Category 1)
  • December 16, 2009: Laurence, 100 mph (Category 2)
  • December 18, 2009: Laurence, 45 mph (tropical storm)
  • December 21, 2009: Laurence, 145 mph (Category 4)
  • January 21, 2010: Magda, 70 mph (tropical storm)
  • January 24, 2010: Olga near Atherton, Australia, 30 mph (tropical depression)
  • January 29, 2010: Olga, 45 mph (tropical storm)
  • February 2, 2010: Fami near Morondava, Madagascar, 50 mph (tropical storm)
  • March 10, 2010: Hubert near Mananjary, Madagascar, 50 mph (tropical storm)
  • March 11, 2010: Ului near Luganville, Vanuatu, 40 mph (tropical storm)
  • March 20, 2010: Ului near Cannonvale, Australia, 80 mph (Category 1)
  • March 27, 2010: Paul, 35 mph (tropical depression)
  • March 29, 2010: Paul, 70 mph (tropical storm)
  • March 29, 2010: Paul, 80 mph (Category 1)
  • March 31, 2010: Paul, 40 mph (tropical storm)

How 2009–10 ranks since 1980

The season ranks 24th of 47 Southern Hemisphere seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 2 other seasons), 7th for hurricane strength (tied with 5 other seasons) and 25th for accumulated cyclone energy.

The record since 1980 is 37 named storms, in 1997, and the highest ACE is 364, in 1997.

2009–10 storm names

The 2009–10 season used 25 names: Anja, Bongani, Cleo, Laurence, Mick, David, Edzani, Magda, Neville, Olga, Nisha, Oli, Fami, Pat, Rene, Gelane, Sarah, Hubert, Tomas, Ului, Imani, Paul, Robyn, Sean, Joel.

2 systems were tracked without a name and are listed by number.

2009–10 season FAQ

How many named storms were there in 2009–10?

The 2009–10 Southern Hemisphere cyclone season had 27 named storms, 16 at hurricane strength and 9 major storms, from 27 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 Anja and the last was Joel.

What was the strongest storm of 2009–10?

Cyclone Edzani. It peaked at 160 mph (260 km/h, 140 kt) with a lowest pressure of 918 mb on January 8, 2010. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 11 Southern Hemisphere storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 11% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.

When did the 2009–10 season end?

Australia’s official season ran from November 1, 2009 to April 30, 2010. Our counts follow IBTrACS, which files every storm from July 2009 to June 2010 under the 2009–10 season. The busiest months are January–February. The last system, Joel, dissipated on May 29, 2010.