List of Category 5 Australian region severe tropical cyclones

Category 5 severe tropical cyclones are tropical cyclones that reach Category 5 intensity on the Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale within the Australian region. They are by definition the strongest tropical cyclones that can form on Earth. A total of 48 recorded tropical cyclones have peaked at Category 5 strength in the Australian region, which is denoted as the part of the Southern Hemisphere between 90°E and 160°E. The earliest tropical cyclone to be classified as a Category 5 severe tropical cyclone was Pam which was classified as a Category 5 between February 3 – 5, 1974, as it moved through the Coral Sea. The latest system to be classified as a Category 5 severe tropical cyclone was Ilsa, which was classified on 13 April 2023 off the coast of Western Australia.

Background
The Australian region tropical cyclone basin is located to the south of the Equator between 90°E and 160°E and is officially monitored by the Indonesian Badan Meteorologi, Klimatologi, dan Geofisika (BMKG), Australian Bureau of Meteorology and the Papua New Guinea National Weather Service. Other meteorological services such as New Zealand's MetService, Météo-France as well as the Fiji Meteorological Service and the United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center monitor the basin. Within the basin a Category 5 severe tropical cyclone is a tropical cyclone that has 10-minute mean maximum sustained wind speeds over 107 kn or greater on the Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale. A named storm could also be classified as a Category 5 tropical cyclone if it is estimated, to have 1-minute mean maximum sustained wind speeds over 137 kn on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale. Within the basin this scale is not officially used, however, systems are commonly compared to the SSHWS using 1-minute sustained wind speeds from the United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. On both scales, a Category 5 tropical cyclone is expected to cause widespread devastation, if it significantly impacts land at or near its peak intensity.

