Tropical cyclones in 2021

2021 Pacific typhoon season summary map

On January 19, a tropical depression formed which became the first Northern Hemisphere tropical cyclone of the year and of the 2021 Pacific typhoon season.[1]

From the 2020 season, two systems crossed into the 2021 season after having formed during the previous year, Danilo peaked as a high end severe tropical storm and briefly passed near the Mascarene Islands and a tropical depression designated as 05 which entered the South-West Indian Ocean basin on January 28, caused a Fujiwhara effect with Danilo and dissipated on January 3. In the 2021 season, one disturbance formed in the South-West Indian Ocean, which intensified further to become Eloise. It rapidly intensified into a tropical cyclone on the Mozambique Channel and made a second landfall in Beira. Its remnants affected Zimbabwe, Eswatini and South Africa. Meanwhile, Joshua from the Australian region entered into the basin on the same day. On January 27, 10U from the Australian region entered the basin and designated as Tropical Depression 09 but dissipated soon thereafter rapidly. On February 4, a tropical depression formed and intensified into Cyclone Faraji which further intensified into the season's first intense and very intense tropical cyclone.

At the beginning of the 2021 season, a new low formed in the Australian region near the Northern Territory of Australia which further intensified into the first named cyclone of 2021 named Imogen, which made landfall in Far North Queensland. Another low formed northeast of Cocos Islands which lasted for five days and dissipated on January 10. Joshua formed on January 13 and crossed into the South-West Indian Ocean basin four days later. A new low formed on January 16 near Queensland which intensified into Tropical Cyclone Kimi on the very next day. Four additional lows formed after Kimi, one of which intensified into Tropical Cyclone Lucas and crossed into the South Pacific basin on February 3, while the other three had minor effects on land.

In January 2021, four disturbances formed in the South Pacific, all four of which intensified into tropical depressions, with Ana and Bina intensifying into tropical cyclones. On the first day of February, Lucas entered from the Australian region and affected New Caledonia and Vanuatu. The season's ninth tropical depression followed on February 7.

Cyclone Eloise

January was above average in tropical cyclone formation with fourteen tropical cyclones forming and seven being named. Before that, two systems crossed into the 2021 season after having formed during the previous year, Danilo peaked as a severe tropical storm and briefly passed near the Mascarene Islands and a tropical depression designated as 05 which entered the South-West Indian Ocean basin on December 28, caused a brief interaction with Danilo and dissipated on January 3. In the Australian region, Imogen formed on January 1 and affected Far North Queensland with minimal damage. Following Imogen, three named storms, Joshua and Kimi, developed, with Joshua later entering the South-West Indian Ocean on January 17 while Kimi threatened to affect Queensland as a Category 2 tropical cyclone but weakened suddenly due to unexpected wind shear and Lucas formed January 25 and entered the South Pacific basin on February 1. Additionally, four tropical lows formed in the basin, out of which one system entered the South-West Indian Ocean basin. In the South-West Indian Ocean, Eloise formed and first made landfall in Madagascar as a severe tropical storm. It rapidly intensified over the Mozambique Channel and became the strongest storm of the month shortly before making a damaging landfall in Mozambique and its remnants affecting Zimbabwe, Eswatini and South Africa. In the West Pacific, a depression formed which became the first Northern Hemisphere tropical cyclone of 2021 and marked the beginning of the 2021 Pacific typhoon season. In the South Pacific, Ana and Bina formed, including two depressions affecting Fiji and Vanuatu.

Cyclone Faraji

February so far has produced three systems with one being named, of which one system was unofficial. In the South-West Indian Ocean, Faraji formed and rapidly intensified to a very intense tropical cyclone, although it stayed well away from any landmasses. It strengthened into the first category 5-equivalent in the basin since Fantala in 2016 and the first in February since 2005 as well as the first category 5 tropical cyclone of the year. In the Australian region, a tropical low formed near Northern Territory and quickly made landfall. In the South Pacific, a tropical disturbance formed north of Fiji and strengthened. In the South Atlantic one system was unofficially monitored by NOAA which was designated as 01Q.