SEASON ANALYSIS: [1]
The 2021-22 Australian region cyclone season was the second-most active Australian region cyclone season on record, behind the 1983-84 season. The Australian region cyclone season began on November 1 and ended on April 30; however, tropical cyclones could form at anytime of the year as demonstrated by Tropical Low 25U. As such, any system existing between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022 counted towards the season total. The season's first tropical cyclone, Tropical Cyclone Paddy, developed on November 11, while the season's last tropical cyclone, Tropical Low 25U, dissipated on May 4.
During the season, tropical cyclones were officially monitored by one of the three tropical cyclone warning centers (TCWCs) for the region which are operated by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), National Weather Service of Papua New Guinea, and the Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics. The United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) also monitored the basin during the season.
During mid-November, a tropical low formed and on November 12, was reclassified as Tropical Cyclone Paddy. Within the next few days, the storm would deliver torrential rain in rural areas, which was the main cause on why Paddy did not cause any reported fatalities and only moderate damages. December had an early with the formation of Cyclone Ruby, which lasted only three days in the Australian region despite being a severe tropical cyclone just before emerging in the South Pacific region. It only affected Papua New Guinea although minimal damage was reported.
Four storms formed in December, with three of them being from a monsoonal trough. The first system, Teratai, caused moderate damage in Indonesia and became a Category 1 tropical cyclone. The storm eventually left the basin on December 18. Next, a tropical low formed which lasted from December 12–14. This low did not cause any damages nor deaths in Western Australia and the Northern Territory. The third, Seth, caused considerable flooding in Queensland as a Category 2 tropical cyclone. The final storm, Hibu, caused most of its damage in Papua New Guinea, despite peaking near Queensland, Australia, as a Category 4 on the Australian scale, where all three deaths were reported, specifically in Cairns.
The first cyclone to form in January, Tiffany, made landfall over a sparsely populated area as a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone. Then, Anggrek, also a Category 3 tropical cyclone, caused catastrophic damages across East Nusa Tenggara, a province in Indonesia, and in East Timor. In Western Australia and the Northern Territory, however, it only caused minimal damages since the cyclone affected a sparsely populated area. Vernon, despite being a Category 2 on the Australian scale, became the second-longest-lasting storm of the season, lasting for fourteen days. Despite making four landfalls, it only caused minimal damages and two deaths. The fourth cyclone to form in January, Anika, became the first Category 5 tropical cyclone of the season and it made landfall over a major city in Australia, Perth, a major city and the capital of Western Australia. The last cyclone to form in January, 11U, was a tropical low and it moved over Queensland, Australia on January 30, forming the previous day and dissipating on the same day.
Billy was the first cyclone to form in February and it became a Category 4 on the Australian scale, that was equivalent to a Category 2 on the Saffir-Simpson scale. It made two landfalls, although it struck sparsely populated areas, only resulting in moderate damages and only one fatality. Next up, Charlotte became a Category 1 on the Australian scale and it did not affect any land areas. Thirdly, Kevin was a South Pacific system that entered the basin late on the 14th of February as a Category 4 on the Australian scale, equivalent to a Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Two days later, it was a Category 5 on both the Australian and Saffir-Simpson scale, becoming the first out of three storms to achieve this during the season. It then turned southeastwards and weakened, eventually transitioning into a post-tropical cyclone during the final hours on February 19th. It brought rip currents across coastal southern Queensland, all of coastal New South Wales, and most of coastal eastern Victoria throughout much of its duration. Darian, which was the second to the last system to form in February, was an offshore system that became a Category 2 on the Australian scale. Finally, Ellie was the last system to form in the month of February. forming on the last day of the month and lasting up until March 4. It peaked as a Category 3 on both the Australian and Saffir-Simpson scales on the day before its dissipation and also on the day of its landfall over the North West Region, Queensland, Australia.
The first system to form in March during the system, Bakung, lasted from March 3rd to the 7th, and became a Category 1 on the Australian scale, due to the influence of Severe Tropical Cyclone Freddy, the system which also caused the former to dissipate. Despite remaining offshore and maintaining minimal gale-force winds, it brought torrential rainfall across south Sumatra, the Mentawai Islands, and western Java, resulting in a total of about $30 million in damages, and 51 reported storm-related fatalities. Freddy then became the second cyclone to form in March. It became a Category 4 on both the Australian and Saffir-Simpson scales, and did not affect any land areas, resulting in no damages and fatalities related to the storm. Thirdly, a tropical low formed on March 11th and lasted for two days, without any change in its intensity. Severe Tropical Cyclone Ila became the costliest and deadliest cyclone of the season, as well as the strongest out of all Australian region cyclones. Not only that, but it was a record breaker. It made the strongest landfalls in both Papua New Guinea and Australia, as well as in the entire Australian region basin. Ila also was the second-strongest cyclone to make landfall in the Southern Hemisphere, just behind Cyclone Winston of 2016, and it also became the costliest tropical cyclone in the Southern Hemisphere. Papua New Guinea and Australia experienced the catastrophic brunt of the storm and it resulted in severe agricultural and infrastructural damage. Gabrielle then became the final system to form in the month of March, eventually becoming a Category 5 on both the Australian and Saffir-Simpson scales. It brought severe agricultural and infrastructural damage in Queensland, and in New South Wales. Tropical Low 22U became the final system to form in March and it left the basin on the same day that it formed, March 24th, eventually becoming Intense Tropical Cyclone Pamela.
April and May featured three storms; all three formed in the former month and one crossed over into the latter month. The first, Savana, was a crossover cyclone from the South-West Indian ocean basin and it became a Category 2 on the Australian scale. It lasted for under 24 hours. Next, Herman became a Category 2 on the Australian scale, as well, and it did not cause any damages nor deaths. The final system of the season was a tropical low that was an off-season system, forming in May. It did not cause any damages nor fatalities, like the other storms that formed in April.
The season's aftermath was catastrophic, even becoming the costliest and deadliest Australian region cyclone season out of all Australian region cyclone seasons. In Papua New Guinea, a humanitarian crisis was declared by the government, which was managed with ease thanks to the help of the Commonwealth, mostly from neighboring Australia, and from Indonesia, they also experienced the damaging effects of the cyclones during the season. Across the other countries and territories severely affected, such as Indonesia and parts of Australia, specifically Queensland, the Northern Territory, and Western Australia, which are the most cyclone-prone areas of the country. To summarize, the post-season damages were a record high, with $13.151 billion (2021 USD) of damages being reported. This made the season the costliest Australian region cyclone season, as mentioned in the first sentence of this paragraph. The death toll was also at a record high, at 2,855, making it the deadliest Australian region cyclone season on record, as mentioned in the first sentence of the paragraph, as well. The Bureau of Meteorology retired three names on October 23, 2022, with the names Ruby, Anika, and Gabrielle being removed from the naming lists. The names would be replaced by Reese, Avery, and Gertrude. Next, TCWC Jakarta retired the names Anggrek and Bakung and replaced them with Anggur and Belimbing. Finally, TCWC Port Moresby assigned two names, Hibu and Ila, thus making it the first time the agency named a storm since 2007. It was also the first time they retired a name since 2007, with the name Ila being replaced with Ume.
Timeline[]
On November 11, a tropical low was detected by the BOM. The following day, it was reclassified as Tropical Cyclone Paddy and within the new few days, the storm peaked as a Category 2 tropical cyclone on the AUS scale. The storm dissipated on November 19. Ruby formed on December 3 and just before leaving the basin, became a severe cyclonic storm.
Four storms formed in December. The first of four, Teratai, became a Category 1 on the Australian scale and left the basin on December 18. Next, a tropical low formed on December 12 and lasted only for over two days. The third system, Seth, strengthened over Australia before moving in the Gulf of Carpentaria on December 15 and peaking two days later as a Category 2 on the Australian scale. Then, the final system, Hibu, became a Category 4 on the Australian scale on Christmas Day 2021, December 25, near Queensland, Australia.
The first storm to form in January, Tiffany, became a Category 3 on the Australian scale. The next storm, Anggrek, became another severe tropical cyclone as it affected Indonesia (specifically the East Nusa Tenggara Province), East Timor, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory. Vernon, despite being a Category 2 tropical cyclone, became the second-longest lasting storm of the season, lasting for fourteen days. The fourth storm to form in January, Anika, became the first Category 5 tropical cyclone of the season and it lasted for a week, from the 17th of January up until the 24th. The final storm to form in January, 11U, was a tropical low that lasted from January
On November 11, a tropical low was detected by the BOM. The following day, it was reclassified as Tropical Cyclone Paddy and within the new few days, the storm peaked as a Category 2 tropical cyclone on the AUS scale. The storm dissipated on November 19. Ruby formed on December 3 and just before leaving the basin, became a severe cyclonic storm.
Four storms formed in December. The first of four, Teratai, became a Category 1 on the Australian scale and left the basin on December 18. Next, a tropical low formed on December 12 and lasted only for over two days. The third system, Seth, strengthened over Australia before moving in the Gulf of Carpentaria on December 15 and peaking two days later as a Category 2 on the Australian scale. Then, the final system, Hibu, became a Category 4 on the Australian scale on Christmas Day 2021, December 25, near Queensland, Australia.
