Australian tropical cyclone season

Tropical cyclone climatology, including where and when they occurred

• Tropical cyclone activity in the Australian region varies substantially from year to year; no two seasons are the same.
• Trends in tropical cyclone activity have and will continue to change over time.
  See: Future seasons.
• Data source: Australian Tropical Cyclone Database.

Tropical cyclone statistics

• On average, there are 10 tropical cyclones in the Australian region each season, with 3–4 making landfall.
• Since 2000, the average number each season has been closer to 8–9.
• There has always been at least one tropical cyclone that crosses the Australian coast each season.
• The first tropical cyclone to cross the Australian coast on average is in late December.
• The most tropical cyclones ever recorded in a season was 18 in 1983–84.
• The fewest tropical cyclones ever recorded in a season was 3 in 2015–16.
• The earliest tropical cyclone to cross the coast was on 27 November 2013 (Tropical Cyclone Alessia).
• The latest tropical cyclone to cross the coast was on 9 May 1989 (Tropical Cyclone Meena).

These statistics are based on tropical cyclone data beginning in 1980–81, when the density of satellite observations greatly improved. Most cyclones form during the official November to April season, but some form outside this peak period so these statistics use the full 12-month season from July to June.

Tropical cyclone activity by month

Tropical cyclone severity

Tropical cyclone frequency map

This map shows where tropical cyclones have occurred most often, based on historical data from 1980–81 to 2024–2025. It includes out-of-season tropical cyclones (July–June).

• The map counts the number of tropical cyclones per grid cell, which is then divided by the number of years in the climatological period.
• A tropical cyclone is only counted once per grid cell.

Recent Trends

• There has been a decrease in the number of tropical cyclones observed in the Australian region (using data since 1980–81).
• The trend in cyclone intensity in the Australian region is harder to quantify than the trend in frequency, due to uncertainties in estimating the intensity of individual tropical cyclones and the relatively small number of intense tropical cyclones.

Projections

• Year-to-year variations in the number and intensity of tropical cyclones affecting Australia are large and are projected to remain so.
• Over Australia, the frequency of tropical cyclones is likely to decrease (medium confidence), but the proportion of category 4 and 5 events may increase (low/medium confidence).
• Globally, projections from published studies indicate that a bigger proportion of tropical cyclones will be of high intensity, with greater rainfall and higher storm surges due to rising sea levels (high confidence).
• Little change in position or some poleward movement of tropical cyclones is possible (low confidence).

References

• State of the Climate 2024: Bureau of Meteorology
• Hazards - Cyclones | Australian Climate Service
• Australian Climate Service 2025. Australia’s National Climate Risk Assessment Report. 280pp.