2011–12 Southern Hemisphere cyclone season

Nov 1, 2011 – Apr 30, 2012 · Season ended

The 2011–12 Southern Hemisphere cyclone season produced 23 named storms, 10 at hurricane strength and 3 major storms, against a 1991–2020 average of 26.7, 13.8 and 7.5. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 159, 73% of the average.

2010–11 season 2012–13 season All Southern Hemisphere seasons

Named storms

Avg 26.7 (1991–2020)

Hurricane strength

64 kt or stronger · avg 13.8

Major (Cat 3+)

Avg 7.5 per season

Accumulated energy

73% of normal

ACE 159 vs 1991–2020 avg 217

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Tracks colored by peak strengthTDTSC1C2C4

2011–12 season at a glance

Named storms: 23 (1991–2020 average 26.7).
Hurricane strength (64 kt+): 10 (average 13.8).
Major, 96 kt+: 3 (average 7.5).
Accumulated cyclone energy: 159.1, 73% of the 217 average.
Named-storm days: 108.3, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
First named storm: Alenga, December 4, 2011.
First storm at hurricane strength: Alenga, December 7, 2011.
First major storm: Funso, January 21, 2012.
Last storm to dissipate: Tropical Storm 21P, July 1, 2012.
All systems tracked: 24, including 1 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 2011–12 season

Storm	Dates	Peak	Min pressure	Landfall
Alenga	Dec 2 – Dec 10	C2	952 mb	—
TD 2S	Dec 2 – Dec 11	TS	996 mb	—
Unnamed	Dec 20 – Dec 25	TS	990 mb	—
Grant	Dec 23 – Dec 29	TS	978 mb	Yes
Benilde	Dec 27 – Jan 9	C2	956 mb	—
Chanda	Jan 5 – Jan 10	TS	996 mb	Morondava, Madagascar
Heidi	Jan 9 – Jan 13	C1	974 mb	Port Hedland, Australia
Dando	Jan 10 – Jan 18	TS	992 mb	—
Ethel	Jan 17 – Jan 24	C1	970 mb	—
Funso	Jan 17 – Feb 1	C4	937 mb	—
Iggy	Jan 23 – Feb 3	C1	970 mb	Geraldton, Australia
Jasmine	Jan 31 – Feb 16	C4	937 mb	Yes
Cyril	Feb 5 – Feb 9	TS	982 mb	—
Giovanna	Feb 7 – Feb 22	C4	933 mb	Ampasimanolotra, Madagascar
Hilwa	Feb 11 – Feb 24	TS	993 mb	—
Irina	Feb 25 – Mar 12	TS	978 mb	Ambodivoara, Madagascar
TD 15S	Feb 28 – Mar 2	TS	996 mb	—
Joni	Mar 5 – Mar 15	C1	967 mb	—
Lua	Mar 10 – Mar 18	C2	952 mb	Yes
Unnamed	Mar 11 – Mar 21	TS	993 mb	Yes
Daphne	Apr 1 – Apr 6	TS	982 mb	Luganville, Vanuatu
TD 19S	May 6 – May 9	TD	1000 mb	—
Kuena	Jun 3 – Jun 8	TS	982 mb	—
TD 21P	Jun 27 – Jul 1	TS	996 mb	—

