2018–19 Southern Hemisphere cyclone season
Nov 1, 2018 – Apr 30, 2019 · Season ended
The 2018–19 Southern Hemisphere cyclone season produced 29 named storms, 17 at hurricane strength and 13 major storms, against a 1991–2020 average of 26.7, 13.8 and 7.5. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 286, 132% of the average.
2018–19 season at a glance
- Named storms: 29 (1991–2020 average 26.7).
- Hurricane strength (64 kt+): 17 (average 13.8).
- Major, 96 kt+: 13 (average 7.5).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 285.5, 132% of the 217 average.
- Named-storm days: 163.5, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Tropical Storm 1S, September 15, 2018.
- First storm at hurricane strength: Alcide, November 7, 2018.
- First major storm: Alcide, November 8, 2018.
- Last storm to dissipate: Ann, May 18, 2019.
- All systems tracked: 29, 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 2018–19 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TD 1S | – | TS | 1002 mb | — |
| Liua | – | TS | 989 mb | Malango, Solomon Islands |
| Alcide | – | C3 | 952 mb | — |
| Bouchra | – | TS | 977 mb | — |
| Owen | – | C2 | 965 mb | Cairns, Australia |
| Kenanga | – | C4 | 944 mb | — |
| Cilida | – | C4 | 925 mb | — |
| Penny | – | TS | 987 mb | Bowen, Australia |
| Mona | – | TS | 989 mb | — |
| Desmond | – | TS | 989 mb | Chinde, Mozambique |
| Unnamed | – | TS | 998 mb | — |
| Riley | – | C1 | 970 mb | — |
| Eketsang | – | TS | 992 mb | — |
| Funani | – | C4 | 940 mb | — |
| Gelena | – | C4 | 946 mb | — |
| Neil | – | TS | 994 mb | — |
| Oma | – | C1 | 968 mb | — |
| Pola | – | C3 | 948 mb | — |
| Haleh | – | C4 | 941 mb | — |
| Idai | – | C4 | 947 mb | Dondo, Mozambique |
| Savannah | – | C3 | 957 mb | — |
| Trevor | – | C3 | 948 mb | Alotau, Papua New Guinea |
| Veronica | – | C4 | 925 mb | Yes |
| Joaninha | – | C4 | 938 mb | — |
| Wallace | – | TS | 992 mb | — |
| Lorna | – | C2 | 965 mb | — |
| Kenneth | – | C4 | 934 mb | Ibo, Mozambique |
| Lili | – | TS | 993 mb | — |
| Ann | – | TS | 989 mb | Yes |
- TD 1S: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in September 2018 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1002 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Liua: Liua formed in the Southern Hemisphere in September 2018 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 989 mb. It made landfall near Malango, Solomon Islands. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Alcide: Alcide formed in the Southern Hemisphere in November 2018 and peaked as a Category 3 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph (205 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 952 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 11 days.
- Bouchra: Bouchra formed in the Southern Hemisphere in November 2018 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 977 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 13 days.
- Owen: Owen formed in the Southern Hemisphere in November 2018 and peaked as a Category 2 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph (155 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 965 mb. It made landfall near Cairns, Australia. The system was tracked for 22 days.
- Kenanga: Kenanga formed in the Southern Hemisphere in December 2018 and peaked as a Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 944 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 11 days.
- Cilida: Cilida formed in the Southern Hemisphere in December 2018 and peaked as a Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 155 mph (250 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 925 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 12 days.
- Penny: Penny formed in the Southern Hemisphere in December 2018 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 987 mb. It made landfall near Bowen, Australia. The system was tracked for 12 days.
- Mona: Mona formed in the Southern Hemisphere in December 2018 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 989 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Desmond: Desmond formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 2019 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 989 mb. It made landfall near Chinde, Mozambique. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 2019 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 998 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- Riley: Riley formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 2019 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 970 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 15 days.
- Eketsang: Eketsang formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 2019 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 992 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Funani: Funani formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 2019 and peaked as a Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (220 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 940 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Gelena: Gelena formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 2019 and peaked as a Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (220 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 946 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 12 days.
- Neil: Neil formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 2019 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 994 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Oma: Oma formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 2019 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 968 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 18 days.
