Cyclones in Tanzania
Cyclones only occur occasionally in Tanzania. On average, they happen about 2 times a year. The hardest hit regions are East Coast, South Coast and Southern Highlands.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.
Tanzania has certainly been affected by the foothills of several cyclones, but during the past 12 months no cyclone reached the inhabited areas on land.
Other natural hazards in Tanzania:
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Back to overview: Tanzania
Current satellite image of the Indian Ocean
28.05.2023 © CIMSS University of Wisconsin-Madison
Most violent cyclones in Tanzania since 2018
Freddy: March 2-14, 2023
Wind speed:
max. 183 km/h
Diameter:
max. 556 km
Air pressure:
below 957 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 3
The cyclone did not make direct landfall in Tanzania. On March 14th, 2023 at 3:00 am it had the shortest distance at about 271 km south of Mbamba Bay in Southern Highlands.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Mutoko in Zimbabwe on March 14th at 12:00 am.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Mutoko in Zimbabwe on March 14th at 12:00 am.
Gombe: March 8-14, 2022
Wind speed:
max. 183 km/h
on land:
max. 65 km/h
Diameter:
max. 630 km
Air pressure:
below 959 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 3
Affected regions
South Coast
Southern Highlands
South Coast
Southern Highlands
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 Tanzania. On January 24th, 2022 at 3:00 pm it had the shortest distance at about 505 km south of Masuguru in South Coast.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Ant in Mozambique on January 24th at 9:00 am.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Ant in Mozambique on January 24th at 9:00 am.
Jobo: April 21-24, 2021
Wind speed:
max. 102 km/h
on land:
max. 59 km/h
Diameter:
max. 93 km
Air pressure:
below 995 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
Affected regions
East Coast
East Coast
Jobo: April 17-24, 2021
Wind speed:
max. 120 km/h
on land:
max. 65 km/h
Diameter:
max. 352 km
Air pressure:
below 980 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 1
Affected regions
East Coast
East Coast
Kenneth: April 21-28, 2019
Wind speed:
max. 226 km/h
Diameter:
max. 148 km
Eye:
max. 37 km
Air pressure:
below 934 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 4
The cyclone did not make direct landfall in Tanzania. On April 26th, 2019 at 6:00 am it had the shortest distance at about 116 km southwest of Masuguru in South Coast.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Montepuez in Mozambique on April 26th at 6:00 am.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Montepuez in Mozambique on April 26th at 6:00 am.
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 Tanzania. On March 7th, 2019 at 12:00 am it had the shortest distance at about 357 km south of Tingi in Southern Highlands.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Mutu in Mozambique on March 6th at 6:00 am.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Mutu in Mozambique on March 6th at 6:00 am.
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.