The first storm to form in January, Tiffany, became a Category 3 on the Australian scale. The next storm, Anggrek, became another severe tropical cyclone as it affected Indonesia (specifically the East Nusa Tenggara Province), East Timor, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory. Vernon, despite being a Category 2 tropical cyclone, became the second-longest lasting storm of the season, lasting for fourteen days. The fourth storm to form in January, Anika, became the first Category 5 tropical cyclone of the season and it lasted for a week, from the 17th of January up until the 24th. The final storm to form in January, 11U, was a tropical low that lasted from January 29th up until the following day. As a side note, the JTWC had 11U at tropical storm intensity.
Billy became the first cyclone to form in the month of February and it lasted from the 3rd up until the 12th, while peaking as a Category 4 on the Australian scale, that was equivalent to a Category 2 on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Charlotte was the second cyclone to form in February and it did not affect any land areas. Kevin was a South Pacific cyclone that entered on February 14th as a Category 4 on the Australian scale, e
On November 11, a tropical low was detected by the BOM. The following day, it was reclassified as Tropical Cyclone Paddy and within the new few days, the storm peaked as a Category 2 tropical cyclone on the AUS scale. The storm dissipated on November 19. Ruby formed on December 3 and just before leaving the basin, became a severe cyclonic storm.
Four storms formed in December. The first of four, Teratai, became a Category 1 on the Australian scale and left the basin on December 18. Next, a tropical low formed on December 12 and lasted only for over two days. The third system, Seth, strengthened over Australia before moving in the Gulf of Carpentaria on December 15 and peaking two days later as a Category 2 on the Australian scale. Then, the final system, Hibu, became a Category 4 on the Australian scale on Christmas Day 2021, December 25, near Queensland, Australia.
The first storm to form in January, Tiffany, became a Category 3 on the Australian scale. The next storm, Anggrek, became another severe tropical cyclone as it affected Indonesia (specifically the East Nusa Tenggara Province), East Timor, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory. Vernon, despite being a Category 2 tropical cyclone, became the second-longest lasting storm of the season, lasting for fourteen days. The fourth storm to form in January, Anika, became the first Category 5 tropical cyclone of the season and it lasted for a week, from the 17th of January up until the 24th. The final storm to form in January, 11U, was a tropical low that lasted from January 29th up until the following day. As a side note, the JTWC had 11U at tropical storm intensity.
Billy became the first cyclone to form in the month of February and it lasted from the 3rd up until the 12th, while peaking as a Category 4 on the Australian scale, that was equivalent to a Category 2 on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Charlotte was the second cyclone to form in February and it did not affect any land areas. Kevin was a South Pacific cyclone that entered on February 14th as a Category 4 on the Australian scale, equivalent to a Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Two days later, it became a Category 5 on both the Australian and Saffir-Simpson scales, respectively, becoming the first out of two storms to achieve this during the season. The second to the last system to form in February, Darian, became a Category 2 on the Australian scale, equivalent to a Category 1 on the Saffir-Simpson scale. The final system of the month, Ellie, became a Category 3 on both the Australian and Saffir-Simpson scales, and lasted from February 28th until the 4th of March.
The first system to form in March during the season, Bakung, became a Category 1 on the Australian scale, equivalent to a tropical storm on the Saffir-Simpson scale. It lasted from March 3rd to 7th, with its dissipation being caused by Severe Tropical Cyclone Freddy. Freddy was the second system to form in March. It was notable for absorbing Bakung, becoming a Category 4 on both the Australian and Saffir-Simpson scales, and lasting for eleven days, from March 4-15. Then, a tropical low formed on March 11 and lasted for two days, without strengthening. Then, Severe Tropical Cyclone Ila became the strongest cyclone in the Australian region during the satellite era and it lasted for a mere 28 days, thus making it the longest-lasting storm of the season, which was twice the days of Vernon's duration. Gabrielle became the second to final system to form in the month of March during the season and it became the second-strongest cyclone not only during the season, but also in the entire history of the Australian region basin. Tropical Low 22U became the final system to form in the month of March during the season. It left the basin on the same day that it formed, March 24, in where it eventually became Intense Tropical Cyclone Pamela.
The last three storms of the season all formed in April, and the last one crossed over into the month of May. The first out of all three storms, Savana, crossed into the Australian basin from the South-West Indian ocean basin on April 12th at approximately 06:30 UTC and lasted for under a day, dissipating the next day at about 06:00 UTC. Next up, Tropical Cyclone Herman became a Category 2 on the Australian scale and peaked at that intensity, despite calls by the BOM that it would become a Category 3, which was prevented by wind shear. Finally, a tropical low formed in the month of May, thus making it an off-season system.
The aftermath of the season was very catastrophic. In total, the post-damages of the season were shockingly high, with $13.151 billion in damages, marking this season as the costliest Australian region cyclone season on record. On a similar note, the post-deaths of the season were also high, with 2,855 fatalities overall, marking this season as the deadliest Australian region cyclone season, as well.
The 2021-22 season featured activity that was above-average. The accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) index for the 2021-22 Australian region cyclone season reached 273.4725 units (273 units if rounded off), according to the JTWC's estimate. This marked this season as the highest ACE for an Australian region cyclone season. Accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) is, broadly speaking, is a measure of the power of a tropical or subtropical storm multiplied by the length of time it existed. It is only calculated for full advisories on specific tropical and subtropical systems reaching or exceeding wind speeds of 39 mph (63 km/h), which is (sub)tropical storm strength, where storms are named operationally, although this job falls under three agencies: the Bureau of Meteorology (TCWC Melbourne), TCWC Jakarta, and TCWC Port Moresby.
Systems[]
Tropical Cyclone Paddy[]
| Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | November 11 – November 19 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 100 km/h (65 mph) (10-min) 985 hPa (mbar) |
During early November, a light to moderate pulse of the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) tracked southwards across the Indonesian archipelago. Its presence resulted in increased activity of tropical moisture, which resulted in the JTWC and the BOM tracking the system for further development. Within the upcoming days, the system began gaining better organization.
Eventually, the BOM designated it as a tropical low by noon, UTC time on November 11 and soon, the JTWC followed suit just 18 hours later. As the storm was heading southeastwards, favorable conditions allowed for further intensification and late on November 12, the JTWC upgraded the system to a tropical storm while the BOM followed suit by classifying the system as a Category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian scale; the latter agency also named the storm "Paddy." Not long after being upgraded, it later executed a cyclonic loop then turned southwards, eventually making its first landfall over Groote Eylandt, East Arnhem, Northern Territory, Australia with sustained 1-minute winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 992 mbars according to the JTWC, while the BOM went for sustained 10-minute winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 995 mbars. This landfall happened at 07:27 UTC on November 15, although this would not cause Paddy to weaken and during the wee hours the next day, the BOM upgraded the system to a Category 2 tropical cyclone. Paddy reached its peak intensity with sustained 1-minute winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 987 mbars. By this point, the storm curved east-southeastwards, now posing a threat to Queensland but eventually, increasing wind shear and cooling sea surface temperatures resulted in the storm's weakening. Paddy would turn southeastwards, be downgraded to a Category 1 tropical cyclone by 18:00 UTC on November 17, and then made its second and final landfall over the Shire of Carpentaria, Far North Queensland, Australia with sustained 1-minute winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 998 mbars according to the JTWC, while the BOM went for sustained 10-minute winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 1001 mbars by 19:06 UTC on November 18. The following day at 00:00 UTC, the JTWC downgraded the storm to a tropical depression while the BOM followed suit by reclassifying the system as a tropical low. Paddy continued deteriorating further as it progressed inland, with the BOM and JTWC issuing their final advisories on the system late on November 19.
Overall, Paddy caused $1.2 million (2021 USD) in damages but no fatalities were reported.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Ruby[]
| Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
| Category 2 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | December 3 – December 6 (Entered basin) |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 140 km/h (85 mph) (10-min) 976 hPa (mbar) |
A monsoonal disturbance was detected over Papua New Guinea on November 30. The BOM then began tracking the system for potential development and so was the National Weather Service for Papua New Guinea. Within the next few days, the JTWC joined in for updates on the disturbance and the system began to develop a better, well-organized structure.
Eventually, the BOM had deemed the disturbance sufficient enough to be designated a tropical low by 06:00 UTC on December 3; the JTWC eventually followed suit 6 hours later by designating the system as a tropical depression. The tropical low would turn east-southeastwards and approximately 24 hours after formation, the storm had reached tropical storm strength and the BOM followed suit after an additional 12 hours, noting that the storm had been upgraded to a Category 1 on the Australian scale, also giving the name "Ruby." Ruby would organize and strengthen at a fast pace, eventually being upped even further to a Category 2 on the Australian scale by 00:00 UTC on December 5. By this point, the system was expected to enter the South Pacific basin the very next day and approximately 18 hours after its most recent upgrade, the JTWC upgraded Ruby to a Category 1 tropical cyclone while the BOM upped Ruby even further to a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone. Late the following day, the JTWC reclassified Ruby as a Category 2 tropical cyclone at 18:00 UTC and a few hours later, the BOM issued their final advisory on the system as it left their basin and emerged in the South Pacific region. Also, the storm peaked with sustained 1-minute winds of 100 mph (155 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 979 mbars.
