2022–23 Southern Hemisphere cyclone season
Nov 1, 2022 – Apr 30, 2023 · Season ended
The 2022–23 Southern Hemisphere cyclone season produced 21 named storms, 11 at hurricane strength and 7 major storms, against a 1991–2020 average of 26.7, 13.8 and 7.5. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 238, 110% of the average.
2022–23 season at a glance
- Named storms: 21 (1991–2020 average 26.7).
- Hurricane strength (64 kt+): 11 (average 13.8).
- Major, 96 kt+: 7, including 1 at Category 5 strength (average 7.5).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 238.3, 110% of the 217 average.
- Named-storm days: 118.0, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Tropical Storm 1S, July 28, 2022.
- First storm at hurricane strength: Darian, December 19, 2022.
- First major storm: Darian, December 20, 2022.
- Last storm to dissipate: Fabien, May 26, 2023.
- All systems tracked: 21, 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 2022–23 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TD 1S | – | TS | 997 mb | — |
| Ashley | – | TS | 997 mb | — |
| Balita | – | TS | 997 mb | — |
| TD 4S | – | TS | 994 mb | — |
| Darian | – | C4 | 922 mb | — |
| Ellie | – | TS | 987 mb | Yes |
| Hale | – | TS | 985 mb | — |
| Cheneso | – | C1 | 950 mb | Antalaha, Madagascar |
| Irene | – | TS | 990 mb | — |
| TD 10P | – | TS | 996 mb | — |
| Dingani | – | C2 | 972 mb | — |
| Freddy | – | C5 | 923 mb | Mananjary, Madagascar |
| Gabrielle | – | C2 | 958 mb | — |
| Enala | – | C1 | 982 mb | — |
| Unnamed | – | TS | 994 mb | Yes |
| Judy | – | C3 | 941 mb | — |
| Kevin | – | C4 | 918 mb | — |
| Unnamed | – | TS | 997 mb | — |
| Herman | – | C4 | 930 mb | — |
| Ilsa | – | C4 | 920 mb | Port Hedland, Australia |
| Fabien | – | C3 | 961 mb | — |
- TD 1S: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in July 2022 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 997 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Ashley: Ashley formed in the Southern Hemisphere in September 2022 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 997 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Balita: Balita formed in the Southern Hemisphere in October 2022 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 997 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- TD 4S: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in November 2022 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 6 days.
- Darian: Darian formed in the Southern Hemisphere in December 2022 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 did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 22 days.
- Ellie: Ellie formed in the Southern Hemisphere in December 2022 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 987 mb. The system was tracked for 18 days.
- Hale: Hale formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 2023 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.
- Cheneso: Cheneso formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 2023 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 950 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near Antalaha, Madagascar and last near Belo sur Tsiribihina, Madagascar. The system was tracked for 20 days.
- Irene: Irene formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 2023 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 990 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- TD 10P: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 2023 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 4 days.
- Dingani: Dingani formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 2023 and peaked as a Category 2 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph (155 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 972 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 17 days.
- Freddy: Freddy formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 2023 and peaked as a Category 5 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph (260 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 923 mb. It made 3 landfalls, first near Mananjary, Madagascar and last near Namacurra, Mozambique. The system was tracked for 38 days.
- Gabrielle: Gabrielle formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 2023 and peaked as a Category 2 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 958 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- Enala: Enala formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 2023 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 982 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 13 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 2023 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 994 mb. The system was tracked for 16 days.
- Judy: Judy formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 2023 and peaked as a Category 3 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph (205 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 941 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- Kevin: Kevin formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 2023 and peaked as a Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 155 mph (250 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 918 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 2023 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 997 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Herman: Herman formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 2023 and peaked as a Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph (240 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 930 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Ilsa: Ilsa formed in the Southern Hemisphere in April 2023 and peaked as a Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 155 mph (250 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 920 mb. It made landfall near Port Hedland, Australia. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- Fabien: Fabien formed in the Southern Hemisphere in May 2023 and peaked as a Category 3 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 961 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 14 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 2022–23
Cyclone Freddy was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 160 mph (260 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 923 mb, on February 19, 2023. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
11 Southern Hemisphere storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 25 matched it. It produced 35% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 2022–23
5 of the season’s 21 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 22, 2022: Ellie, 50 mph (tropical storm)
- January 19, 2023: Cheneso near Antalaha, Madagascar, 50 mph (tropical storm)
- January 22, 2023: Cheneso near Belo sur Tsiribihina, Madagascar, 30 mph (tropical depression)
- February 21, 2023: Freddy near Mananjary, Madagascar, 85 mph (Category 1)
- February 24, 2023: Freddy near Vilankulo, Mozambique, 60 mph (tropical storm)
- March 6, 2023: Unnamed, 30 mph (tropical depression)
- March 11, 2023: Freddy near Namacurra, Mozambique, 100 mph (Category 2)
- April 13, 2023: Ilsa near Port Hedland, Australia, 130 mph (Category 3)
How 2022–23 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 44th of 47 Southern Hemisphere seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 1 other season), 36th for hurricane strength (tied with 3 other seasons) and 12th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 37 named storms, in 1997, and the highest ACE is 364, in 1997.
2022–23 storm names
The 2022–23 season used 16 names: Ashley, Balita, Darian, Ellie, Hale, Cheneso, Irene, Dingani, Freddy, Gabrielle, Enala, Judy, Kevin, Herman, Ilsa, Fabien.
5 systems were tracked without a name and are listed by number.
2022–23 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 2022–23?
The 2022–23 Southern Hemisphere cyclone season had 21 named storms, 11 at hurricane strength and 7 major storms, from 21 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 Fabien.
What was the strongest storm of 2022–23?
Cyclone Freddy. It peaked at 160 mph (260 km/h, 140 kt) with a lowest pressure of 923 mb on February 19, 2023. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 11 Southern Hemisphere storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 35% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 2022–23 season end?
Australia’s official season ran from November 1, 2022 to April 30, 2023. Our counts follow IBTrACS, which files every storm from July 2022 to June 2023 under the 2022–23 season. The busiest months are January–February. The last system, Fabien, dissipated on May 26, 2023.