20th century
Queensland, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu || Unknown || 22 || Vanuatu, New Caledonia Norfolk Island, New Zealand || || || Helinda]] || 21–22 January 1997 || 115 kn || 910 hPa || Sumatra, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Madagascar || || || Evrina]] || 31 March 1999 || 110 kn || 920 hPa || None || None || None ||
 * Trixie || 15–22 February 1975 || 110 kn || 925 hPa || Western Australia || || None ||
 * Beverley || 27–28 March 1975 || 110 kn || 929 hPa || Western Australia ||  || ||
 * Joan || 5–7 December 1975 || 115 kn || 915 hPa || Western Australia || || None ||
 * Alby || 27 March – 5 April 1978 || 110 kn || 930 hPa || Western Australia || ||  ||
 * Amy || 9–10 January 1980 || 115 kn || 915 hPa || Indonesia, Western Australia || || ||
 * Dean || 31 January–1 February 1980 || 110 kn || 930 hPa || Indonesia, Northern Australia || || ||
 * Enid || 17 February 1980 || 110 kn || 930 hPa || Western Australia || || ||
 * Carol || 16–17 December 1980 || 110 kn || 940 hPa || Indonesia || || ||
 * Mabel || 18–19 January 1981 || 110 kn || 930 hPa || Western Australia || || ||
 * Dominic || 7 April 1982 || 115 kn || 950 hPa || Northern Australia, New Guinea || || ||
 * Elinor || 25 February 1983 || 110 kn || 935 hPa || Queensland || Minor || ||
 * Kathy || 16–24 March 1984 || 120 kn || 920 hPa || Cape York Peninsula, Northern Territory ||  || 1 ||
 * Harry || February 8–19, 1989 || 110 kn || 925 hPa || Vanuatu, New Caledonia || || ||
 * Aivu || 31 March – 5 April 1989 || 110 kn || 935 hPa || Queensland || || 1 ||
 * Orson || 17–24 April 1989 || 130 kn || 905 hPa || Western Australia || || 5 ||
 * Alex || 19–20 March 1990 || 120 kn || 927 hPa || Indonesia, Christmas Island || || ||
 * Graham || 5–6 December 1991 || 110 kn || 915 hPa || Sumatra, Cocos Islands, Christmas Island || || ||
 * Neville || 9 April 1992 || 110 kn || 945 hPa || Northern Territory || || ||
 * Rewa || 26 December 1993 - 23 January 1994 || 110 kn || 920 hPa || New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea
 * Dominic || 7 April 1982 || 115 kn || 950 hPa || Northern Australia, New Guinea || || ||
 * Elinor || 25 February 1983 || 110 kn || 935 hPa || Queensland || Minor || ||
 * Kathy || 16–24 March 1984 || 120 kn || 920 hPa || Cape York Peninsula, Northern Territory ||  || 1 ||
 * Harry || February 8–19, 1989 || 110 kn || 925 hPa || Vanuatu, New Caledonia || || ||
 * Aivu || 31 March – 5 April 1989 || 110 kn || 935 hPa || Queensland || || 1 ||
 * Orson || 17–24 April 1989 || 130 kn || 905 hPa || Western Australia || || 5 ||
 * Alex || 19–20 March 1990 || 120 kn || 927 hPa || Indonesia, Christmas Island || || ||
 * Graham || 5–6 December 1991 || 110 kn || 915 hPa || Sumatra, Cocos Islands, Christmas Island || || ||
 * Neville || 9 April 1992 || 110 kn || 945 hPa || Northern Territory || || ||
 * Rewa || 26 December 1993 - 23 January 1994 || 110 kn || 920 hPa || New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea
 * Orson || 17–24 April 1989 || 130 kn || 905 hPa || Western Australia || || 5 ||
 * Alex || 19–20 March 1990 || 120 kn || 927 hPa || Indonesia, Christmas Island || || ||
 * Graham || 5–6 December 1991 || 110 kn || 915 hPa || Sumatra, Cocos Islands, Christmas Island || || ||
 * Neville || 9 April 1992 || 110 kn || 945 hPa || Northern Territory || || ||
 * Rewa || 26 December 1993 - 23 January 1994 || 110 kn || 920 hPa || New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea
 * Neville || 9 April 1992 || 110 kn || 945 hPa || Northern Territory || || ||
 * Rewa || 26 December 1993 - 23 January 1994 || 110 kn || 920 hPa || New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea
 * Rewa || 26 December 1993 - 23 January 1994 || 110 kn || 920 hPa || New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea
 * Rewa || 26 December 1993 - 23 January 1994 || 110 kn || 920 hPa || New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea
 * Theodore || 25 February 1994 || 115 kn || 910 hPa || Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea
 * Theodore || 25 February 1994 || 115 kn || 910 hPa || Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea
 * Chloe || 7 April 1995 || 120 kn || 920 hPa || Timor, Western Australia || None || None ||
 * [[Cyclone Pancho-Helinda (1997)|Pancho-
 * [[Cyclone Pancho-Helinda (1997)|Pancho-
 * [[Cyclone Pancho-Helinda (1997)|Pancho-
 * Thelma || 3–15 December 1998 || 120 kn || 920 hPa || Northern Territory, Western Australia  || N/A || 1 ||
 * [[Cyclone Frederic–Evrina (1999)|Frederic–
 * [[Cyclone Frederic–Evrina (1999)|Frederic–
 * [[Cyclone Frederic–Evrina (1999)|Frederic–
 * Vance || 16–23 March 1999 || 120 kn || 910 hPa || Northern Territory, Western Australia ||  || None ||
 * Gwenda || 6 April 1999 || 120 kn || 900 hPa || Timor, Indonesia, Western Australia || || ||
 * John || 14 December 1999 || 110 kn || 915 hPa || Timor, Indonesia, Western Australia || || None ||
 * }
 * John || 14 December 1999 || 110 kn || 915 hPa || Timor, Indonesia, Western Australia || || None ||
 * }
 * }