Ruby caused minimal damage across Papua New Guinea and no fatalities were reported.
Tropical Cyclone Teratai[]
| Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | December 8 – December 18 (Exited basin) |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 75 km/h (45 mph) (10-min) 996 hPa (mbar) |
A monsoonal trough summoned an area of disturbed weather near Sumatra and Java on the early days of December 2021. In favorable conditions, the disturbance would organize while moving generally eastwards. Late on December 7, the JTWC had upgraded the system's chances of development to high.
The BOM had designated the system as a tropical low by 12:00 UTC the following day, December 8. Approximately 24 hours later, the JTWC designated the system as a tropical depression. Heading east-northeastwards to northeastwards, the tropical low moved over Banten and after another 24 hours after its most recent change, the JTWC had declared the system to be a remnant low. Despite this, the BOM kept the system as a tropical low. The low would then curve southwestwards, moving away from Indonesia and reorganizing. Eventually, the JTWC had reclassified the system as a tropical depression by 00:00 UTC on December 12. It entered an area of more favorable conditions and approximately 30 hours later, the same agency had upgraded the system to a tropical storm. On that same time, the BOM followed suit by reclassifying the system as a Category 1 tropical cyclone while resulted in the BMKG naming the system "Teratai" as it was located in their area of responsibility. Teratai reached its peak intensity with sustained 1-minute winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) late on December 13. The storm would maintain its peak until the following day when it entered an area of unfavorable conditions and by 12:00 UTC the following day, the JTWC downgraded the system to a tropical depression; the BOM followed suit by downgrading it to a tropical low. By this point, Teratai began to stall as it moved in an area of weak steering currents and for nearly two days, the system had remained a tropical low. Also, the BMKG had stopped tracking the system as it had left their area of responsibility. On December 15, it entered an area of favorable conditions and 48 hours after its downgrade, the JTWC upgraded Teratai back to a tropical storm; the BOM followed suit by upgraded Teratai back to a Category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian scale. During the final hours of December 16, the system reached its peak intensity one again. By this point, the system began to turn westwards and the following day, Teratai began to undergo another weakening phase which would result in the JTWC downgrading the system to a tropical depression once again. Once again, the BOM followed suit by downgrading the system to a tropical low and Teratai exited the basin on December 18. Before leaving, the storm briefly reorganized and by the time it had left, the JTWC upgraded the system back to a tropical storm.
Teratai caused $87 million (2021 USD) in damages, mostly in Southern Sumatra and Western Java, as well as 17 fatalities from major floods in the same areas mentioned.
Tropical Low 04U[]
| Tropical low (Australian scale) | |
  | |
| Duration | December 12 – December 14 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 55 km/h (35 mph) (10-min) 998 hPa (mbar) |
During early December, the monsoonal trough that also spawned Teratai spawned another low-pressure area over the eastern Indonesian archipelago. Heading generally southwards, the disturbance began to gain organization which resulted in the JTWC and BOM both tracking the system.
It would be designated as a tropical low by 06:00 UTC on December 12 by the BOM. Within the next few days, the system would encounter little to no development due to the outflow of what would become Tropical Cyclone Seth. The day after its formation, the system moved over Western Australia and then began to turn southeastwards, which hampered further development. Eventually, the BOM had declared the tropical low to have dissipated by 12:00 UTC on December 14.
Since the tropical low affected a mostly uninhabited area, no damages nor deaths were reported.
Tropical Cyclone Seth[]
| Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
| Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | December 13 – December 20 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 110 km/h (70 mph) (10-min) 985 hPa (mbar) |
The monsoonal trough that summoned both Teratai and a tropical low, split off from the precursor of the tropical low on December 9. Heading southeastwards, the system began to organize, which resulted in the JTWC and BOM monitoring the system the following day. Organization continued, although it did not pose a threat due to the rural terrain of Australia.
It would later be designated as Tropical Low 05U by the BOM late on December 13. Also on that same day, the low moved over Northern Territory but continued organizing due to the brown ocean effect and by 12:00 UTC the following day, the low would be upgraded to a Category 1 on the Australian scale. In response to this, the BOM named the system "Seth." When the storm would move in the Gulf of Carpentaria early on December 15, the JTWC classified the system as a tropical storm by 06:00 UTC. Seth continued heading generally southeastwards and about 12 hours later, it would be upped further to a Category 2 on the Australian scale. Seth now posed a threat to Queensland and late the following day (December 16), the JTWC upgraded the system to a Category 1 on the SSHWS scale. It would continue strengthening until late on the same day, when Seth reached its peak intensity with sustained 1-minute winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 983 mbars. While it was expected to make landfall early the following day, the storm was downgraded to a tropical storm and then unexpectedly turned northeastwards, being downgraded to a Category 1 on the Australian scale by 06:00 UTC on December 18. A few hours later, it made landfall over Carpentaria, Queensland with sustained 1-minute winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 991 mbars, according to the JTWC. The BOM went for sustained 10-minute winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 994 mbars. This happened at 07:03 UTC on that same day (December 18). Seth's weakening was gradual due to the brown ocean effect and the following day, the JTWC downgraded the system to a tropical depression while the BOM downgraded it to a tropical low. The low would begin losing tropical characteristics and by 06:00 UTC on December 20, both agencies had declared the system a post-tropical low. The post-tropical system would move over Bowen the following day (December 21) and dissipate after a few hours.
Seth caused considerable flooding in Queensland, which resulted in $56 million (2021 USD) in damages but only caused 5 reported fatalities.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Hibu[]
| Category 4 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
| Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | December 21 – December 27 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 165 km/h (105 mph) (10-min) 960 hPa (mbar) |
An area of low pressure formed west of Bougainville early on December 18. Within the next few days, the system would rapidly organize, which forced TCWC Port Moresby, the BOM, and the JTWC to issue advisories on the system.
Eventually, the BOM classified the low pressure area as a tropical low by 18:00 UTC on December 21 and six hours later, upgraded it to a Category 1 on their scale. This prompted TCWC Port Moresby to name the system "Hibu," becoming the first cyclone to be named by TCWC Port Moresby since 2007's Cyclone Guba. Hibu then made its first two landfalls over Milne Bay Province with sustained 10-minute winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 999 mbars, according to the BOM. The landfalls happened on December 21 and 22, with the first landfall occurring at 22:01 UTC, and the second landfall occurring at 08:26 UTC. It briefly damaged the system's structure, but it managed to reorganize once it emerged in the Coral Sea. Not long afterwards, the BOM reclassified Hibu as a Category 2 tropical cyclone early the following day, December 23. On that same day at 12:00 UTC, the JTWC upgraded the system to a Category 1 in the Saffir-Simpson scale, while the BOM upped the system further to a Category 3 on their scale. Within 24 hours, the JTWC noted that Hibu was a Category 3 tropical cyclone and the BOM reclassified the cyclone to a Category 4 on the Australian scale. Early on December 25, it peaked with sustained 1-minute winds of 120 mph (195 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 955 mbars, according to the JTWC. As Hibu moved into the Great Barrier Reef, wind shear increased and upwelling resulted in the system's weakening, with the BOM downgraded it to a Category 3 on the Australian scale by 18:00 UTC on December 25, the same day as its peak. The JTWC followed suit by also downgrading Hibu to a Category 2 on the Saffir-Simpson scale. The following day, December 26, the cyclone made landfall over Cairns, the capital of the Far North Region, Queensland, Australia, at 01:44 UTC, with sustained 1-minute winds of 100 mph (155 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 974 mbars, according to the JTWC. On the other hand, the BOM went for sustained 10-minute winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 981 mbars. After the landfall, hostile conditions resulted in Hibu's weakening and late on December 27, both the BOM and JTWC declared that the system had transitioned to a post-tropical cyclone, although the latter had marked it a subtropical cyclone. Within the next two days, the "subtropical" remnants of Hibu turned northwestwards and moved over Queensland with gale-force winds on December 29, just before completely dissipating the following day.
In total, Hibu caused $3 million (2021 USD) in damages, and caused only 3 deaths in Cairns.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Tiffany[]
| Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
| Category 2 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | January 3 – January 8 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 150 km/h (90 mph) (10-min) 969 hPa (mbar) |
As December 2021 came to its end, a Madden-Julian oscillation summoned a low pressure area over Indonesia on December 30. It headed south and also affected East Timor, although it continued to organize. After emerging out in the Timor Sea, the JTWC gave it a high chance of development early on January 2, 2022.
The low pressure area would eventually develop into a tropical low by 06:00 UTC on January 3, according to the BOM. The JTWC followed suit twelve hours later by classifying the system as a tropical depression. The next day, January 4, the JTWC upgraded the system to a tropical storm at 06:00 UTC and 6 hours later, the BOM reclassified the low to a Category 1 on the Australian scale, while also naming it "Tiffany." Heading southwestwards, the system continued to strengthen due to favorable conditions and would be upgraded to Category 2 status on the Australian scale by 00:00 UTC on January 5. Strengthening continued and 18 hours later, the JTWC upgraded Tiffany to a Category 1 on the Saffir-Simpson scale. The BOM followed suit by making the cyclone a Category 3 on their scale, thus signifying that Tiffany became a severe tropical cyclone. It would then turn southeastwards and by 00:00 UTC on January 7, the JTWC upped Tiffany more to a Category 2 on the Saffir-Simpson scale. As it trekked towards Western Australia, it began to develop a better structure and a more clear eye, although it was still cloud filled. On that same day, Tiffany peaked with sustained 1-minute winds of 110 mph (175 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 970 mbars. Eventually, Tiffany would make landfall over the Pilbara Region, Western Australia, at its peak intensity at 17:57 UTC later that day. Not long after its landfall, it began to rapidly weaken due to dry air and early the following day, both the BOM and JTWC declared that the cyclone became post-tropical in their respective final advisories on Tiffany.
