Cyclones in Pakistan
Cyclones only occur occasionally in Pakistan. On average, they happen about 2 times a year. The hardest hit regions are Sindh and Balochistan.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.
Pakistan 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 Pakistan:
› Earthquakes
› The most severe cyclones in the world
Back to overview: Pakistan
Current satellite image of the Indian Ocean
04.06.2023 © CIMSS University of Wisconsin-Madison
Most violent cyclones in Pakistan since 2018
Gulab:shaheen Gu: September 24 to October 4, 2021
Region:
Arabian Sea
Wind speed:
max. 130 km/h
on land:
max. 46 km/h
Diameter:
max. 296 km
Eye:
max. 37 km
Air pressure:
below 974 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 1
Affected regions
Sindh
Sindh
Gulab:shaheen Gu: September 23 to October 4, 2021
Region:
Arabian Sea
Wind speed:
max. 111 km/h
Diameter:
max. 556 km
Eye:
max. 37 km
Air pressure:
below 984 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
Affected regions
Sindh
Balochistan
Sindh
Balochistan
Tauktae: May 14-19, 2021
Region:
Arabian Sea
Wind speed:
max. 220 km/h
Diameter:
max. 167 km
Eye:
max. 74 km
Air pressure:
below 935 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 4
The cyclone did not make direct landfall in Pakistan. On May 18th, 2021 at 5:00 pm it had the shortest distance at about 252 km southwest of Islamkot in Sindh.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Diu in India on May 17th at 8:00 pm.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Diu in India on May 17th at 8:00 pm.
Tauktae: May 13-19, 2021
Region:
Arabian Sea
Wind speed:
max. 185 km/h
on land:
max. 46 km/h
Diameter:
max. 741 km
Eye:
max. 74 km
Air pressure:
below 950 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 3
Affected regions
Sindh
Sindh
Nisarga: May 31 to June 4, 2020
Region:
Arabian Sea
Wind speed:
max. 111 km/h
Diameter:
max. 574 km
Air pressure:
below 984 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
The cyclone did not make direct landfall in Pakistan. On June 3rd, 2020 at 8:00 pm it had the shortest distance at about 446 km southwest of Diplo in Sindh.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Sangamner in India on June 3rd at 8:00 pm.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Sangamner in India on June 3rd at 8:00 pm.
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 in Pakistan. On November 7th, 2019 at 2:00 pm it had the shortest distance at about 437 km south of Diplo in Sindh.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Kodinar in India on November 7th at 11:00 am.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Kodinar in India on November 7th at 11:00 am.
Kyaar:kyarr: October 22 to November 3, 2019
Region:
Arabian Sea
Wind speed:
max. 241 km/h
Diameter:
max. 370 km
Eye:
max. 74 km
Air pressure:
below 922 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 4
The cyclone did not make direct landfall in Pakistan. On October 29th, 2019 at 11:00 pm it had the shortest distance at about 690 km southeast of Mirpur Sakro in Sindh.
Hikaa:hikka: September 20-26, 2019
Region:
Arabian Sea
Wind speed:
max. 139 km/h
Diameter:
max. 111 km
Eye:
max. 56 km
Air pressure:
below 978 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 1
The cyclone did not make direct landfall in Pakistan. On September 22nd, 2019 at 8:00 pm it had the shortest distance at about 382 km south of Jati in Sindh.
Vayu: June 8-18, 2019
Region:
Arabian Sea
Wind speed:
max. 148 km/h
Diameter:
max. 185 km
Eye:
max. 37 km
Air pressure:
below 970 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 1
The cyclone did not make direct landfall in Pakistan. On June 18th, 2019 at 2:00 am it had the shortest distance at about 67 km south of Jati in Sindh.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Naliya in India on June 17th at 8:00 pm.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Naliya in India on June 17th at 8:00 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.