Cyclones in Sri Lanka
Cyclones only occur occasionally in Sri Lanka. On average, they happen about 3 times a year. The hardest hit regions are Eastern Province, Northern Province and Southern.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.
Sri Lanka 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 Sri Lanka:
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Back to overview: Sri Lanka
Current satellite image of the Indian Ocean
06.06.2023 © CIMSS University of Wisconsin-Madison
Most violent cyclones in Sri Lanka since 2018
Mandoug: December 8-9, 2022
Region:
Bay of Bengal
Wind speed:
max. 100 km/h
Diameter:
max. 185 km
Air pressure:
below 989 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
The cyclone did not make direct landfall in Sri Lanka. On December 9th, 2022 at 5:30 am it had the shortest distance at about 102 km northwest of Point Pedro in Northern Province.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Mamallapuram in India on December 9th at 8:30 pm.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Mamallapuram in India on December 9th at 8:30 pm.
Asani: May 7-11, 2022
Region:
Bay of Bengal
Wind speed:
max. 119 km/h
Diameter:
max. 130 km
Air pressure:
below 976 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
The cyclone did not make direct landfall in Sri Lanka. On May 10th, 2022 at 5:30 am it had the shortest distance at about 627 km northwest of Point Pedro in Northern Province.
Jawad: December 3-6, 2021
Region:
Bay of Bengal
Wind speed:
max. 65 km/h
Diameter:
max. 130 km
Air pressure:
below 997 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
The cyclone did not make direct landfall in Sri Lanka. On December 3rd, 2021 at 11:30 pm it had the shortest distance at about 687 km northwest of Point Pedro in Northern Province.
Burevi: November 29 to December 5, 2020
Region:
Bay of Bengal
Wind speed:
max. 83 km/h
Diameter:
max. 926 km
Air pressure:
below 996 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
Affected regions
Eastern Province
Northern Province
Eastern Province
Northern Province
Nivar: November 22-27, 2020
Region:
Bay of Bengal
Wind speed:
max. 120 km/h
Diameter:
max. 815 km
Air pressure:
below 982 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 1
Affected regions
Eastern Province
Northern Province
Eastern Province
Northern Province
Amphan: May 15-21, 2020
Region:
Bay of Bengal
Wind speed:
max. 241 km/h
Diameter:
max. 644 km
Eye:
max. 37 km
Air pressure:
below 920 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 4
The cyclone did not make direct landfall in Sri Lanka. On May 16th, 2020 at 2:30 am it had the shortest distance at about 285 km northwest of Shanjeev Home in Eastern Province.
Maha: October 28 to November 11, 2019
Region:
Arabian Sea
Wind speed:
max. 185 km/h
on land:
max. 28 km/h
Diameter:
max. 185 km
Air pressure:
below 956 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 3
Affected regions
Southern
Southern
Fani: April 25 to May 4, 2019
Region:
Bay of Bengal
Wind speed:
max. 213 km/h
Diameter:
max. 185 km
Eye:
max. 56 km
Air pressure:
below 932 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 4
The cyclone did not make direct landfall in Sri Lanka. On May 1st, 2019 at 2:30 am it had the shortest distance at about 586 km northwest of Point Pedro in Northern Province.
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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