Alenga: Alenga formed in the Southern Hemisphere in December 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 8 days.
TD 2S: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in December 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 9 days.
Unnamed: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in December 2011 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 990 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
Grant: Grant formed in the Southern Hemisphere in December 2011 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 978 mb. The system was tracked for 6 days.
Benilde: Benilde formed in the Southern Hemisphere in December 2011 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 13 days.
Chanda: Chanda formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 2012 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 996 mb. It made landfall near Morondava, Madagascar. The system was tracked for 5 days.
Heidi: Heidi formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 2012 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 Port Hedland, Australia. The system was tracked for 4 days.
Dando: Dando formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 2012 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 992 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
Ethel: Ethel formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 2012 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 7 days.
Funso: Funso formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 2012 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 15 days.
Iggy: Iggy formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 2012 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 made landfall near Geraldton, Australia. The system was tracked for 11 days.
Jasmine: Jasmine formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 2012 and peaked as a Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 937 mb. The system was tracked for 16 days.
Cyril: Cyril formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 2012 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 4 days.
Giovanna: Giovanna formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 2012 and peaked as a Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (220 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 933 mb. It made landfall near Ampasimanolotra, Madagascar. The system was tracked for 15 days.
Hilwa: Hilwa formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 2012 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 13 days.
Irina: Irina formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 2012 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 978 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near Ambodivoara, Madagascar and last near Maintirano, Madagascar. The system was tracked for 16 days.
TD 15S: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 2012 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 3 days.
Joni: Joni formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 2012 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 10 days.
Lua: Lua formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 2012 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 8 days.
Unnamed: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 2012 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 993 mb. The system was tracked for 11 days.
Daphne: Daphne formed in the Southern Hemisphere in April 2012 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 Luganville, Vanuatu. The system was tracked for 5 days.
TD 19S: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in May 2012 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1000 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
Kuena: Kuena formed in the Southern Hemisphere in June 2012 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 21P: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in June 2012 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.

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

Strongest storm of 2011–12

Cyclone Giovanna was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 140 mph (220 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 933 mb, on February 13, 2012. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.

117 Southern Hemisphere storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 33 matched it. It produced 16% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.

Landfalls in 2011–12

10 of the season’s 24 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 25, 2011: Grant, 70 mph (tropical storm)
January 9, 2012: Chanda near Morondava, Madagascar, 35 mph (tropical depression)
January 11, 2012: Heidi near Port Hedland, Australia, 65 mph (tropical storm)
February 2, 2012: Jasmine, 35 mph (tropical depression)
February 3, 2012: Iggy near Geraldton, Australia, 30 mph (tropical depression)
February 14, 2012: Giovanna near Ampasimanolotra, Madagascar, 110 mph (Category 2)
February 26, 2012: Irina near Ambodivoara, Madagascar, 30 mph (tropical depression)
March 1, 2012: Irina near Maintirano, Madagascar, 70 mph (tropical storm)
March 14, 2012: Unnamed, 35 mph (tropical depression)
March 17, 2012: Unnamed, 35 mph (tropical depression)
March 17, 2012: Lua, 100 mph (Category 2)
March 18, 2012: Unnamed, 35 mph (tropical depression)
April 1, 2012: Daphne near Luganville, Vanuatu, 30 mph (tropical depression)

How 2011–12 ranks since 1980

The season ranks 40th of 47 Southern Hemisphere seasons since 1980 for named storms, 40th for hurricane strength (tied with 5 other seasons) and 39th for accumulated cyclone energy.

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

2011–12 storm names

The 2011–12 season used 18 names: Alenga, Grant, Benilde, Chanda, Heidi, Dando, Ethel, Funso, Iggy, Jasmine, Cyril, Giovanna, Hilwa, Irina, Joni, Lua, Daphne, Kuena.

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

2011–12 season FAQ

How many named storms were there in 2011–12?

The 2011–12 Southern Hemisphere cyclone season had 23 named storms, 10 at hurricane strength and 3 major storms, from 24 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 Alenga and the last was Tropical Storm 21P.

What was the strongest storm of 2011–12?

Cyclone Giovanna. It peaked at 140 mph (220 km/h, 120 kt) with a lowest pressure of 933 mb on February 13, 2012. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 117 Southern Hemisphere storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 16% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.

When did the 2011–12 season end?

Australia’s official season ran from November 1, 2011 to April 30, 2012. Our counts follow IBTrACS, which files every storm from July 2011 to June 2012 under the 2011–12 season. The busiest months are January–February. The last system, Tropical Storm 21P, dissipated on July 1, 2012.