Since Tiffany made landfall in a sparsely inhabited area, the cyclone only caused moderate damages and no deaths were reported.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Anggrek[]
| Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
| Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | January 10 – January 20 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 130 km/h (80 mph) (10-min) 977 hPa (mbar) |
The Madden-Julian oscillation summoned a low pressure area over the Maluku Islands on the 6th of January. This resulted in the BMKG (Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics), the BOM, and the JTWC, all monitoring the low pressure area for further development. During the next few days, it meandered across the Banda Sea and began to organize in favorable conditions.
Then, the BOM declared that the low pressure area became a tropical low by 00:00 UTC on January 10 and six hours later, the JTWC followed suit by classifying it to a tropical depression; after another 12 hours, the latter agency upgraded the system to a tropical storm. Then, the BOM reclassified 08U to a Category 1 on the Australian scale by 12:00 UTC the next day, January 11, which resulted in the BMKG naming it "Anggrek," as it was located in the TCWC Jakarta. As it passed through the Savu Sea, Anggrek continued strengthening and about 18 hours since it was named, the BOM reclassified the storm to a Category 2 on the Australian scale. The JTWC would reclassify Anggrek to a Category 1 on the Saffir-Simpson scale by 12:00 UTC on January 12. On the end of that same day, it would reach its initial peak with sustained 10-minute winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 987 mbars, according to the BOM; the JTWC went for sustained 1-minute winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 984 mbars. It also made landfall at its peak intensity over the Kupang Regency, East Nusa Tenggara by 05:52 UTC on January 13. This resulted in Anggrek weakening and by the time it emerged into the Timor Strait, it was a low-end tropical storm and a Category 1 on the Australian scale. However, it began to reorganize as it continued to track southeast. Early on January 15, the BOM reclassified the storm to a Category 2 on their scale. On the next day, January 16, Anggrek began to enter an area of weak steering currents, which resulted in the storm stalling. Also on that same day, the JTWC upgraded the system to a Category 1 on the Saffir-Simpson scale at approximately 12:00 UTC and after about 12 hours since becoming a hurricane-force cyclone, the BOM reclassified Anggrek to a Category 3 on the Australian scale. Despite the cyclone stalling as it was about to make landfall in either Western Australia or the Northern Territory and late on January 17, Anggrek officially peaked with sustained 1-minute winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 974 mbars. The following day, January 18, the cyclone made landfall over the Kimberley Division, Western Australia, by 01:19 UTC. Despite its landfall, Anggrek underwent a moderate weakening phase due to the brown ocean effect and by the end of January 20, the BOM issued their final advisory on the storm.
Anggrek caused catastrophic damages across Timor Island and much of the province of East Nusa Tenggara in Indonesia. In Western Australia and the Northern Territory, no deaths and only minimal damages were reported due to its landfall over a sparsely populated area. In total, Anggrek caused $233 million (2022 USD) and a total of 27 fatalities.
Tropical Cyclone Vernon[]
| Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | January 15 – January 29 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 110 km/h (70 mph) (10-min) 985 hPa (mbar) |
The Madden-Julian oscillation spawned an area of disturbed weather south of New Guinea on January 12. Its location in a favorable environment resulted in both the JTWC, BOM, and NSWPNG (National Service Weather of Papua New Guinea) monitoring the disturbance as it trekked southeastwards and also resulted in it getting better organization within the next few days.
Then, the BOM designated the system as Tropical Low 09U by 00:00 UTC on January 15 and about eighteen hours later, the JTWC followed suit by classifying it as a tropical depression. Early the following day (06:00 UTC), the JTWC upgraded it to a tropical storm, with the BOM following suit after a few hours by upgrading it to a Category 1 on the Australian scale and naming it "Vernon." It would then track southwestwards starting on January 17 and at approximately 00:00 UTC, the BOM upgraded Vernon even further to a Category 2 tropical cyclone. Also on that same day, it reached its peak intensity with sustained 1-minute winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 986 mbars. The cyclone would then turn northwestwards and by 18:20 UTC on January 18, Vernon made its first landfall over Cairns, Far North Queensland, Queensland, Australia, with sustained 10-minute winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 990 mbars, according to the BOM; on the other hand, the JTWC went for sustained 1-minute winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 988 mbars. This resulted in Vernon deteriorating into a tropical low by the end of January 19. However, it began to reorganize as it emerged in the Gulf of Carpentaria and by the time it made its second landfall over the Katherine Region, Northern Territory, Vernon reached its second peak intensity as a Category 1 on the Australian scale, with sustained 10-minute winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 996 mbars, according to the BOM; on the other hand, the JTWC went for sustained 1-minute winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 994 mbars. The second landfall happened by 13:33 UTC on January 20. Vernon then encountered the brown ocean effect, which resulted in it maintaining its intensity while crossing through the Northern Territory for most of its duration. A few hours before it moved out at sea, it began to weaken due to dry air and by the time it made its third landfall over Kimberley Land Divisions, Vernon had sustained 10-minute winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 999 mbars, according to the BOM. On the other hand, the JTWC went for sustained 1-minute winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 998 mbars. The landfall happened at approximately approximately 15:00 UTC on January 22, the day when it re-emerged back out at sea. Vernon continued to deteriorate and by the time it emerged back out at sea for the final time on January 23, the BOM had classified it as a tropical low, while the JTWC had it at tropical depression strength. However, Vernon began to reorganize as it entered a favorable environment and late on January 24, the JTWC reclassified the system to tropical storm strength. The BOM followed suit by approximately 06:00 UTC the next day, January 25, they upgraded Vernon to a Category 1 on the Australian scale. Vernon continued its final intensification trend and early on January 26, it was reclassified as a Category 2 on the Australian scale by the BOM. Eventually, the cyclone would reach its final peak intensity with sustained 10-minute winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 990 mbars, according to the BOM; the JTWC, on the other hand, went for sustained 1-minute winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 988 mbars. Starting on January 27, Vernon's final intensification trend ended and it started to deteriorate, eventually being downgraded back to a Category 1 on the Australian scale by 18:00 UTC. The next day, January 28, the cyclone made its final landfall over the North West Land Division, Western Australia, Australia, with sustained 10-minute winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 998 mbars, according to the BOM; the JTWC went for sustained 1-minute winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 995 mbars. The landfall happened at 12:56 UTC. Late on January 29, both the BOM and JTWC had declared that Vernon finally dissipated, thus ending its two-week long life.
Since Vernon struck sparsely populated areas, it only caused a total of $444,000 (2022 USD) in damages, as well as only two deaths.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Anika[]
| Category 5 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
| Category 4 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | January 17 – January 24 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 215 km/h (130 mph) (10-min) 929 hPa (mbar) |
The Madden-Julian oscillation spawned an area of disturbed weather about 260 nautical miles south of Java on January 12. In favorable conditions for tropical cyclone development, the disturbance organized in favorable conditions, resulting in the BOM, BMKG, and JTWC, all monitoring the disturbance for further development. However, two days later, the BMKG stopped issuing advisories on it after it left its area of responsibility. Despite this, the area of disturbed weather continued developing while being watched closely by the BOM and JTWC.
Eventually, the BOM decided to designate the system as Tropical Low 10U at 00:00 UTC on January 17. Initially, it trekked southwestwards but also on that same day, it curved southeastwards and about eighteen hours since the BOM designated the system as a tropical low, the JTWC followed suit by classifying the system as a tropical depression. Then, it underwent an intensification trend and the following day, January 18, the JTWC upgraded 10U to a tropical storm, with the BOM following suit by reclassifying the low as a Category 1 on the Australian scale, while also naming it "Anika" about twelve hours later. Then, at 12:00 UTC on January 19, the BOM decided to reclassify the system to a Category 2 on the Australian scale; the JTWC would then follow suit about twelve hours later by upgrading Anika further to a Category 1 on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Throughout January 20th, Anika underwent rapid intensification and by the end of the day, it reached Category 4 strength on both the Saffir-Simpson and Australian scale. On the 21st of January, the BOM decided to upgrade the cyclone to the maximum intensity on the Australian scale, Category 5. At this point, it was trekking southeastwards at a somewhat slow speed and also at the end of the same day, Anika reached its peak intensity with sustained 1-minute winds of 150 mph (240 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 933 mbars. Its peak would only last until the early hours of January 22, when the system underwent an eyewall replacement cycle and began to enter a hostile environment for tropical cyclones while it started to trek southwestwards, now at a rather normal speed. However, when it was downgraded to a Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson scale by the JTWC at approximately 00:00 UTC on January 23 and at this time, the BOM had it at a Category 4 on the Australian scale. Anika's structure continued to deteriorate and early the following day, January 24, the cyclone began to undergo extratropical transition. Also on the same day, it made landfall over Perth, Western Australia, Australia at 18:23 UTC. While the BOM gave it sustained 10-minute winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 985 mbars, whereas the JTWC gave it sustained 1-minute winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 982 mbars. Finally, at approximately 23:00 UTC that same day, both agencies issued their final advisory on Anika as they declared it 'completely extratropical.' Its extratropical remnants would continued to trek southeastwards in the Great Australian Bight, just before it was absorbed by a frontal system during the early hours of January 26.
