Cyclones in Botswana
Cyclones occur rarely in Botswana. On average, they happen about once per year.The typical cyclone season depends on the summer monsoon. In the months before (May to June) and after (October to November), the most severe storms occur.
Botswana has certainly been affected by the foothills of several cyclones, but during the past 12 months no cyclone reached the inhabited areas on land.
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Current satellite image of the Indian Ocean
05.02.2023 © CIMSS University of Wisconsin-Madison
Most violent cyclones in Botswana since 2018
Ana: January 23-25, 2022
Wind speed:
max. 93 km/h
Diameter:
max. 148 km
Air pressure:
below 993 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
The cyclone did not make direct landfall. On January 25th, 2022 at 2:00 pm it had the shortest distance at about 635 km northwest of Masunga in North East.
Idai: March 4-16, 2019
Wind speed:
max. 213 km/h
Diameter:
max. 185 km
Air pressure:
below 940 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 4
The cyclone did not make direct landfall. On March 16th, 2019 at 2:00 pm it had the shortest distance at about 464 km northwest of Gobojango in Central.
Desmond: January 17-22, 2019
Wind speed:
max. 83 km/h
Diameter:
max. 296 km
Air pressure:
below 989 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
The cyclone did not make direct landfall. On January 17th, 2019 at 2:00 pm it had the shortest distance at about 499 km west of Mathathane in Central.
These evaluations are based on data from the National Centers for Environmental Information of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Individual data have been summarized or translated.