Cyclones in New Zealand
Cyclones only occur occasionally in New Zealand. On average, they happen about 2 times a year. The hardest hit regions are Northland and Southland.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 in New Zealand in the past 12 months was »Gabrielle«. It reached a wind speed of up to 83 km/h on February 12, 2023 at 1:00 pm local time near Taipa and was 167 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 165 km/h were measured (category 2).
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Current satellite image of the southwest Pacific Ocean
05.06.2023 © CIMSS University of Wisconsin-Madison
Most violent cyclones in New Zealand since 2018
Gabrielle: February 8-12, 2023
Wind speed:
max. 165 km/h
on land:
max. 83 km/h
Diameter:
max. 1148 km
Air pressure:
below 958 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 2
Affected regions
Northland
Northland
Dovi: February 7-12, 2022
Wind speed:
max. 167 km/h
Air pressure:
below 942 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 2
The cyclone did not make direct landfall in New Zealand. On February 13th, 2022 at 1:00 am it had the shortest distance at about 296 km southeast of Ahipara in Northland.
Ruby: December 11-15, 2021
Wind speed:
max. 130 km/h
Diameter:
max. 185 km
Air pressure:
below 980 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 1
The cyclone did not make direct landfall in New Zealand. On December 16th, 2021 at 7:00 am it had the shortest distance at about 601 km northwest of Paihia in Northland.
Gretel: March 13-19, 2020
Wind speed:
max. 115 km/h
Diameter:
max. 370 km
Air pressure:
below 971 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
The cyclone did not make direct landfall in New Zealand. On March 17th, 2020 at 4:00 am it had the shortest distance at about 413 km northwest of Paihia in Northland.
Gretel: March 13-19, 2020
Wind speed:
max. 115 km/h
on land:
max. 102 km/h
Diameter:
max. 993 km
Air pressure:
below 971 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
Affected regions
Northland
Northland
Uesi: February 6-17, 2020
Wind speed:
max. 143 km/h
on land:
max. 74 km/h
Diameter:
max. 852 km
Air pressure:
below 969 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 1
Affected regions
Southland
Southland
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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