Overall, Anika resulted in $38 million (2022 USD) and it caused a total of 13 fatalities. A majority of the damages and fatalities were reported in Perth, the place where the cyclone made its landfall at.
Tropical Low 11U[]
| Tropical low (Australian scale) | |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | January 29 – January 30 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 55 km/h (35 mph) (10-min) 1003 hPa (mbar) |
An area of convection would be monitored by both the JTWC and BOM on January 23. This area of convection was located in a favorable environment for tropical cyclone development in the Coral Sea. Due to the favorable environment it was located in, the area of convection transitioned into a low pressure area after approximately two days. The low pressure area continued to organize and on January 28, the JTWC issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert for the system.
The BOM classified the system as a tropical low the following day, January 29, at approximately 00:00 UTC. It trekked generally west-southwestwards to southwestwards and twenty-four hours since its classification as a tropical low by the BOM, the JTWC decided to classify 11U as a tropical storm and at approximately 03:00 UTC on January 30, the tropical low moved over the Far North Region, Queensland, Australia. The JTWC gave it sustained 1-minute winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 1006 mbars, its 1-minute peak intensity. Not long after that, its structure started to deteriorate and around 22:00 UTC, the JTWC and BOM issued their respective final advisories on the low.
Since the tropical low moved over a sparsely populated area, it caused no damages nor deaths.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Billy[]
| Category 4 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
| Category 2 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | February 4 – February 12 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 165 km/h (105 mph) (10-min) 973 hPa (mbar) |
An area of convection was detected over the Solomon Sea on January 30 by both the BOM and JTWC. The following day, January 31, it merged with a disturbance and this resulted in the formation of a low pressure area. The low pressure area moved over Papua New Guinea on the 2nd of February, but despite this, it continued to organize and also on the same day, the JTWC issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert for the low pressure area.
Eventually, the BOM classified the system as a tropical low at approximately 00:00 UTC on February 4. The low churned south-southeastwards, eventually being reclassified as a Category 1 on the Australian scale about twelve hours later, while also naming it "Billy;" the JTWC also followed suit on the same day by classifying Billy as a tropical storm. It continued trekking south-southeastwards at a rather slow pace, but also continued to organize and strengthen, eventually being upgraded to a Category 2 on the Australian scale at about 18:00 UTC the following day, February 5. Not long after being upgraded to a Category 2 on the Australian scale, Billy then started to trek west-southwestwards and it was then upgraded to a Category 1 on the Saffir-Simpson scale at 12:00 UTC on February 6 by the JTWC; also on the same hour, the BOM reclassified the system as a Category 3 on the Australian scale, thus making it the sixth severe tropical cyclone of the season. The JTWC then upped Billy even further to a Category 2 on the Saffir-Simpson scale after approximately 12 hours and after another 12 hours, the BOM decided to follow suit by giving the cyclone Category 4 intensity on the Australian scale. Billy then made landfall over the Far North Region, Queensland, Australia, at 13:56 UTC on February 7th; it made landfall at its peak intensity with sustained 1-minute winds of 110 mph (175 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 976 mbars. Land interaction resulted in Billy's structure deteriorating, just until it emerged in the Gulf of Carpentaria as a Category 2 on the Australian scale, equivalent to a tropical storm on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Billy organized quickly, once again, and it eventually became a Category 1 on the Saffir-Simpson scale at 00:00 UTC on the 9th of February, according to the JTWC; the BOM followed suit around six hours later by reclassifying the system as a Category 3 on the Australian scale. Also on the same day, the JTWC reclassified Billy as a Category 2 on the Saffir-Simpson scale and the cyclone reached its secondary peak intensity at approximately at 23:00 UTC, with sustained 10-minute winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 979 mbars, according to the BOM, whereas the JTWC gave it sustained 1-minute winds of 100 mph (155 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 981 mbars. During the start of the following day, February 10, Billy started to deteriorate before making another landfall over the Katherine Region, Northern Territory, Australia, at 08:03 UTC on the same day. While the BOM went with sustained 10-minute winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 982 mbars, the JTWC gave it sustained 1-minute winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 985 mbars. Land interaction resulted in the cyclone deteriorating and at approximately 06:00 UTC on February 12, both the BOM and JTWC issued their respective final advisories on Billy.
Billy caused moderate damages and only one reported fatalities considering that it affected sparsely populated areas.
Tropical Cyclone Charlotte[]
| Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | February 8 – February 12 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 85 km/h (50 mph) (10-min) 993 hPa (mbar) |
Over the Java Sea, the Madden-Julian oscillation spawned a tropical disturbance on the 4th of February. The following day, February 5, it moved over Bali and this resulted in the BOM and JTWC monitoring the disturbance for further development. The BMKG also monitored the disturbance but it left their area of responsibility before it developed into a tropical cyclone. It was located in a favorable environment for tropical cyclone development and in response, it began to organize as time passed.
Then, the BOM decided to classify the system as a tropical low at 00:00 UTC on February 8th. It continued to organize as it trekked generally southwestwards and about twenty-four hours later, the JTWC gives the low 'tropical storm' strength; the BOM followed suit after an additional six hours by giving the low Category 1 intensity on the Australian scale, while also naming it "Charlotte." The storm continued to organize and at approximately 10:00 UTC on February 10, Charlotte reached its official peak intensity with sustained 1-minute winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 990 mbars. The system's peak lasted for almost a day, and when it ended its peak intensity period, Charlotte began to weaken, unsurprisingly. On the 12th of February, the JTWC issued their final advisory on the system at 06:00 UTC, while also on that same time period, the BOM downgraded the storm to a tropical low. It was just at about 22:00 UTC that same day, when the previously mentioned agency (BOM) issued their final advisory on Charlotte. This final advisory by the BOM resulted in the cyclone's official dissipation.
Since Charlotte remained offshore, it did not cause any damages and falities.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Kevin[]
| Category 5 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
| Category 5 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | February 14 (Entered basin) – February 19 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 230 km/h (145 mph) (10-min) 916 hPa (mbar) |
A tropical cyclone named Kevin entered the basin at approximately 14:30 UTC on the 14th of February, that was equivalent to a Category 4 on the Australian scale and a Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson Scale. It would be upgraded to a Category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson scale at approximately 18:00 UTC on the same day that it entered the basin, February 14. About twelve hours since it was upgraded to a Category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson scale, the BOM upgraded Kevin even further to a Category 5 on the Australian scale, the highest intensity in not only the Australian scale, but also in the Saffir-Simpson scale. The cyclone continued strengthening as it trekked southwestwards, eventually being reclassified as a Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale by the JTWC around 00:00 UTC, on February 16th. A few hours later, Kevin peaked with sustained 1-minute winds of 160 mph (260 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 915 mbars. However, its peak intensity would only last for a few hours as an eyewall replacement cycle caused the system's structure and intensity to degrade and twelve hours since its upgrade to a Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale, the JTWC downgraded Kevin to a Category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson scale. The cyclone continued weakening and at approximately 18:00 UTC on the 18th of February, it was downgraded to a Category 2 on the Australian scale, meaning that it was no longer a severe tropical cyclone, at this point; it was then downgraded to a tropical storm after six hours since its downgrade to a tropical cyclone. The following day, the JTWC issued their final advisory at 23:00 UTC, with the BOM following suit about 10 minutes later, since both agencies declared Kevin to be a post-tropical cyclone. Its post-tropical (subtropical) remnants continued to deteriorate at a gradual pace and by the time it exited the basin on February 21, it lost all of its gale-force winds.
Kevin caused $60,000 (2022 USD) in damages in Australia, as well as 3 reported fatalities.
Tropical Cyclone Darian[]
| Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
| Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | February 17 – February 24 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 100 km/h (65 mph) (10-min) 986 hPa (mbar) |
A broad area of low pressure was detected approximately 820 nautical miles west-southwest of Jakarta, Indonesia on February 12th. This caught the eye of both the BOM and JTWC, which resulted in both agencies monitoring the low pressure area for further development. It was located in favorable conditions for tropical cyclone development, resulting in the disturbance organizing and the JTWC issuing a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert on February 16.
