Tonga’s 2024–25 tropical cyclone season concluded without any severe cyclones impacting the nation.
The official season, spanning from 1 November 2024 to 30 April 2025, saw four tropical cyclones form in the South Pacific: Pita, Rae, Seru, and Tam. Of these, only Cyclones Pita and Rae entered Tonga’s area of responsibility, prompting brief activations of the Fua’amotu Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre.
Cyclone Pita, a Category 1 system, passed between the Niuas and Vava’u in January, leading to a 31-hour operational period. Later, in February, Cyclone Rae reached Category 2 intensity, skirting Tonga’s western waters and resulting in a nearly five-day alert. Despite forecasts indicating a moderate to high chance of at least one severe cyclone, none materialised.
The season’s activity aligned with predictions made in October 2024, which anticipated one to two cyclones affecting Tonga, with peak activity between January and March. The Tonga Meteorological Service attributed the subdued season to neutral El Niño–Southern Oscillation conditions at its onset and the development of weak La Niña conditions later on.
With the cyclone season now over, the Fua’amotu Centre has been deactivated and will resume monitoring ahead of the next season commencing on 1 November 2025.
