Cyclones in East Timor
Cyclones only occur occasionally in Timor-Leste. On average, they happen about 2 times a year. The hardest hit cities are Lospalos and Suai.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.
Timor-Leste 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 East Timor:
› Tsunamis
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Back to overview: Timor-Leste
Current satellite image of the western Pacific
06.02.2023 © CIMSS University of Wisconsin-Madison
Most violent cyclones in East Timor since 2018
Ellie: December 22, 2022
Region:
Western Australia
Wind speed:
max. 72 km/h
Diameter:
max. 93 km
Air pressure:
below 994 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
The cyclone did not make direct landfall. On December 22nd, 2022 at 9:00 pm it had the shortest distance at about 614 km southwest of Lospalos.
Anika: February 25 to March 3, 2022
Region:
Western Australia
Wind speed:
max. 100 km/h
Diameter:
max. 111 km
Air pressure:
below 988 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
The cyclone did not make direct landfall. On February 25th, 2022 at 9:00 pm it had the shortest distance at about 466 km south of Viqueque.
Seroja: April 4-12, 2021
Region:
Western Australia
Wind speed:
max. 130 km/h
Diameter:
max. 167 km
Air pressure:
below 972 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 1
The cyclone did not make direct landfall. On April 4th, 2021 at 9:00 pm it had the shortest distance at about 186 km southeast of Pante Makasar.
Claudia: January 4-19, 2020
Region:
Western Australia
Wind speed:
max. 152 km/h
on land:
max. 102 km/h
Diameter:
max. 3748 km
Air pressure:
below 963 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 1
Most Affected Cities
Lospalos
Viqueque
Suai
Pante Makasar
Lospalos
Viqueque
Suai
Pante Makasar
Ann: May 10-18, 2019
Region:
Western Australia
Wind speed:
max. 111 km/h
Diameter:
max. 204 km
Air pressure:
below 989 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
The cyclone did not make direct landfall. On May 18th, 2019 at 9:00 am it had the shortest distance at about 316 km west of Lospalos.
Lili: May 6-11, 2019
Region:
Western Australia
Wind speed:
max. 102 km/h
on land:
max. 41 km/h
Diameter:
max. 185 km
Air pressure:
below 993 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
Most Affected Cities
Lospalos
Lospalos
Wallace: April 3-13, 2019
Region:
Western Australia
Wind speed:
max. 111 km/h
Diameter:
max. 648 km
Air pressure:
below 992 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
The cyclone did not make direct landfall. On April 6th, 2019 at 3:00 am it had the shortest distance at about 283 km south of Suai.
Veronica: March 18-30, 2019
Region:
Western Australia
Wind speed:
max. 235 km/h
on land:
max. 59 km/h
Diameter:
max. 3741 km
Air pressure:
below 927 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 4
Most Affected Cities
Pante Makasar
Suai
Pante Makasar
Suai
Riley: January 22 to February 5, 2019
Region:
Western Australia
Wind speed:
max. 139 km/h
Diameter:
max. 222 km
Air pressure:
below 970 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 1
The cyclone did not make direct landfall. On January 22nd, 2019 at 9:00 pm it had the shortest distance at about 321 km south of Suai.
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.