Worlddata.info

Cyclones in Zimbabwe

Cyclones only occur occasionally in Zimbabwe. On average, they happen about 2 times a year. The hardest hit regions are Manicaland, Mashonaland East and Masvingo.

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.

The most severe cyclone to make landfall in Zimbabwe in the past 12 months was »Freddy«. It reached a wind speed of up to 74 km/h on March 13, 2023 at 5:00 am local time near Nyanga and was 106 kilometers in diameter at the time. According to the internationally accepted Saffir-Simpson classification, this corresponded to a tropical storm cyclone. On the open sea, speeds of up to 183 km/h were measured (category 3).

The most severe cyclones in the world


Back to overview: Zimbabwe

Current satellite image of the Indian Ocean

 
Move the timeline below the image to see previous shots.
08.06.2023 © CIMSS University of Wisconsin-Madison

Most violent cyclones in Zimbabwe since 2018

Freddy: March 2-14, 2023

Wind speed:
max. 183 km/h
on land:
max. 74 km/h
Diameter:
max. 556 km
Air pressure:
below 957 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 3
Affected regions
Manicaland
Mashonaland East

Freddy: February 6-24, 2023

Wind speed:
max. 256 km/h
Diameter:
max. 582 km
Air pressure:
below 924 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 5
The cyclone did not make direct landfall in Zimbabwe. On February 24th, 2023 at 8:00 am it had the shortest distance at about 303 km southwest of Chipinge in Manicaland.

Gombe: March 8-14, 2022

Wind speed:
max. 183 km/h
on land:
max. 46 km/h
Diameter:
max. 630 km
Air pressure:
below 959 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 3
Affected regions
Mashonaland East
Manicaland

Ana: January 23-25, 2022

Wind speed:
max. 93 km/h
on land:
max. 37 km/h
Diameter:
max. 148 km
Air pressure:
below 993 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
Affected regions
Mashonaland East

Guambe: February 11-22, 2021

Wind speed:
max. 161 km/h
on land:
max. 69 km/h
Diameter:
max. 1185 km
Eye:
max. 37 km
Air pressure:
below 957 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 2
Affected regions
Masvingo
Manicaland

Eloise: January 11-27, 2021

Wind speed:
max. 157 km/h
Diameter:
max. 1259 km
Eye:
max. 148 km
Air pressure:
below 965 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 2
Affected regions
Manicaland
Masvingo
Matabeleland South

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 in Zimbabwe. On December 30th, 2020 at 2:00 am it had the shortest distance at about 309 km west of Chimanimani in Manicaland.

Chalane: December 20, 2020 to January 4, 2021

Wind speed:
max. 124 km/h
on land:
max. 74 km/h
Diameter:
max. 982 km
Air pressure:
below 975 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 1
Affected regions
Manicaland
Mashonaland East
Midlands
Matabeleland North
Matabeleland South

Idai: March 4-16, 2019

Wind speed:
max. 213 km/h
on land:
max. 115 km/h
Diameter:
max. 185 km
Eye:
max. 167 km
Air pressure:
below 940 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 4
Affected regions
Manicaland
Mashonaland East

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 in Zimbabwe. On January 22nd, 2019 at 2:00 am it had the shortest distance at about 273 km west of Nyanga in Manicaland.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Inhambane in Mozambique on January 19th at 8:00 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.
Current earthquakes worldwideThe most severe earthquakes in the worldOrigin of earthquakes and list of the most consequential tremors of the last decades
Hong Kong: Public HolidaysPublic holidays in Hong Kong 2023-2027Statutory and inofficial holidays in Hong Kong for 2023 to 2027
United States of America: VolcanoesActive volcanoes and eruptions in the United StatesVolcanic eruptions and their damages by 17 volcanoes of United States of America