Cyclones on the Cocos Islands
Cyclones occurfrequently on the Cocos Islands. On average, they happen about 6 times a year. The hardest hit cities are West Island.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 most severe cyclone to make landfall on the Cocos Islands in the past 12 months was »«. It reached a wind speed of up to 78 km/h on July 30, 2022 at 9:30 am local time near West Island and was 218 kilometers in diameter at the time. According to the internationally accepted Saffir-Simpson classification, this corresponded to a tropical storm cyclone. On the open sea, speeds of up to 83 km/h were measured.
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Back to overview: Cocos Islands
Current satellite image of the southwest Pacific Ocean
07.06.2023 © CIMSS University of Wisconsin-Madison
Most violent cyclones on the Cocos Islands since 2018
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 the Cocos Islands. On February 13th, 2023 at 3:30 am it had the shortest distance at about 163 km south of West Island.
Darian: December 18-31, 2022
Region:
Western Australia
Wind speed:
max. 248 km/h
Diameter:
max. 537 km
Air pressure:
below 922 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 4
The cyclone did not make direct landfall on the Cocos Islands. On December 19th, 2022 at 6:30 pm it had the shortest distance at about 175 km east of West Island.
Karim: May 7-11, 2022
Region:
Western Australia
Wind speed:
max. 111 km/h
Diameter:
max. 130 km
Air pressure:
below 982 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
The cyclone did not make direct landfall on the Cocos Islands. On May 10th, 2022 at 12:30 pm it had the shortest distance at about 662 km southeast of West Island.
Karim: May 6-11, 2022
Region:
Western Australia
Wind speed:
max. 111 km/h
Air pressure:
below 982 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
The cyclone did not make direct landfall on the Cocos Islands. On May 10th, 2022 at 12:30 pm it had the shortest distance at about 719 km southeast of West Island.
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 the Cocos Islands. On March 14th, 2022 at 12:30 pm it had the shortest distance at about 493 km southwest of West Island.
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 the Cocos Islands. On March 15th, 2022 at 6:30 am it had the shortest distance at about 533 km south of West Island.
Vernon: February 25 to March 4, 2022
Region:
Western Australia
Wind speed:
max. 213 km/h
Diameter:
max. 204 km
Air pressure:
below 946 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 4
The cyclone did not make direct landfall on the Cocos Islands. On February 25th, 2022 at 12:30 pm it had the shortest distance at about 302 km southeast of West Island.
Vernon: February 23-26, 2022
Region:
Western Australia
Wind speed:
max. 185 km/h
Air pressure:
below 950 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 3
The cyclone did not make direct landfall on the Cocos Islands. On February 24th, 2022 at 3:30 am it had the shortest distance at about 72 km southwest of West Island.
Teratai: December 1-11, 2021
Region:
Western Australia
Wind speed:
max. 65 km/h
Diameter:
max. 222 km
Air pressure:
below 999 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
The cyclone did not make direct landfall on the Cocos Islands. On December 3rd, 2021 at 12:30 pm it had the shortest distance at about 312 km northwest of West Island.
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 the Cocos Islands. On December 3rd, 2021 at 12:30 pm it had the shortest distance at about 390 km northwest of West Island.
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 the Cocos Islands. On February 26th, 2021 at 3:30 pm it had the shortest distance at about 207 km south of West Island.
Marian: February 21 to March 9, 2021
Region:
Western Australia
Wind speed:
max. 180 km/h
on land:
max. 115 km/h
Diameter:
max. 1185 km
Eye:
max. 74 km
Air pressure:
below 954 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 3
Most Affected Cities
West Island
West Island
Joshua: January 15-19, 2021
Region:
Western Australia
Wind speed:
max. 83 km/h
Diameter:
max. 185 km
Air pressure:
below 998 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
The cyclone did not make direct landfall on the Cocos Islands. On January 16th, 2021 at 12:30 am it had the shortest distance at about 520 km southeast of West Island.
Joshua: January 13-21, 2021
Region:
Western Australia
Wind speed:
max. 93 km/h
on land:
max. 59 km/h
Diameter:
max. 889 km
Air pressure:
below 988 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
Most Affected Cities
West Island
West Island
Bongoyo: November 26 to December 12, 2020
Region:
Western Australia
Wind speed:
max. 111 km/h
on land:
max. 37 km/h
Diameter:
max. 926 km
Air pressure:
below 980 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
Most Affected Cities
West Island
West Island
Mangga: May 19-23, 2020
Region:
Western Australia
Wind speed:
max. 74 km/h
on land:
max. 56 km/h
Diameter:
max. 463 km
Air pressure:
below 996 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
Most Affected Cities
West Island
West Island
Wallace: April 3-13, 2019
Region:
Western Australia
Wind speed:
max. 111 km/h
on land:
max. 37 km/h
Diameter:
max. 648 km
Air pressure:
below 992 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
Most Affected Cities
West Island
West Island
Savannah: March 11-22, 2019
Region:
Western Australia
Wind speed:
max. 194 km/h
on land:
max. 69 km/h
Diameter:
max. 185 km
Eye:
max. 37 km
Air pressure:
below 957 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 3
Most Affected Cities
West Island
West Island
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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