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2016–17 Southern Hemisphere cyclone season

Nov 1, 2016 – Apr 30, 2017 · Season ended

The 2016–17 Southern Hemisphere cyclone season produced 24 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 127, 59% of the average.

2015–16 season2017–18 seasonAll Southern Hemisphere seasons
Named storms
24
Avg 26.7 (1991–2020)
Hurricane strength
10
64 kt or stronger · avg 13.8
Major (Cat 3+)
4
Including 1 Category 5
Accumulated energy
59% of normal
ACE 127 vs 1991–2020 avg 217
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Tracks colored by peak strengthTSC1C2C4C5

2016–17 season at a glance

  • Named storms: 24 (1991–2020 average 26.7).
  • Hurricane strength (64 kt+): 10 (average 13.8).
  • Major, 96 kt+: 4, including 1 at Category 5 strength (average 7.5).
  • Accumulated cyclone energy: 127.3, 59% of the 217 average.
  • Named-storm days: 100.0, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
  • First named storm: Abela, July 16, 2016.
  • First storm at hurricane strength: Bransby, October 6, 2016.
  • First major storm: Enawo, March 6, 2017.
  • Last storm to dissipate: Donna, May 15, 2017.
  • All systems tracked: 24, 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 2016–17 season

StormDatesPeakMin pressureLandfall
Abela – TS982 mbAntalaha, Madagascar
Bransby – C1987 mb—
Unnamed – TS994 mbYes
Yvette – TS985 mb—
TD 3S – TS985 mb—
Carlos – C1970 mb—
Dineo – C2959 mbMassinga, Mozambique
Alfred – TS985 mbYes
Bart – TS993 mb—
TD 8P – TS989 mb—
Blanche – TS982 mbYes
Enawo – C4926 mbAmpahana, Madagascar
Fernando – TS989 mb—
Unnamed – TS985 mbPort Hedland, Australia
Caleb – TS989 mb—
Debbie – C4937 mbRed Hill, Australia
TD 14P – TS993 mb—
Ernie – C5918 mb—
Cook – C2956 mbLuganville, Vanuatu
Unnamed – TS998 mbPalmerston, Australia
Frances – C1963 mbSaumlaki, Indonesia
Greg – TS995 mb—
Donna – C4929 mb—
Ella – C1970 mb—
  • Abela: Abela formed in the Southern Hemisphere in July 2016 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 Antalaha, Madagascar. The system was tracked for 8 days.
  • Bransby: Bransby formed in the Southern Hemisphere in October 2016 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 987 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
  • Unnamed: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in December 2016 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 994 mb. The system was tracked for 5 days.
  • Yvette: Yvette formed in the Southern Hemisphere in December 2016 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 985 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
  • TD 3S: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 2017 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 985 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
  • Carlos: Carlos formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 2017 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 13 days.
  • Dineo: Dineo formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 2017 and peaked as a Category 2 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph (155 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 959 mb. It made landfall near Massinga, Mozambique. The system was tracked for 6 days.
  • Alfred: Alfred formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 2017 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 985 mb. The system was tracked for 7 days.
  • Bart: Bart formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 2017 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 3 days.
  • TD 8P: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 2017 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 2 days.
  • Blanche: Blanche formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 2017 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 982 mb. The system was tracked for 6 days.
  • Enawo: Enawo formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 2017 and peaked as a Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph (240 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 926 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near Ampahana, Madagascar and last near Antsirabe Afovoany, Madagascar. The system was tracked for 10 days.
  • Fernando: Fernando formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 2017 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 11 days.
  • Unnamed: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 2017 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 Port Hedland, Australia. The system was tracked for 4 days.
  • Caleb: Caleb formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 2017 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 9 days.
  • Debbie: Debbie formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 2017 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 made landfall near Red Hill, Australia. The system was tracked for 9 days.
  • TD 14P: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in April 2017 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 8 days.
  • Ernie: Ernie formed in the Southern Hemisphere in April 2017 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 8 days.
  • Cook: Cook formed in the Southern Hemisphere in April 2017 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 made 2 landfalls, first near Luganville, Vanuatu and last near Bourail, New Caledonia. The system was tracked for 11 days.
  • Unnamed: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in April 2017 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 998 mb. It made landfall near Palmerston, Australia. The system was tracked for 9 days.
  • Frances: Frances formed in the Southern Hemisphere in April 2017 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 made landfall near Saumlaki, Indonesia. The system was tracked for 11 days.
  • Greg: Greg formed in the Southern Hemisphere in April 2017 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 995 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
  • Donna: Donna formed in the Southern Hemisphere in May 2017 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 14 days.
  • Ella: Ella formed in the Southern Hemisphere in May 2017 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 8 days.

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

Strongest storm of 2016–17

Cyclone Ernie was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 160 mph (260 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 918 mb, on April 7, 2017. 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 2016–17

11 of the season’s 24 systems made landfall, 4 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.

  • July 20, 2016: Abela near Antalaha, Madagascar, 35 mph (tropical depression)
  • December 20, 2016: Unnamed, 40 mph (tropical storm)
  • February 15, 2017: Dineo near Massinga, Mozambique, 85 mph (Category 1)
  • February 17, 2017: Alfred, 40 mph (tropical storm)
  • February 21, 2017: Alfred, 30 mph (tropical depression)
  • March 4, 2017: Blanche, 35 mph (tropical depression)
  • March 6, 2017: Blanche, 50 mph (tropical storm)
  • March 7, 2017: Enawo near Ampahana, Madagascar, 120 mph (Category 3)
  • March 8, 2017: Enawo near Antsirabe Afovoany, Madagascar, 75 mph (Category 1)
  • March 23, 2017: Unnamed near Port Hedland, Australia, 60 mph (tropical storm)
  • March 28, 2017: Debbie near Red Hill, Australia, 90 mph (Category 1)
  • April 8, 2017: Cook near Luganville, Vanuatu, 50 mph (tropical storm)
  • April 10, 2017: Cook near Bourail, New Caledonia, 100 mph (Category 2)
  • April 12, 2017: Unnamed near Palmerston, Australia, 30 mph (tropical depression)
  • April 26, 2017: Frances near Saumlaki, Indonesia, 35 mph (tropical depression)

How 2016–17 ranks since 1980

The season ranks 35th of 47 Southern Hemisphere seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 4 other seasons), 40th for hurricane strength (tied with 5 other seasons) and 46th for accumulated cyclone energy.

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

2016–17 storm names

The 2016–17 season used 18 names: Abela, Bransby, Yvette, Carlos, Dineo, Alfred, Bart, Blanche, Enawo, Fernando, Caleb, Debbie, Ernie, Cook, Frances, Greg, Donna, Ella.

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

2016–17 season FAQ

How many named storms were there in 2016–17?

The 2016–17 Southern Hemisphere cyclone season had 24 named storms, 10 at hurricane strength and 4 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 Abela and the last was Ella.

What was the strongest storm of 2016–17?

Cyclone Ernie. It peaked at 160 mph (260 km/h, 140 kt) with a lowest pressure of 918 mb on April 7, 2017. 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 2016–17 season end?

Australia’s official season ran from November 1, 2016 to April 30, 2017. Our counts follow IBTrACS, which files every storm from July 2016 to June 2017 under the 2016–17 season. The busiest months are January–February. The last system, Donna, dissipated on May 15, 2017.