21st century
Northern Territory, Christmas Island || Unknown || Unknown ||
 * Paul || 10 – 21 April 2000 || 110 kn || 915 hPa || None || None || None ||
 * Rosita || 14 – 21 April 2000 || 120 kn || 930 hPa || Indonesia, Western Australia, Northern Territory || Unknown || Unknown ||
 * Sam || 28 November – 14 December 2000 || 110 kn || 940 hPa || Northern Territory, Western Australia || Unknown || Unknown ||
 * Chris || 2 – 7 February 2002 || 110 kn || 915 hPa || Western Australia || Unknown || Unknown ||
 * Inigo || 30 March – 8 April 2003 || 125 kn || 900 hPa || Eastern Indonesia, Timor, Western Australia || Unknown || Unknown ||
 * Fay || 16 – 28 March 2004 || 115 kn || 910 hPa || Northern Territory, Timor, Western Australia || Unknown || Unknown ||
 * Ingrid || 4 – 16 March 2005 || 125 kn || 924 hPa || New Guinea, Northern Australia || Unknown || Unknown ||
 * Glenda || 28–29 March 2006 || 110 kn || 910 hPa || Northern Territory, Western Australia || Unknown || Unknown ||
 * Monica || 16 - 27 April 2006 || 135 kn || 916 hPa || New Guinea, Northern Australia || Unknown || Unknown ||
 * George || 27 February - 12 March 2007 || 110 kn || 902 hPa || Northern Territory, Western Australia || Unknown || Unknown ||
 * Hamish || 5 - 12 March 2009 || 115 kn || 924 hPa || Queensland || Unknown || Unknown ||
 * Laurence || 8 – 23 December 2009 || 110 kn || 925 hPa || Northern Territory, Western Australia || Unknown || Unknown ||
 * Yasi || 31 January – 3 February 2011 || 110 kn || 929 hPa || Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Australia || || 1 ||
 * Gillian || 6 – 27 March 2014 || 120 kn || 927 hPa || New Guinea, Indonesia, Queensland
 * Glenda || 28–29 March 2006 || 110 kn || 910 hPa || Northern Territory, Western Australia || Unknown || Unknown ||
 * Monica || 16 - 27 April 2006 || 135 kn || 916 hPa || New Guinea, Northern Australia || Unknown || Unknown ||
 * George || 27 February - 12 March 2007 || 110 kn || 902 hPa || Northern Territory, Western Australia || Unknown || Unknown ||
 * Hamish || 5 - 12 March 2009 || 115 kn || 924 hPa || Queensland || Unknown || Unknown ||
 * Laurence || 8 – 23 December 2009 || 110 kn || 925 hPa || Northern Territory, Western Australia || Unknown || Unknown ||
 * Yasi || 31 January – 3 February 2011 || 110 kn || 929 hPa || Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Australia || || 1 ||
 * Gillian || 6 – 27 March 2014 || 120 kn || 927 hPa || New Guinea, Indonesia, Queensland
 * Hamish || 5 - 12 March 2009 || 115 kn || 924 hPa || Queensland || Unknown || Unknown ||
 * Laurence || 8 – 23 December 2009 || 110 kn || 925 hPa || Northern Territory, Western Australia || Unknown || Unknown ||
 * Yasi || 31 January – 3 February 2011 || 110 kn || 929 hPa || Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Australia || || 1 ||
 * Gillian || 6 – 27 March 2014 || 120 kn || 927 hPa || New Guinea, Indonesia, Queensland
 * Yasi || 31 January – 3 February 2011 || 110 kn || 929 hPa || Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Australia || || 1 ||
 * Gillian || 6 – 27 March 2014 || 120 kn || 927 hPa || New Guinea, Indonesia, Queensland
 * Gillian || 6 – 27 March 2014 || 120 kn || 927 hPa || New Guinea, Indonesia, Queensland
 * Ita || 5 – 15 April 2014 || 120 kn || 922 hPa || Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Queensland || Unknown || Unknown ||
 * Marcia || 15 – 21 February 2015 || 110 kn || 932 hPa || Queensland, New South Wales || Unknown || Unknown ||
 * Ernie || 4 – 12 April 2017 || 120 kn || 924 hPa || None || None || None ||
 * Marcus || 14 – 25 March 2018 || 135 kn || 905 hPa || Northern Territory, Western Australia || Unknown || None ||
 * Veronica || 18 – 28 March 2019 || 115 kn || 928 hPa || Western Australia || || ||
 * Niran || 27 February – 6 March 2021 || 110 kn || 936 hPa || Queensland, New Caledonia || Unknown || Unknown ||
 * Darian || 13 – 30 December 2022 || 125 kn || 915 hPa || None || None || None ||
 * Herman || 28 March – 5 April 2023 || 115 kn || 930 hPa || None || None || None ||
 * Ilsa || 6 – 15 April 2023 || 125 kn || 915 hPa || Indonesia, East Timor, Northern Territory, Western Australia || > || 8 ||
 * Jasper || 4 – 13 December 2023 || 115 kn || 926 hPa || Queensland || || ||
 * Olga || 3 April – 11 April 2024 || 110 kn || 933 hPa || Lesser Sunda Islands, Western Australia || None || None ||
 * }
 * Darian || 13 – 30 December 2022 || 125 kn || 915 hPa || None || None || None ||
 * Herman || 28 March – 5 April 2023 || 115 kn || 930 hPa || None || None || None ||
 * Ilsa || 6 – 15 April 2023 || 125 kn || 915 hPa || Indonesia, East Timor, Northern Territory, Western Australia || > || 8 ||
 * Jasper || 4 – 13 December 2023 || 115 kn || 926 hPa || Queensland || || ||
 * Olga || 3 April – 11 April 2024 || 110 kn || 933 hPa || Lesser Sunda Islands, Western Australia || None || None ||
 * }
 * Jasper || 4 – 13 December 2023 || 115 kn || 926 hPa || Queensland || || ||
 * Olga || 3 April – 11 April 2024 || 110 kn || 933 hPa || Lesser Sunda Islands, Western Australia || None || None ||
 * }
 * Olga || 3 April – 11 April 2024 || 110 kn || 933 hPa || Lesser Sunda Islands, Western Australia || None || None ||
 * }