The BOM classified the low pressure area as a tropical low the following day, February 17 at approximately 12:00 UTC. The system moved southwards and approximately 24 hours since its formation, the BOM upgraded it to a Category 1 on the Australian scale, while also naming it Darian; the JTWC also did the same day, albeit as a tropical storm. Darian strengthened at a gradual pace as it was located over decent but favorable sea surface temperatures and 10-knot wind shear. Despite this, it was upgraded to a Category 2 on the Australian scale around 00:00 UTC on the 20th of February. Darian continued to organize as it trekked southeastwards, with the JTWC upgrading the system to a Category 1 on the Saffir-Simpson scale after 18 hours since its upgrade to a Category 2 on the Australian scale. The following day, February 21, and at approximately 06:20 UTC, the cyclone reached its official peak intensity with sustained 1-minute winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 983 mbars. Its peak intensity would only last for a few hours, as increasing wind shear resulted in the system being downgraded to a tropical storm by the JTWC around 00:00 UTC on February 22nd. A subtropical ridge over Western Australia resulted in Darian drifting west-northwestwards and after about twelve hours since the JTWC downgraded the cyclone to a tropical storm, the BOM followed suit by downgrading the system to a Category 1 on the Australian scale. Darian's structure continued to deteriorate and at approximately 06:00 UTC, the JTWC declared the cyclone a remnant low, while the BOM downgraded it to a tropical low. It was only six hours later that the latter agency declared it a remnant low.
Since Darian remained offshore, it did not cause any casualties nor damages.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Ellie[]
| Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
| Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | February 28 – March 4 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 155 km/h (100 mph) (10-min) 967 hPa (mbar) |
A monsoonal trough summoned a tropical disturbance in the Arafura Sea on the 23rd of February. The BOM and JTWC both began to monitor it on the same day for updates on its development. In favorable conditions for further organization, it began to organize during the next few days, resulting in the JTWC to issue a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert on February 27.
The following day, February 28th, it was classified as a tropical low by the BOM around 12:00 UTC. About twelve hours later, the JTWC followed suit by classifying the low as a tropical storm, and after another six hours, the BOM upgraded the system to a Category 1 on the Australian scale, while also naming it "Ellie." It trekked east-northeastwards, but not long after it was an upgraded to a Category 2 on the Australian scale at 00:00 UTC on March 2 by the BOM, the JTWC followed about six hours later by reclassifying the storm to a Category 1 on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Ellie then began to turn southeastwards and strengthened, becoming a Category 3 on the Australian scale around 18:00 UTC on the same day it became a Category 2 on the Australian scale, March 2nd. The cyclone's movement also accelerated, and it reached its official peak intensity at about 12:40 UTC during the next day, the 3rd of March, as a Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson scale, with sustained 1-minute winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 965 mbars. However, just before making landfall over the North West Region, Queensland, Australia, at 17:49 UTC on the same day, March 3, Ellie was downgraded to a Category 2 on the Saffir-Simpson scale by the JTWC. While the BOM gave Ellie the same intensity at its landfall, the JTWC gave its intensity the equivalent of a Category 2 on the Saffir-Simpson scale, with sustained 1-minute winds of 110 mph (175 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 968 mbars. Land interaction resulted in the cyclone rapidly weakening and at about 12:00 UTC on March 4, the JTWC declared Ellie a remnant low, with the BOM following suit about six hours later.
Ellie only caused moderate damages and only one fatality, due to it affecting a sparesly populated area.
Tropical Cyclone Bakung[]
| Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | March 3 – March 7 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 65 km/h (40 mph) (10-min) 999 hPa (mbar) |
The Madden-Julian oscillation split into two areas of disturbed weather about 180 nautical miles west-southwest of Bengkulu, Bengkulu, Indonesia, on February 27th; the other disturbance would be called Severe Tropical Cyclone Freddy. Its location in a somewhat favorable environment for tropical cyclone development, which resulted in the BOM, JTWC, and TCWC Jakarta, all monitoring the disturbance for further organization. It continued to organize and three days later, the JTWC issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert on the system.
On March 3rd at approximately 12:00 UTC, the BOM designated the disturbance as Tropical Low 17U. The low meandered around due to the influence of another tropical low, which would later become Severe Tropical Cyclone Freddy. Eventually, it would execute a loop and hours just before finishing the loop, the JTWC classified the low as a tropical storm about twenty-four hours since its official formation. Despite this, wind shear from Freddy, which had just achieved severe tropical cyclone status, resulted in the JTWC downgrading the system to a tropical depression, another eighteen hours later. The low then turned eastwards and reorganized in a more favorable environment as wind shear relaxed. It was upgraded back to a tropical storm by the JTWC at around 06:00 UTC on March 6, with the BOM following suit about six hours later by reclassifying the system as a Category 1 on the Australian scale, with TCWC Jakarta naming it Bakung. Also on the same day, Bakung reached its official peak intensity at around 23:20 UTC with sustained 1-minute winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 1001 mbars. The following day, March 7th, Severe Tropical Cyclone Freddy resulted in Bakung weakening once again, but this time the former was nearer than before, and at around 06:00 UTC, the BOM declared the system a tropical low, while the JTWC issued its final advisory and about six hours later, the former issued its final advisory on Bakung as they deemed it a post-tropical cyclone, a few hours before being completely absorbed by Cyclone Freddy.
Bakung brought heavy rainfall across southern Sumatra, Mentawai Islands, and western Java, resulting in a total of $33 million (2021 USD) and a total of 51 reported fatalities.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Freddy[]
| Category 4 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
| Category 4 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | March 4 – March 15 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 195 km/h (120 mph) (10-min) 946 hPa (mbar) |
The Madden-Julian oscillation that also spawned Tropical Cyclone Bakung split into two on the 27th of February. This disturbance meandered and its located in a favorable environment for tropical cyclones resulted in both the BOM and JTWC monitoring it for further development. The disturbance then began to organize, resulting in the JTWC giving a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert for the system on March 3.
The following day, the BOM classified it as a tropical low at about 00:00 UTC. Tropical Low 18U continued to strengthen and about twelve hours later, the JTWC announced that they gave the low tropical storm status. The BOM followed suit another six hours later by upgrading 18U to a Category 1 on the Australian scale, while also naming it Freddy. Its strengthening trend and around 18:00 UTC on the 5th of March, it was reclassified as a Category 2 on the Australian scale by the BOM; the JTWC followed suit twelve hours later by upgrading Freddy to a Category 1 on the Saffir-Simpson scale. The cyclone would eventually reached its initial peak intensity at around 08:30 UTC on March 6th: the BOM gave its sustained 10-minute winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 987 mbars, while the JTWC gave it sustained 1-minute winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 984 mbars. It trekked northwestwards and started to weaken just a few hours later as it was interacting with Tropical Cyclone Bakung. Early the very next day, the aforementioned tropical cyclone was absorbed by Freddy and it allowed the latter to reorganize and eventually, it turned southwestwards then southeastwards. Just before curving southeastwards, the BOM downgraded Freddy to a Category 1 on the Australian scale at approximately 18:00 UTC on the same day, March 7, which was just brief because it would be given back Category 2 (Australian scale) strength just six hours later. Freddy would then undergo a fast-paced intensification and at about 12:00 UTC, the JTWC upgraded the system to a Category 1 on the Saffir-Simpson scale, while the BOM gave it Category 3 strength on the Australian scale. About twelve hours later, it was upped further to a Category 2 on the Saffir-Simpson scale by the JTWC. On the 9th of March at 18:00 UTC, the BOM gave the system Category 4 intensity on the Australian scale and within twelve hours, it also achieved the aforementioned classification on the Saffir-Simpson scale. The next day, March 10th, Freddy reached its official peak intensity with sustained 1-minute winds of 140 mph (220 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 949 mbars. It continued to meader, eventually undergoing an eyewall replacement cycle that resulted in its downgrade to a Category 3 on March 11 at 06:00 UTC by the JTWC. It was briefly upgraded to a Category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson scale and it reached its secondary peak intensity at the end of the day, specifically at 21:20 UTC: the BOM gave it sustained 10-minute winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 952 mbars, while the JTWC gave it sustained 1-minute winds of 130 mph (215 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 955 mbars. This would only last until the start of the following day, when it got demoted to a Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson scale by the JTWC, thus kickstarting its weakening trend. Early on March 14th, Freddy would start undergoing its post-tropical transition, which resulted in it transitioning into a subtropical storm the following day, March 15, around 06:00 UTC. Both the BOM and JTWC issued their respective final advisories on it, although the latter declared it an extratropical cyclone about eighteen hours later.
Since Freddy did not move near any land areas, it did not cause any damages and fatalities.
Tropical Low 19U[]
| Tropical low (Australian scale) | |
  | |
| Duration | March 11 – March 13 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 55 km/h (35 mph) (10-min) 999 hPa (mbar) |
An area of disturbed weather was detected in the middle of the Indian Ocean on March 8th. The JTWC and BOM both began to monitor the disturbance for further development. It began to gradually organize as time passed.
The BOM would then classify it as a tropical low at approximately 06:00 UTC on March 11. At this point, the JTWC issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert for the low. For the next two days, little development was noticed in the low due to increasingly unfavorable conditions and on the 13th of March, the JTWC decided to cancel their TCFA for 19U around 00:00 UTC. Also on the same day, the low began to deteriorate and about eighteen hours later, the BOM issued their final advisory on the low.
Since the tropical low did not affect any land, it did not cause any damages and fatalities.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Ila[]
| Category 5 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
  | |
| Duration | March 12 – April 2 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 280 km/h (175 mph) (10-min) 894 hPa (mbar) |
The Madden-Julian Oscillation spawned a tropical disturbance in the Bismarck Sea on March 8th. It then moved into the Solomon Sea the very next day and it meandered in a favorable environment, which caught the eye of TCWC Port Moresby, the BOM, and the JTWC altogether. It got to the point where the JTWC decided to issue a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert for the disturbance late on March 11th.
