Cyclones in Zambia
Cyclones occur rarely in Zambia. 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.
Zambia 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: Zambia
Current satellite image of the Indian Ocean
20.05.2022 © CIMSS University of Wisconsin-Madison
Most violent cyclones in Zambia since 2018
Gombe: 8th to 14th March 2022
Wind speed:
max. 183 km/h
Diameter:
max. 111 km
Air pressure:
below 959 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 3
The cyclone did not make direct landfall. On March 13th, 2022 at 2:00 am it had the shortest distance at about 317 km southwest of Chadiza in Eastern.
Ana: 23rd to 25th January 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 237 km southwest of Luangwa in Lusaka.
Chalane: 25th to 30th December 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 751 km southwest of Petauke in Eastern.
Idai: 4th to 16th March 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 pm it had the shortest distance at about 338 km south of Luangwa in Lusaka.
Desmond: 17th to 22nd January 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 22nd, 2019 at 2:00 am it had the shortest distance at about 602 km southwest of Chadiza in Eastern.
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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