Tropical Cyclone Sean Lashes Western Australia | NASA Terra Earth Satellite

Tropical Cyclone Sean Lashes Western Australia | NASA Terra Earth Satellite

A downward-looking image shows swirling bands of white clouds around the eye of a tropical cyclone over blue ocean water. The cloud bands partially cover the coastal areas of Western Australia.

A downward-looking image shows swirling bands of white clouds around the eye of a tropical cyclone over blue ocean water. The cloud bands partially cover the coastal areas of Western Australia (labeled/annotated version)

On January 17, 2025, a tropical low formed over the Indian Ocean off Western Australia. By January 19, the storm had strengthened into Tropical Cyclone Sean—the second tropical cyclone of Australia’s 2024–2025 season.

The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite acquired this image at about 10 a.m. local time (02:00 Universal Time) on January 20, 2025. Later that afternoon, the cyclone had reached its peak strength as a Category 4 storm.

The storm’s center stayed offshore as it tracked southwest over the Indian Ocean. Though Sean never made landfall, it battered the Pilbara coast with strong winds and rain. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) reported that Karratha received 274.4 millimeters (10.8 inches) in a 24-hour period, breaking the city’s single-day rain record.

The storm flooded roads and homes, damaged power infrastructure, and prompted the closure of several ports. However, the storm also brought relief from hot and humid conditions, according to news reports. Looking ahead, the abundant water could aid cattle station managers, allowing them to return their animals to grazing.

Australia’s tropical cyclone season runs from November through April, though storms can occur outside these months. According to the BoM, the 2024–2025 seasonal forecast called for an average number of tropical cyclones, although more of them are expected to be stronger than usual due to warm sea surface temperatures.

The second tropical cyclone of Australia’s 2024–2025 season brought high winds and heavy rain to the Pilbara Coast.

Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory/Michala Garrison/MODIS data from NASA EOSDIS LANCE and GIBS/Worldview
Article Credit: Kathryn Hansen
Image Date: Jan. 20, 2025
Release Date: Jan. 22, 2025

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