Cyclone Horacio has intensified rapidly under optimal environmental conditions, with warm sea surface temperatures hovering between 27–28 degrees Celsius (81–82°F) and moderate wind shear contributing to its development. According to reports from foreign media, the storm has achieved the status of a Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
The Joint Typhoon Warning Center indicates that Horacio has likely reached its peak intensity, but forecasters anticipate that the cyclone will weaken gradually as it moves southward into cooler waters and encounters stronger wind shear conditions. Fortunately, the storm remains distant from populated areas and currently does not pose a direct threat to communities; however, it has the potential to impact marine activities in the vicinity.
This marks Horacio as the first Category 5 storm recorded in the Southern Hemisphere since Cyclone Errol, which reached the same intensity off northwestern Australia in April 2025. Between 1990 and 2025, the global annual average of Category 5 tropical cyclones was approximately 5.3, with a total of five such storms documented worldwide in 2025, including Hurricanes Melissa, Erin, and Humberto in the Atlantic, Typhoon Ragasa in the Northwest Pacific, and Cyclone Errol in the South Indian Ocean.
Climate scientists highlight that rising global temperatures are likely to increase the frequency of tropical cyclones reaching Category 4 and Category 5 status, even if the overall number of storms does not necessarily increase. This observation emphasizes the need for ongoing vigilance as climate patterns evolve, reinforcing the importance of preparedness among coastal communities and marine interests as the impact of such storms becomes more pronounced.