The next day, March 12, the disturbance developed into a tropical low at around 06:00 UTC. Within 24 hours, the JTWC had the low at tropical storm strength, while the BOM had it at Category 1 strength on the Australian scale, with TCWC Port Moresby naming it Ila. From March 13-14, Ila underwent rapid intensification, becoming a severe tropical cyclone late on the next day after its formation. On the 14th of March, the cyclone became a Category 5 on both the Australian and Saffir-Simpson scales at approximately 06:00 UTC, and reaching its first peak intensity at 08:30 UTC sharp. The BOM gave it sustained 10-minute winds of 145 mph (230 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 918 mbars, while the JTWC gave it sustained 1-minute winds of 160 mph (260 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 916 mbars. The cyclone then encountered land interaction and then began to weaken, eventually being downgraded to a Category 4 by the JTWC at around 18:00 UTC on March 14th. Ila then made its first landfall over the Oro Province, Papua New Guinea, at 18:56 UTC. The BOM gave it sustained 10-minute winds of 130 mph (215 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 925 mbars, while the JTWC gave it sustained 1-minute winds of 155 mph (255 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 922 mbars, thus making Ila the strongest cyclone to make landfall in Papua New Guinea, as of December 2022, although this would just be one of the few records it broke. Due to the cyclone's small size, it rapidly weakened and even when it emerged out at sea, Ila continued to weaken, eventually being downgraded to a tropical storm around 00:00 UTC on the 16th of March; also during that time, the BOM had the system at Category 2 status on the Australian scale. However, not long after it was downgraded to a tropical storm, Ila began to reorganize and underwent another strengthening trend, thus allowing it to become a severe tropical cyclone later that day, specifically at 18:00 UTC. Two days later, Ila became a Category 4 on both the Australian and Saffir-Simpson scales, respectively, and it peaked at around 21:40 UTC on March 18th. The BOM gave it sustained 10-minute winds of 120 mph (195 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 948 mbars, while the JTWC gave it sustained 1-mintue winds of 130 mph (215 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 945 mbars. Ila then made its second landfall over the Shire of Cook, Far North Region, Queensland, Australia, at a slightly weaker intensity and at 23:49 UTC, also on March 18th. Both the BOM and JTWC decided to keep the same wind speed at its second peak intensity, while they went with a slightly higher pressure; the former gave it 949 mbars, while the latter gave it 947 mbars. The cyclone then began to weaken and by the end of March 19th, it was downgraded to a Category 2 on the Australian scale, equivalent to a tropical storm on the Saffir-Simpson scale. It continued to weaken until the middle of the next day, March 20, when Ila began to reorganize once again in the Gulf of Carpentaria, allowing for rapid intensification and for the system to become a Category 5 on both the Australian and Saffir-Simpson scales at around 00:00 UTC on the 23rd of March. Also on the same day, Ila reached its third peak intensity at around 13:30 UTC. The BOM gave it sustained 10-minute winds of 155 mph (250 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 908 mbars, while the JTWC gave it sustained 1-minute winds of 165 mph (270 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 911 mbars. The cyclone then made its third landfall over the Roper Gulf Regional Council, Katherine Region, Northern Territory, Australia, at its peak intensity at 15:46 UTC later that day. This also made Ila the strongest cyclone to make landfall in the Northern Territory. Landfall resulted in the cyclone weakening, albeit at a moderate pace due to the brown ocean effect. When Ila became a Category 1 on the Saffir-Simpson scale, specifically at approximately 00:00 UTC on March 25th, it maintained that status, although the BOM downgraded it to a Category 2 on the Australian scale about twelve hours later. On that same day, the system emerged back out at sea and it began to strengthen for the fourth time and on March 27, it began to take a more southwesterly trend. Ila would eventually become a Category 5 on both the Australian and Saffir-Simpson scales on the early hours of March 29th and also on the same day, it reached its official peak intensity at about 16:20 UTC. The JTWC gave it sustained 1-minute winds of 185 mph (295 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 896 mbars, while the BOM gave it a record sustained 10-minute winds of 175 mph (280 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 894 mbars. This made Ila the strongest cyclone in the Australian basin in the modern satellite era. It would hold its peak only for just a few hours, as it underwent an eyewall replacement cycle that resulted in the cyclone weakening, even being briefly downgraded to a Category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson scale by the JTWC around 12:00 UTC the next day, March 30, although it got upgraded back to a Category 5 by the same agency six hours later, resulting in Ila's final strengthening trend. The cyclone would make its final landfall over the Shire of East Pilbara, Pilbara Region, Western Australia, Australia, at its secondary peak intensity at 10:58 UTC on March 31. The BOM gave it sustained 10-minute winds of 155 mph (250 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 900 mbars, while the JTWC gave it sustained 1-minute winds of 175 mph (280 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 903 mbars. This made Ila the strongest cyclone to make landfall over Australia and in the basin. The cyclone would then start accelerating southeastwards and rapidly weakening, eventually beginning its extratropical transition on the start of the 1st of April. Ila then completed its extratropical transition the following day, April 2, at about 06:00 UTC. This resulted in both the BOM and JTWC issuing their respective final advisories within the hour. Its extratropical remnants affected South Australia, Victoria, and Tasmania, eventually being absorbed by another extratropical cyclone late on the 5th of April.
Ila caused a total of $8.4 billion (2022 USD) in damages and a total of 2,219 fatalities, making this storm the costliest and deadliest in not only the season, but in the history of the Australian region during the satellite era. It also single-handedly made this season the costliest and deadliest Australian region season.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle[]
| Category 5 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
| Category 5 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | March 23 – March 30 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 260 km/h (160 mph) (10-min) 899 hPa (mbar) |
An area of convection formed in the middle of the Coral Sea on the 17th of March. It gained little organization throughout the next few days until March 19, when it entered a more favorable environment and caught the eye of both the BOM and JTWC. The area of convection then became a low pressure area on the same day and it started to organize at a much quicker pace. Eventually, the JTWC decided to issue a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert on March 22.
The next day, March 23rd, the BOM classified the low pressure area as Tropical Low 21U around 18:00 UTC. About six hours later, the JTWC decided to give 21U tropical storm status, and another six hours later, it was upgraded to a Category 1 on the Australian scale, while also being named Gabrielle. From March 25-26, Gabrielle began to rapidly strengthen and by the end of the 25th of March, it became a Category 5 on both the Australian and Saffir-Simpson scales. Gabrielle then reached its peak intensity at approximately 15:40 UTC on March 27th, with sustained 1-minute winds of 180 mph (285 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 897 mbars. This made it the most-intense tropical cyclone in the Australian region basin, which would be surpassed two days later by Severe Tropical Cyclone Ila, dropping it to second place. Gabrielle underwent an eyewall replacement cycle before making landfall over the Region of Isaac, Mackay, Isaac & Whitsunday Region, Queensland, Australia, at 06:47 UTC the next day, March 28. The BOM gave it sustained 10-minute winds of 150 mph (240 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 904 mbars, while the JTWC gave it sustained 1-minute winds of 160 mph (260 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 910 mbars. The cyclone rapidly weakened and within a 24-hour period, Gabrielle started as a Category 5 on both the Australian and Saffir-Simpson scales, and ended the period as a Category 2 on the Australian scale, equivalent to a tropical storm on the Saffir-Simpson scale. The storm then began to transition to an extratropical cyclone, which it completed at 06:00 UTC on March 30th. Its extratropical remnants continued southeastwards, eventually dissipating on April 1.
Gabrielle resulted in $4.3 billion (2022 USD) in damages, and a total of 513 fatalities. This made it the second-costliest and second-deadliest cyclone in not only the entire season, but in the history of the Australian region basin.
Tropical Low 22U (Pamela)[]
| Tropical low (Australian scale) | |
  | |
| Duration | March 24 – March 24 (Exited basin) |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 55 km/h (35 mph) (10-min) 1000 hPa (mbar) |
A broad area of low pressure formed on March 22nd from a dissipating monsoonal trough. It began to gradually organize, although this caught the BOM as the agency predicted that it would develop into a tropical low within a few days.
Eventually, it was classified as a tropical low at approximately 00:00 UTC on March 24. During this time, the JTWC did not issue a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert during that time and instead, kept it at a medium chance of development into a tropical cyclone. It did not strengthen any further and by the end of the day, the BOM issued their final advisory on Tropical Low 22U at approximately 21:00 UTC.
The tropical low did not affect land, thus meaning that it did not cause any damages nor fatalities.
Tropical Cyclone Savana[]
| Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
| Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | April 12 (Entered basin) – April 13 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 110 km/h (70 mph) (10-min) 981 hPa (mbar) |
On April 12 at approximately 06:30 UTC, Severe Tropical Storm Savana entered the Australian region basin, thus being reclassified as Tropical Cyclone Savana and in response to the basin crossing, the MFR handed the job of monitoring the system over to the BOM. Not long after it entered the basin, however, the cyclone would reach its official peak intensity with sustained 1-minute winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 984 mbars. Savana then started to undergo extratropical transition, which it completed and in just under 24 hours since entering the basin, the cyclone entered the basin as a Category 2 on the Australian scale, equivalent to a Category 1 on the Saffir-Simpson scale, and ended its life as an extratropical cyclone at about 06:00 UTC the day after it entered basin, April 13. Its extratropical remnants would continued southeastward with gale-force winds, eventually being absorbed by a frontal system early on April 16th.
