Tropical Cyclone Horacio Becomes First Category 5 Storm of the Year

Tropical Cyclone Horacio evolved into a monster Category 5 storm, making it the first of its kind for the year. While Horacio is churning in a remote part of the South Indian Ocean, the massive storm serves as a reminder that the tropical weather season is approaching quickly.

Latest on Tropical Cyclone Horacio

According to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) and its reporting from the Pacific Disaster Center (PDC), Horacio's top winds hit 160 mph at its peak on February 23, easily putting it under the same designation of a Category 5 hurricane as defined by the Saffir-Simpson scale.

After going through the process of rapid intensification, Horacio became distinguished as the strongest tropical weather event of the 2026 season. In addition, Horacio is the first Category 5 to roam the Southern Hemisphere since Cyclone Errol strengthened off the coast of northwestern Australia on April 16, 2025.