Cyclones on Christmas Island
Cyclones only occur occasionally on Christmas Island. On average, they happen about 5 times a year. The hardest hit cities are Flying Fish Cove.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.
Christmas Island has 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: Christmas Island
Current satellite image of the southwest Pacific Ocean
28.05.2023 © CIMSS University of Wisconsin-Madison
Most violent cyclones on Christmas Island since 2018
Herman: March 29 to April 2, 2023
Region:
Western Australia
Wind speed:
max. 237 km/h
Diameter:
max. 370 km
Air pressure:
below 932 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 4
The cyclone did not make direct landfall on Christmas Island. On March 30th, 2023 at 7:00 am it had the shortest distance at about 375 km south of Flying Fish Cove.
Freddy: February 6-24, 2023
Region:
Western Australia
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 on Christmas Island. On February 11th, 2023 at 1:00 am it had the shortest distance at about 429 km south of Flying Fish Cove.
Billy: March 13-17, 2022
Region:
Western Australia
Wind speed:
max. 111 km/h
Diameter:
max. 241 km
Air pressure:
below 989 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
The cyclone did not make direct landfall on Christmas Island. On March 14th, 2022 at 1:00 am it had the shortest distance at about 373 km southeast of Flying Fish Cove.
Billy: March 12-17, 2022
Region:
Western Australia
Wind speed:
max. 93 km/h
Air pressure:
below 988 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
The cyclone did not make direct landfall on Christmas Island. On March 13th, 2022 at 4:00 am it had the shortest distance at about 123 km southwest of Flying Fish Cove.
Teratai: December 1-11, 2021
Region:
Western Australia
Wind speed:
max. 65 km/h
on land:
max. 56 km/h
Diameter:
max. 222 km
Air pressure:
below 999 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
Most Affected Cities
Flying Fish Cove
Flying Fish Cove
Teratai: November 29 to December 11, 2021
Region:
Western Australia
Wind speed:
max. 74 km/h
Air pressure:
below 996 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
The cyclone did not make direct landfall on Christmas Island. On December 7th, 2021 at 4:00 am it had the shortest distance at about 93 km northwest of Flying Fish Cove.
Paddy: November 22-25, 2021
Region:
Western Australia
Wind speed:
max. 72 km/h
Diameter:
max. 148 km
Air pressure:
below 988 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
The cyclone did not make direct landfall on Christmas Island. On November 23rd, 2021 at 7:00 pm it had the shortest distance at about 355 km south of Flying Fish Cove.
Paddy: November 19-25, 2021
Region:
Western Australia
Wind speed:
max. 83 km/h
on land:
max. 37 km/h
Air pressure:
below 992 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
Most Affected Cities
Flying Fish Cove
Flying Fish Cove
Odette: April 4-10, 2021
Region:
Western Australia
Wind speed:
max. 93 km/h
Diameter:
max. 222 km
Air pressure:
below 990 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
The cyclone did not make direct landfall on Christmas Island. On April 9th, 2021 at 1:00 am it had the shortest distance at about 363 km south of Flying Fish Cove.
Odette: April 3-10, 2021
Region:
Western Australia
Wind speed:
max. 96 km/h
on land:
max. 65 km/h
Diameter:
max. 852 km
Air pressure:
below 988 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
Most Affected Cities
Flying Fish Cove
Flying Fish Cove
Marian: February 26 to March 6, 2021
Region:
Western Australia
Wind speed:
max. 183 km/h
Diameter:
max. 259 km
Air pressure:
below 952 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 3
The cyclone did not make direct landfall on Christmas Island. On February 26th, 2021 at 7:00 am it had the shortest distance at about 534 km southeast of Flying Fish Cove.
Marian: February 21 to March 9, 2021
Region:
Western Australia
Wind speed:
max. 180 km/h
on land:
max. 59 km/h
Diameter:
max. 1185 km
Air pressure:
below 954 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 3
Most Affected Cities
Flying Fish Cove
Flying Fish Cove
Ferdinand: February 22 to March 1, 2020
Region:
Western Australia
Wind speed:
max. 185 km/h
Diameter:
max. 648 km
Air pressure:
below 958 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 3
The cyclone did not make direct landfall on Christmas Island. On March 1st, 2020 at 7:00 pm it had the shortest distance at about 730 km southwest of Flying Fish Cove.
Savannah: March 11-22, 2019
Region:
Western Australia
Wind speed:
max. 194 km/h
Diameter:
max. 185 km
Air pressure:
below 957 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 3
The cyclone did not make direct landfall on Christmas Island. On March 11th, 2019 at 1:00 pm it had the shortest distance at about 188 km southeast of Flying Fish Cove.
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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