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2010–11 Southern Hemisphere cyclone season

Nov 1, 2010 – Apr 30, 2011 · Season ended

The 2010–11 Southern Hemisphere cyclone season produced 25 named storms, 10 at hurricane strength and 4 major storms, against a 1991–2020 average of 26.7, 13.8 and 7.5. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 137, 63% of the average.

2009–10 season2011–12 seasonAll Southern Hemisphere seasons
Named storms
25
Avg 26.7 (1991–2020)
Hurricane strength
10
64 kt or stronger · avg 13.8
Major (Cat 3+)
4
Avg 7.5 per season
Accumulated energy
63% of normal
ACE 137 vs 1991–2020 avg 217
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Tracks colored by peak strengthTSC1C2C3C4

2010–11 season at a glance

  • Named storms: 25 (1991–2020 average 26.7).
  • Hurricane strength (64 kt+): 10 (average 13.8).
  • Major, 96 kt+: 4 (average 7.5).
  • Accumulated cyclone energy: 136.7, 63% of the 217 average.
  • Named-storm days: 101.0, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
  • First named storm: Tropical Storm 1S, October 26, 2010.
  • First storm at hurricane strength: Abele, December 2, 2010.
  • First major storm: Wilma, January 26, 2011.
  • Last storm to dissipate: Errol, April 18, 2011.
  • All systems tracked: 25, 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 2010–11 season

StormDatesPeakMin pressureLandfall
TD 1S – TS996 mb—
Anggrek – TS982 mb—
Abele – C1963 mb—
Unnamed – TS991 mb—
Tasha – TS993 mbAtherton, Australia
Unnamed – TS993 mb—
Vince – TS989 mb—
Vania – TS982 mb—
Zelia – C2952 mb—
Wilma – C4937 mb—
Bianca – C2952 mbYes
Anthony – TS982 mbBowen, Australia
Yasi – C4922 mbAtherton, Australia
Zaka – TS989 mb—
Bingiza – C3948 mbMananara, Madagascar
TD 14S – TS996 mb—
Carlos – C1974 mbDarwin, Australia
Dianne – C1963 mb—
Atu – C4937 mb—
50 – TS989 mb—
Cherono – TS989 mb—
Bune – C1967 mb—
TD 20S – TS996 mbYes
Unnamed – TS985 mb—
Errol – TS982 mbSoe, Indonesia
  • TD 1S: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in October 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 6 days.
  • Anggrek: Anggrek formed in the Southern Hemisphere in October 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 8 days.
  • Abele: Abele formed in the Southern Hemisphere in November 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.
  • Unnamed: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in December 2010 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 991 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
  • Tasha: Tasha formed in the Southern Hemisphere in December 2010 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 993 mb. It made landfall near Atherton, Australia. The system was tracked for 3 days.
  • Unnamed: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in December 2010 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 993 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
  • Vince: Vince formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 2011 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 989 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
  • Vania: Vania formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 2011 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 6 days.
  • Zelia: Zelia formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 2011 and peaked as a Category 2 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (175 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 952 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
  • Wilma: Wilma formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 2011 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.
  • Bianca: Bianca formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 2011 and peaked as a Category 2 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (175 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 952 mb. The system was tracked for 9 days.
  • Anthony: Anthony formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 2011 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 982 mb. It made landfall near Bowen, Australia. The system was tracked for 9 days.
  • Yasi: Yasi formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 2011 and peaked as a Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 155 mph (250 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 922 mb. It made landfall near Atherton, Australia. The system was tracked for 10 days.
  • Zaka: Zaka formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 2011 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 989 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
  • Bingiza: Bingiza formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 2011 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 made 3 landfalls, first near Mananara, Madagascar and last near Morondava, Madagascar. The system was tracked for 15 days.
  • TD 14S: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 2011 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 4 days.
  • Carlos: Carlos formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 2011 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 4 landfalls, first near Darwin, Australia and last near Karratha, Australia. The system was tracked for 13 days.
  • Dianne: Dianne formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 2011 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.
  • Atu: Atu formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 2011 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.
  • 50: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 2011 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 989 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
  • Cherono: Cherono formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 2011 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 989 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 12 days.
  • Bune: Bune formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 2011 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 967 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 11 days.
  • TD 20S: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 2011 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 996 mb. The system was tracked for 7 days.
  • Unnamed: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in April 2011 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 985 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
  • Errol: Errol formed in the Southern Hemisphere in April 2011 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 982 mb. It made landfall near Soe, Indonesia. The system was tracked for 6 days.

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

Strongest storm of 2010–11

Cyclone Yasi was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 155 mph (250 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 922 mb, on February 2, 2011. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.

39 Southern Hemisphere storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 13 matched it. It produced 12% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.

Landfalls in 2010–11

8 of the season’s 25 systems made landfall, 2 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.

  • December 24, 2010: Tasha near Atherton, Australia, 45 mph (tropical storm)
  • January 25, 2011: Bianca, 35 mph (tropical depression)
  • January 25, 2011: Bianca, 40 mph (tropical depression)
  • January 30, 2011: Anthony near Bowen, Australia, 60 mph (tropical storm)
  • February 2, 2011: Yasi near Atherton, Australia, 140 mph (Category 4)
  • February 14, 2011: Bingiza near Mananara, Madagascar, 100 mph (Category 2)
  • February 15, 2011: Carlos near Darwin, Australia, 40 mph (tropical depression)
  • February 16, 2011: Carlos near Darwin, Australia, 40 mph (tropical storm)
  • February 16, 2011: Bingiza near Maintirano, Madagascar, 35 mph (tropical depression)
  • February 17, 2011: Bingiza near Morondava, Madagascar, 45 mph (tropical storm)
  • February 20, 2011: Carlos near Broome, Australia, 40 mph (tropical depression)
  • February 22, 2011: Carlos near Karratha, Australia, 65 mph (tropical storm)
  • February 23, 2011: Carlos, 70 mph (tropical storm)
  • April 2, 2011: TD 20S, 40 mph (tropical storm)
  • April 3, 2011: TD 20S, 40 mph (tropical storm)
  • April 17, 2011: Errol near Soe, Indonesia, 40 mph (tropical storm)

How 2010–11 ranks since 1980

The season ranks 28th of 47 Southern Hemisphere seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 6 other seasons), 40th for hurricane strength (tied with 5 other seasons) and 45th for accumulated cyclone energy.

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

2010–11 storm names

The 2010–11 season used 18 names: Anggrek, Abele, Tasha, Vince, Vania, Zelia, Wilma, Bianca, Anthony, Yasi, Zaka, Bingiza, Carlos, Dianne, Atu, Cherono, Bune, Errol.

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

2010–11 season FAQ

How many named storms were there in 2010–11?

The 2010–11 Southern Hemisphere cyclone season had 25 named storms, 10 at hurricane strength and 4 major storms, from 25 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 1S and the last was Errol.

What was the strongest storm of 2010–11?

Cyclone Yasi. It peaked at 155 mph (250 km/h, 135 kt) with a lowest pressure of 922 mb on February 2, 2011. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 39 Southern Hemisphere storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 12% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.

When did the 2010–11 season end?

Australia’s official season ran from November 1, 2010 to April 30, 2011. Our counts follow IBTrACS, which files every storm from July 2010 to June 2011 under the 2010–11 season. The busiest months are January–February. The last system, Errol, dissipated on April 18, 2011.