Since Savana did not affect any land, it did not cause any damages nor fatalities.
Tropical Cyclone Herman[]
| Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | April 16 – April 23 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 95 km/h (60 mph) (10-min) 990 hPa (mbar) |
A monsoonal trough that was deteriorating left behind a trail of cloud patterns on the 12th of April. In favorable conditions for tropical cyclone development, it organized into a low pressure area the next day, April 13, and in response, both the BOM and JTWC started to monitor the newly-formed area of low pressure for further development. As expected, it began to organize in favorable conditions and a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert was issued on April 15 by the JTWC.
The following day, April 16th, the low pressure area was classified as a tropical low by the BOM around 18:00 UTC. However, one problem was that the environment it was in was now slightly to moderately favorable for tropical cyclone development, so intensification was slower than what both the BOM and JTWC expected. Despite this, though, the JTWC classified the system as a tropical storm about 30 hours since its official formation, while the BOM followed suit after another six hours by giving it Category 1 status on the Australian scale and naming it Herman. It continued to strengthen and was upgraded further to a Category 2 on the Australian scale at about 06:00 UTC on April 19th. Also on the same day, Herman reached its official peak intensity with sustained 1-minute winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 988 mbars. Intensification was expected to continue further but as it turned out, the environmental conditions the cyclone was in turned out to result in the system's intensity stagnating and on April 21, it entered an area of unfavorable conditions, thus resulting in the start of its weakening trend and downgrade to a Category 1 on the Australian scale around 18:00 UTC that same day. Herman continued to weaken and at 18:00 UTC the next day, April 22nd, the JTWC issued their final advisory on the system, while the BOM downgraded it to a tropical low, only to declare it a post-tropical cyclone about eighteen hours later.
Herman affected the Northern Territory and Western Australia, but no damages nor deaths were reported, due to it affecting sparsely populated locations.
Tropical Low 25U[]
| Tropical low (Australian scale) | |
  | |
| Duration | May 1 – May 4 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 55 km/h (35 mph) (10-min) 1003 hPa (mbar) |
On April 25th, an area of convection became a broad area of low pressure. It was located in an environment favorable for tropical cyclone development, which caught the eye of both the BOM and JTWC. The low pressure area continued to organize and eventually on April 30, a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert was issued by the JTWC.
The next day, May 1, the BOM classified the low pressure as a tropical low. Despite calls for it becoming a Category 1 on the Australian scale, it never achieved that intensity and it remained a tropical low throughout its lifetime, eventually dissipating on May 4th due to increasing wind shear and cooling sea surface temperatures.
Overall, it did not cause any damages nor deaths but it affected Queensland.
Storm names[]
Bureau of Meteorology[]
The Australian Bureau of Meteorology (TCWC Melbourne) monitors all tropical cyclones that form within the Australian region, including any within the areas of responsibility of TCWC Jakarta or TCWC Port Moresby. The names that was used for 2021–22 season is listed below:
|
|
TCWC Jakarta[]
TCWC Jakarta monitors Tropical Cyclones from the Equator to 11S and from 90E to 145E. The names that were used for 2021–22 season is listed below:
- Teratai
- Anggrek
- Bakung
TCWC Port Moresby[]
Tropical cyclones that develop north of 11°S between 151°E and 160°E are assigned names by the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. Tropical cyclone formation in this area featured two named storms from the Tropical Cyclone Warning Center, the first since 2007. Starting from this season, the agency decided to name them in an alphabetical order, starting from Hibu:
- Hibu
- Ila
Tropical cyclones from other basins[]
If a tropical cyclone enters the Australian region from the South Pacific basin (east of 160°E), it will retain the name assigned to it by the Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS) or MetService. Similarly, if a tropical cyclone enters the Australian region from the South-West Indian Ocean cyclone region (west of 90°E), it will retain the name assigned to it on behalf of Météo-France La Réunion by the Sub-Regional Tropical Cyclone Advisory Centres in Mauritius or Madagascar. This season, the following systems were named in this manner:
- Kevin (named by FMS)
- Savana (named by Météo-France)
Retirement[]
On October 23, 2022, the Bureau of Meteorology retired the names Ruby, Anika, and Gabrielle, replacing them with Reese, Avery, and Gertrude. The names Anggrek and Bakung was also retired from TCWC Jakarta and replaced with the names Anggur and Belimbing for the next list, also due to damage caused in Western Australia. TCWC Port Moresby also retired the name Ila and replaced it with Ume.
Season effects[]
The following table lists all of the storms that have formed in the 2021-22 Australian region cyclone season. It includes their duration, names, landfall(s)—denoted by bold location names—damages, and death totals. Damage and deaths include totals while the storm was extratropical, a wave, or a low, and all of the damage figures are in 2021 USD.
| Name | Dates active | Peak classification | Sustained wind speeds |
Pressure | Areas affected | Damage (USD) |
Deaths | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paddy | November 11 – 19 | Category 2 tropical cyclone | 100 (65) | 985 | Northern Territory, Queensland | $1.2 million | None | |
| Ruby | December 3 – 6 | Category 3 tropical cyclone | 140 (85) | 976 | Papua New Guinea | Minimal | None | |
| Teratai | December 8 – 18 | Category 1 tropical cyclone | 75 (45) | 996 | Sumatra, Java, Cocos (Keeling) Islands | $87 million | 17 | |
| 04U | December 12 – 14 | Tropical low | 55 (35) | 998 | Western Australia | None | None | |
| Seth | December 13 – 20 | Category 2 tropical cyclone | 110 (70) | 985 | Northern Territory, Queensland | $56 million | 5 | |
| Hibu | December 21 – 27 | Category 4 tropical cyclone | 165 (105) | 960 | Papua New Guinea, | $3 million | 3 | |
| Tiffany | January 3 – 8 | Category 3 tropical cyclone | 150 (90) | 969 | Lesser Sunda Islands, Western Australia | Moderate | None | |
| Anggrek | January 10 – 20 | Category 3 tropical cyclone | 130 (80) | 976 | Lesser Sunda Islands (East Nusa Tenggara), Western Australia, Northern Territory, South Australia | $233 million | 27 | |
| Vernon | January 15 – 29 | Category 2 tropical cyclone | 110 (70) | 985 | Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia | $444,000 | 2 | |
| Anika | January 17 – 24 | Category 5 tropical cyclone | 215 (130) | 929 | Christmas Island, Western Australia | $38 million | 13 | |
| 11U | January 29 – 30 | Tropical low | 55 (35) | 1003 | Queensland | None | None | |
| Billy | February 4 – 12 | Category 4 tropical cyclone | 165 (105) | 973 | Papua New Guinea, Queensland, Northern Territory | Moderate | None | |
| Charlotte | February 8 – 12 | Category 1 tropical cyclone | 85 (50) | 993 | None | None | None | |
| Kevin | February 14 – 19 | Category 5 tropical cyclone | 230 (145) | 916 | Queensland, New South Wales | $60,000 | 3 | |
| Darian | February 17 – 24 | Category 2 tropical cyclone | 100 (65) | 986 | None | None | None | |
| Ellie | February 28 – March 4 | Category 3 tropical cyclone | 155 (100) | 967 | Northern Territory, Queensland | Moderate | 1 | |
| Bakung | March 3 – 7 | Category 1 tropical cyclone | 65 (40) | 999 | Sumarta, Mentawai Islands, Java | $33 million | 51 | |
| Freddy | March 4 – 15 | Category 4 tropical cyclone | 195 (120) | 946 | None | None | None | |
| 19U | March 11 – 13 | Tropical low | 55 (35) | 999 | None | None | None | |
| Ila | March 12 – April 2 | Category 5 tropical cyclone | 280 (175) | 894 | Papua New Guinea, Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania | $8.4 billion | 2,219 | |
| Gabrielle | March 23 – 30 | Category 5 tropical cyclone | 260 (160) | 899 | Queensland, New South Wales | $4.3 billion | 513 | |
| 22U (Pamela) | March 24 | Tropical low | 55 (35) | 1000 | None | None | None | |
| Savana | April 12 – 13 | Category 2 tropical cyclone | 110 (70) | 981 | None | None | None | |
| Herman | April 16 – 23 | Category 2 tropical cyclone | 95 (60) | 990 | None | None | None | |
| 25U | May 1 – 4 | Tropical low | 55 (35) | 1003 | None | None | None | |
| Season aggregates | ||||||||
| 25 systems | November 11, 2021 – May 4, 2022 | 280 (175) | 894 | $13.151 billion | 2,855 | |||
See also[]
- Atlantic hurricane seasons: 2021, 2022
- Pacific hurricane seasons: 2021, 2022
- Pacific typhoon seasons: 2021, 2022
- North Indian Ocean cyclone seasons: 2021, 2022
- 2021-22 South Pacific cyclone season
- 2021-22 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season