Current Snapshot

The Pacific Disaster Center’s (PDC Global) Friday, November 29, 2024, Tropical Cyclone Activity Report…for the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean, and adjacent Seas

Current Tropical Cyclones:

Tropical Cyclone 03S (Robyn) is located approximately 420 NM south-southwest of Cocos Islands, Australia – Final Warning

Tropical Cyclone 04B (Fengal) is located approximately 80 NM east-southeast of Chennai, India

Northeast Pacific Ocean: There are no Tropical Cyclones

Central Pacific Ocean: There are no Tropical Cyclones

2024 Hurricane Season Summary for the Central Pacific Basin

The 2024 hurricane season featured two tropical cyclones in the Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPHC) area of responsibility. Four to five tropical cyclones occur during an average year. Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. The central Pacific basin extends from 140°W to the International Date Line.

Hurricane Hone was the first tropical cyclone of the season in the central Pacific, developing about 1,000 miles east-southeast of the Big Island on August 22. This was the first tropical cyclone to form in the central Pacific since Tropical Storm Ema in October 2019. Hone continued to strengthen as it approached the state, eventually becoming a hurricane late on August 24 just over 50 miles south-southeast of Ka Lae, the southern tip of the Big Island. Hone weakened to a Tropical Depression on August 29, then strengthened to a Tropical Storm again from August 30-September 1. During this time a Tropical Storm Watch was issued for Kure and Midway Atolls and portions of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument from Lisianski Island to Pearl and Hermes Atoll. Hone became extratropical just after crossing the International Date Line on September 1.

Hurricane Gilma moved into the basin from the east on August 27 and rapidly weakened before dissipating east of Hawaiʻi.

Impacts to the State of Hawaiʻi: Heavy rain from Hurricane Hone caused flash flooding that damaged homes and closed several roads across Hawaii County on August 25, leading to several million dollars in damage. Tropical storm force winds brought down trees and utility poles on the Big Island, with reports of damage on Maui and Oahu as well.

Western Pacific, Indian Ocean, and adjacent Seas:

Tropical Cyclone 03S (Robyn) – Final Warning

According to the JTWC warning number 5, sustained winds are 35 knots with gusts to near 45 knots.

Tropical cyclone 03S peaked at 55 knots as evidenced by a image showing 50-55 knots over the northern semicircle. Over the past six hours, animated enhanced infrared (eir) satellite imagery reveals rapid weakening due to strong vertical wind shear and significant mid-level dry air entrainment. A color composite microwave image shows isolated deep convection sheared 160 NM southeast of the center, with shallow banding wrapping tightly into a defined low-level circulation center.

Tropical cyclone 03S is expected torapidly weaken through the forecast period under strong northwesterly vertical wind shear and significant dry air entrainment. The system will continue tracking generally southeastward through 12 hours along the southwest periphery of a low-level to mid-level steering  ridge.

As 03S weakens and becomes shallower, it will slow and turn westward under the steering influence of a low-level high to the south, with dissipation anticipated by 36 hours due to extensive dry air and strong vertical wind shear.

Tropical Cyclone 04B (Fengal)

According to the JTWC warning number 2, sustained winds are 50 knots with gusts to near 65 knots.