Cyclones in South Africa
Cyclones occur rarely in South Africa. 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.
South Africa 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
06.02.2023 © CIMSS University of Wisconsin-Madison
Most violent cyclones in South Africa since 2018
Chalane: December 25-30, 2020
Wind speed:
max. 111 km/h
Diameter:
max. 241 km
Air pressure:
below 990 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
The cyclone did not make direct landfall. On December 30th, 2020 at 2:00 am it had the shortest distance at about 736 km northwest of Phalaborwa in Limpopo.
Idai: March 4-16, 2019
Wind speed:
max. 213 km/h
Diameter:
max. 185 km
Eye:
max. 167 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 am it had the shortest distance at about 436 km northwest of Messina in Limpopo.
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 233 km west of Phalaborwa in Limpopo.
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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