In March 2025 Australia experienced the first cyclone to impact southeast Queensland in more than 50 years. Cyclones have usually occurred in northern Queensland and in tropical waters off Australia’s coast; it is less common for these storms to occur as far south as Cyclone Alfred did.
The oceans around Australia have warmed by about 1.1°C since 1900. Recent increases in sea surface temperatures have 9 of the 10 warmest years on record occurring since 2010. These warming trends are having wide-ranging effects on global weather, including the characteristics and impacts of cyclones.
Download the Climate Change Authority’s tropical cyclones and climate change factsheet for more information.