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HurriTracker

2019–20 Southern Hemisphere cyclone season

Nov 1, 2019 – Apr 30, 2020 · Season ended

The 2019–20 Southern Hemisphere cyclone season produced 28 named storms, 15 at hurricane strength and 6 major storms, against a 1991–2020 average of 26.7, 13.8 and 7.5. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 158, 73% of the average.

2018–19 season2020–21 seasonAll Southern Hemisphere seasons
Named storms
28
Avg 26.7 (1991–2020)
Hurricane strength
15
64 kt or stronger · avg 13.8
Major (Cat 3+)
6
Including 2 Category 5
Accumulated energy
73% of normal
ACE 158 vs 1991–2020 avg 217
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Tracks colored by peak strengthTSC1C2C3C5

2019–20 season at a glance

  • Named storms: 28 (1991–2020 average 26.7).
  • Hurricane strength (64 kt+): 15 (average 13.8).
  • Major, 96 kt+: 6, including 2 at Category 5 strength (average 7.5).
  • Accumulated cyclone energy: 157.5, 73% of the 217 average.
  • Named-storm days: 102.5, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
  • First named storm: Rita, November 24, 2019.
  • First storm at hurricane strength: Rita, November 25, 2019.
  • First major storm: Ambali, December 5, 2019.
  • Last storm to dissipate: Mangga, May 23, 2020.
  • All systems tracked: 28, 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 2019–20 season

StormDatesPeakMin pressureLandfall
Rita – C1980 mb—
Belna – C3955 mbSoalala, Madagascar
Ambali – C5918 mb—
Calvinia – C1969 mb—
Sarai – C1971 mb—
Blake – TS989 mbBroome, Australia
Claudia – C2971 mbYes
Tino – C2955 mb—
TD 9S – TS998 mb—
Diane – TS985 mb—
Esami – TS991 mb—
TD 12P – TS1000 mb—
Damien – C2956 mbKarratha, Australia
Francisco – TS993 mbMahanoro, Madagascar
Uesi – C1968 mb—
Gabekile – C2969 mb—
Vicky – TS997 mbAsau, Samoa
Wasi – TS993 mb—
Esther – TS992 mbYes
Ferdinand – C3958 mb—
TD 21S – TS996 mbYes
Herold – C3960 mb—
Gretel – C1971 mb—
Unnamed – TS999 mb—
Harold – C5909 mbLuganville, Vanuatu
Irondro – C3950 mb—
Jeruto – TS1000 mb—
Mangga – TS996 mb—
  • Rita: Rita formed in the Southern Hemisphere in November 2019 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 980 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
  • Belna: Belna formed in the Southern Hemisphere in December 2019 and peaked as a Category 3 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 955 mb. It made landfall near Soalala, Madagascar. The system was tracked for 9 days.
  • Ambali: Ambali formed in the Southern Hemisphere in December 2019 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 6 days.
  • Calvinia: Calvinia formed in the Southern Hemisphere in December 2019 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 969 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 17 days.
  • Sarai: Sarai formed in the Southern Hemisphere in December 2019 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 971 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
  • Blake: Blake formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 2020 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 989 mb. It made landfall near Broome, Australia. The system was tracked for 6 days.
  • Claudia: Claudia formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 2020 and peaked as a Category 2 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph (155 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 971 mb. The system was tracked for 15 days.
  • Tino: Tino formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 2020 and peaked as a Category 2 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph (155 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 955 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
  • TD 9S: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 2020 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 5 days.
  • Diane: Diane formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 2020 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 8 days.
  • Esami: Esami formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 2020 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 991 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
  • TD 12P: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 2020 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1000 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
  • Damien: Damien formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 2020 and peaked as a Category 2 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (175 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 956 mb. It made landfall near Karratha, Australia. The system was tracked for 8 days.
  • Francisco: Francisco formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 2020 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 993 mb. It made landfall near Mahanoro, Madagascar. The system was tracked for 13 days.
  • Uesi: Uesi formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 2020 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 968 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 11 days.
  • Gabekile: Gabekile formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 2020 and peaked as a Category 2 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 969 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
  • Vicky: Vicky formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 2020 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 997 mb. It made landfall near Asau, Samoa. The system was tracked for 4 days.
  • Wasi: Wasi formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 2020 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 993 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
  • Esther: Esther formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 2020 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 992 mb. The system was tracked for 12 days.
  • Ferdinand: Ferdinand formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 2020 and peaked as a Category 3 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 958 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
  • TD 21S: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 2020 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 996 mb. The system was tracked for 5 days.
  • Herold: Herold formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 2020 and peaked as a Category 3 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 960 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
  • Gretel: Gretel formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 2020 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 971 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
  • Unnamed: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 2020 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 999 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
  • Harold: Harold formed in the Southern Hemisphere in April 2020 and peaked as a Category 5 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 165 mph (270 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 909 mb. It made landfall near Luganville, Vanuatu. The system was tracked for 10 days.
  • Irondro: Irondro formed in the Southern Hemisphere in April 2020 and peaked as a Category 3 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 950 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
  • Jeruto: Jeruto formed in the Southern Hemisphere in April 2020 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1000 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
  • Mangga: Mangga formed in the Southern Hemisphere in May 2020 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 996 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.