Other systems
In addition to the 44 tropical cyclones listed above, three other tropical cyclones are considered by the BoM to have been a Category 5 severe tropical cyclone within the Australian region. These are Cyclone Mahina of 1899 and two tropical cyclones that struck Innisfail and Mackay during 1918. Severe tropical cyclones Erica (2003) and Harold (2020) became Category 5 severe tropical cyclones, after they moved out of the Australian region and into the South Pacific basin. Severe Tropical Cyclones Fran (1992) and Beni (2003) were Category 5 severe tropical cyclones, before they moved into the Australian region from the South Pacific basin. Severe Tropical Cyclone Ului weakened into a Category 4 severe tropical cyclone, as it moved across 160°E into the Australian region.

The BoM estimates that Severe Tropical cyclones Viola–Claudette (1979), Jane–Irna (1992), Daryl–Agnielle (1995), Bruce (2013) and Freddy (2023) peaked as Category 5 severe tropical cyclones, after they had moved out of the Australian region and into the South-West Indian Ocean.

Operationally Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle was estimated to have peaked as a category 5 severe tropical cyclone, with 10-minute sustained winds of 110 kn. However, during the post-storm analysis process, it was downgraded to a Category 4 system, with 10-minute sustained winds of 105 kn.

During December 21, 2022 Severe Tropical Cyclone Darian moved into the South-West Indian Ocean as a Category 5 severe tropical cyclone, where it was immediately classified as a Very Intense Tropical Cyclone.

Impacts
Category 5 severe tropical cyclones are expected to cause widespread devastation if they significantly impact land.