- Pola: Pola formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 2019 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 6 days.
- Haleh: Haleh formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 2019 and peaked as a Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 941 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- Idai: Idai formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 2019 and peaked as a Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 947 mb. It made landfall near Dondo, Mozambique. The system was tracked for 13 days.
- Savannah: Savannah formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 2019 and peaked as a Category 3 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 957 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 15 days.
- Trevor: Trevor formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 2019 and peaked as a Category 3 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph (205 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 948 mb. It made landfall near Alotau, Papua New Guinea. The system was tracked for 13 days.
- Veronica: Veronica formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 2019 and peaked as a Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph (240 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 925 mb. The system was tracked for 13 days.
- Joaninha: Joaninha formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 2019 and peaked as a Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (220 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 938 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 14 days.
- Wallace: Wallace formed in the Southern Hemisphere in April 2019 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 992 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 11 days.
- Lorna: Lorna formed in the Southern Hemisphere in April 2019 and peaked as a Category 2 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 965 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Kenneth: Kenneth formed in the Southern Hemisphere in April 2019 and peaked as a Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (230 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 934 mb. It made landfall near Ibo, Mozambique. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Lili: Lili formed in the Southern Hemisphere in May 2019 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 993 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Ann: Ann formed in the Southern Hemisphere in May 2019 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 989 mb. The system was tracked for 10 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 2018–19
Cyclone Cilida was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 155 mph (250 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 925 mb, on December 21, 2018. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
39 Southern Hemisphere storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 13 matched it. It produced 7% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 2018–19
9 of the season’s 29 systems made landfall, 4 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
- September 26, 2018: Liua near Malango, Solomon Islands, 35 mph (tropical depression)
- September 26, 2018: Liua, 45 mph (tropical storm)
- December 9, 2018: Owen near Cairns, Australia, 40 mph (tropical storm)
- December 13, 2018: Owen, 100 mph (Category 2)
- December 14, 2018: Owen, 70 mph (tropical storm)
- December 30, 2018: Penny, 30 mph (tropical depression)
- January 1, 2019: Penny, 50 mph (tropical storm)
- January 9, 2019: Penny near Bowen, Australia, 30 mph (tropical depression)
- January 21, 2019: Desmond near Chinde, Mozambique, 30 mph (tropical depression)
- March 15, 2019: Idai near Dondo, Mozambique, 115 mph (Category 3)
- March 16, 2019: Trevor near Alotau, Papua New Guinea, 40 mph (tropical storm)
- March 19, 2019: Trevor, 115 mph (Category 3)
- March 23, 2019: Trevor, 120 mph (Category 3)
- March 26, 2019: Veronica, 35 mph (tropical depression)
- April 25, 2019: Kenneth near Ibo, Mozambique, 115 mph (Category 3)
- May 15, 2019: Ann, 30 mph (tropical depression)
How 2018–19 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 17th of 47 Southern Hemisphere seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 2 other seasons), 5th for hurricane strength (tied with 1 other season) and 5th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 37 named storms, in 1997, and the highest ACE is 364, in 1997.
2018–19 storm names
The 2018–19 season used 27 names: Liua, Alcide, Bouchra, Owen, Kenanga, Cilida, Penny, Mona, Desmond, Riley, Eketsang, Funani, Gelena, Neil, Oma, Pola, Haleh, Idai, Savannah, Trevor, Veronica, Joaninha, Wallace, Lorna, Kenneth, Lili, Ann.
2 systems were tracked without a name and are listed by number.
2018–19 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 2018–19?
The 2018–19 Southern Hemisphere cyclone season had 29 named storms, 17 at hurricane strength and 13 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 1S and the last was Ann.
What was the strongest storm of 2018–19?
Cyclone Cilida. It peaked at 155 mph (250 km/h, 135 kt) with a lowest pressure of 925 mb on December 21, 2018. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 39 Southern Hemisphere storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 7% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 2018–19 season end?
Australia’s official season ran from November 1, 2018 to April 30, 2019. Our counts follow IBTrACS, which files every storm from July 2018 to June 2019 under the 2018–19 season. The busiest months are January–February. The last system, Ann, dissipated on May 18, 2019.