Cyclones in Botswana
Cyclones occur rarely in Botswana. On average, they happen about once per year. The hardest hit regions are Central, Kweneng and Southern.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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Back to overview: Botswana
Current satellite image of the Indian Ocean
31.05.2023 © 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 in Botswana. On January 25th, 2022 at 2:00 pm it had the shortest distance at about 589 km northwest of Masunga in North East.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Mutoko in Zimbabwe on January 25th at 2:00 pm.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Mutoko in Zimbabwe on January 25th at 2:00 pm.
Guambe: February 11-22, 2021
Wind speed:
max. 161 km/h
Diameter:
max. 1185 km
Air pressure:
below 957 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 2
The cyclone did not make direct landfall in Botswana. On February 14th, 2021 at 2:00 pm it had the shortest distance at about 171 km west of Mathathane in Central.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Phalaborwa in South Africa on February 14th at 2:00 am.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Phalaborwa in South Africa on February 14th at 2:00 am.
Eloise: January 11-27, 2021
Wind speed:
max. 157 km/h
on land:
max. 46 km/h
Diameter:
max. 1259 km
Air pressure:
below 965 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 2
Affected regions
Central
Kweneng
Southern
Kgalagadi
Central
Kweneng
Southern
Kgalagadi
Chalane: December 20, 2020 to January 4, 2021
Wind speed:
max. 124 km/h
on land:
max. 56 km/h
Diameter:
max. 982 km
Air pressure:
below 975 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 1
Affected regions
Central
North East
Ghanzi
Central
North East
Ghanzi
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 in Botswana. On March 16th, 2019 at 8:00 am it had the shortest distance at about 412 km northwest of Gobojango in Central.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Chimanimani in Zimbabwe on March 15th at 2:00 pm.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Chimanimani in Zimbabwe on March 15th at 2:00 pm.
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
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.
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