Cyclones on the Maldives
Cyclones occur rarely on the Maldives. On average, they happen about once per year. The hardest hit region is Upper North.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 Maldives have 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: Maldives
Current satellite image of the Indian Ocean
31.05.2023 © CIMSS University of Wisconsin-Madison
Most violent cyclones on the Maldives since 2018
Fabien: May 14-22, 2023
Wind speed:
max. 183 km/h
Diameter:
max. 741 km
Air pressure:
below 962 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 3
The cyclone did not make direct landfall on the Maldives. On May 15th, 2023 at 5:00 pm it had the shortest distance at about 613 km southwest of Meedhoo in Seenu Atoll.
Tauktae: May 14-19, 2021
Region:
Arabian Sea
Wind speed:
max. 220 km/h
Diameter:
max. 167 km
Air pressure:
below 935 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 4
The cyclone did not make direct landfall on the Maldives. On May 14th, 2021 at 5:00 pm it had the shortest distance at about 463 km north of Dhidhdhoo in Upper North.
Tauktae: May 13-19, 2021
Region:
Arabian Sea
Wind speed:
max. 185 km/h
on land:
max. 56 km/h
Diameter:
max. 741 km
Air pressure:
below 950 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 3
Affected regions
Upper North
Upper North
Maha: October 28 to November 11, 2019
Region:
Arabian Sea
Wind speed:
max. 185 km/h
Diameter:
max. 185 km
Air pressure:
below 956 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 3
The cyclone did not make direct landfall on the Maldives. On October 30th, 2019 at 8:00 am it had the shortest distance at about 187 km northwest of Dhidhdhoo in Upper North.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Kavaratti in India on October 30th at 11:00 pm.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Kavaratti in India on October 30th at 11:00 pm.
Vayu: June 8-18, 2019
Region:
Arabian Sea
Wind speed:
max. 148 km/h
Diameter:
max. 185 km
Air pressure:
below 970 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 1
The cyclone did not make direct landfall on the Maldives. On June 9th, 2019 at 5:00 am it had the shortest distance at about 289 km north of Dhidhdhoo in Upper North.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Kavaratti in India on June 8th at 11:00 pm.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Kavaratti in India on June 8th at 11:00 pm.
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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