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

Strongest storm of 2019–20

Cyclone Harold was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 165 mph (270 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 909 mb, on April 6, 2020. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.

7 Southern Hemisphere storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 3 matched it. It produced 20% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.

Landfalls in 2019–20

9 of the season’s 28 systems made landfall, 3 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.

  • December 9, 2019: Belna near Soalala, Madagascar, 115 mph (Category 3)
  • January 6, 2020: Blake near Broome, Australia, 60 mph (tropical storm)
  • January 7, 2020: Blake, 45 mph (tropical storm)
  • January 9, 2020: Claudia, 30 mph (tropical depression)
  • February 4, 2020: Damien, 30 mph (tropical depression)
  • February 5, 2020: Damien, 30 mph (tropical depression)
  • February 8, 2020: Damien near Karratha, Australia, 105 mph (Category 2)
  • February 15, 2020: Francisco near Mahanoro, Madagascar, 35 mph (tropical depression)
  • February 20, 2020: Vicky near Asau, Samoa, 35 mph (tropical depression)
  • February 24, 2020: Esther, 55 mph (tropical storm)
  • February 28, 2020: Esther, 40 mph (tropical storm)
  • February 29, 2020: Esther, 30 mph (tropical depression)
  • March 12, 2020: TD 21S, 50 mph (tropical storm)
  • April 6, 2020: Harold near Luganville, Vanuatu, 140 mph (Category 4)

How 2019–20 ranks since 1980

The season ranks 20th of 47 Southern Hemisphere seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 3 other seasons), 13th for hurricane strength (tied with 7 other seasons) and 40th for accumulated cyclone energy.

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

2019–20 storm names

The 2019–20 season used 24 names: Rita, Belna, Ambali, Calvinia, Sarai, Blake, Claudia, Tino, Diane, Esami, Damien, Francisco, Uesi, Gabekile, Vicky, Wasi, Esther, Ferdinand, Herold, Gretel, Harold, Irondro, Jeruto, Mangga.

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

2019–20 season FAQ

How many named storms were there in 2019–20?

The 2019–20 Southern Hemisphere cyclone season had 28 named storms, 15 at hurricane strength and 6 major storms, from 28 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 Rita and the last was Mangga.

What was the strongest storm of 2019–20?

Cyclone Harold. It peaked at 165 mph (270 km/h, 145 kt) with a lowest pressure of 909 mb on April 6, 2020. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 7 Southern Hemisphere storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 20% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.

When did the 2019–20 season end?

Australia’s official season ran from November 1, 2019 to April 30, 2020. Our counts follow IBTrACS, which files every storm from July 2019 to June 2020 under the 2019–20 season. The busiest months are January–February. The last system, Mangga, dissipated on May 23, 2020.