Cyclones in New Caledonia
Cyclones occurfrequently in New Caledonia. On average, they happen about 7 times a year. The hardest hit regions are South Province and North Province.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 Caledonia in the past 12 months was »Kevin«. It reached a wind speed of up to 111 km/h on March 2, 2023 at 5:00 pm local time near Wala and was 241 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 248 km/h were measured (category 4).
Other natural hazards in New Caledonia:
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Back to overview: New Caledonia
Current satellite image of the southwest Pacific Ocean
28.05.2023 © CIMSS University of Wisconsin-Madison
Most violent cyclones in New Caledonia since 2018
Kevin: March 1-6, 2023
Wind speed:
max. 248 km/h
on land:
max. 111 km/h
Diameter:
max. 963 km
Air pressure:
below 918 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 4
Affected regions
North Province
North Province
Judy: February 27-28, 2023
Wind speed:
max. 156 km/h
Diameter:
max. 404 km
Air pressure:
below 964 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 2
The cyclone did not make direct landfall in New Caledonia. On March 1st, 2023 at 5:00 am it had the shortest distance at about 237 km north of Fayaoué in Loyalty Islands.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Port-Olry in Vanuatu on February 28th at 8:00 pm.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Port-Olry in Vanuatu on February 28th at 8:00 pm.
Judy: February 27 to March 4, 2023
Wind speed:
max. 165 km/h
Diameter:
max. 1148 km
Air pressure:
below 959 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 2
Affected regions
Loyalty Islands
Loyalty Islands
Gabrielle: February 8-12, 2023
Region:
Eastern Australia
Wind speed:
max. 165 km/h
Diameter:
max. 1148 km
Air pressure:
below 958 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 2
The cyclone did not make direct landfall in New Caledonia. On February 11th, 2023 at 5:00 am it had the shortest distance at about 359 km southeast of Nouméa in South Province.
Hale: January 6-8, 2023
Wind speed:
max. 83 km/h
Diameter:
max. 759 km
Air pressure:
below 992 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
Affected regions
North Province
South Province
North Province
South Province
Gina: May 18-22, 2022
Wind speed:
max. 65 km/h
Diameter:
max. 556 km
Air pressure:
below 1002 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
Affected regions
Loyalty Islands
Loyalty Islands
Dovi: February 9-12, 2022
Wind speed:
max. 165 km/h
on land:
max. 137 km/h
Diameter:
max. 241 km
Air pressure:
below 956 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 2
Affected regions
Loyalty Islands
Loyalty Islands
Dovi: February 7-12, 2022
Wind speed:
max. 167 km/h
on land:
max. 120 km/h
Air pressure:
below 942 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 2
Most Affected Cities
Vao
Vao
Ruby: December 11-15, 2021
Region:
Eastern Australia
Wind speed:
max. 130 km/h
on land:
max. 115 km/h
Diameter:
max. 185 km
Air pressure:
below 980 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 1
Affected regions
North Province
South Province
North Province
South Province
Ruby: December 9-15, 2021
Region:
Eastern Australia
Wind speed:
max. 111 km/h
on land:
max. 102 km/h
Air pressure:
below 977 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
Affected regions
North Province
South Province
North Province
South Province
Niran: March 1-7, 2021
Region:
Eastern Australia
Wind speed:
max. 256 km/h
on land:
max. 183 km/h
Diameter:
max. 222 km
Eye:
max. 37 km
Air pressure:
below 917 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 5
Affected regions
South Province
South Province
Niran: February 27 to March 7, 2021
Region:
Eastern Australia
Wind speed:
max. 250 km/h
Diameter:
max. 700 km
Eye:
max. 37 km
Air pressure:
below 921 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 4
Affected regions
North Province
South Province
North Province
South Province
Lucas: January 31 to February 4, 2021
Wind speed:
max. 119 km/h
on land:
max. 94 km/h
Diameter:
max. 222 km
Air pressure:
below 980 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
Affected regions
Loyalty Islands
South Province
Loyalty Islands
South Province
Ana: January 28 to February 3, 2021
Wind speed:
max. 120 km/h
Diameter:
max. 778 km
Air pressure:
below 970 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 1
The cyclone did not make direct landfall in New Caledonia. On January 28th, 2021 at 11:00 pm it had the shortest distance at about 468 km northwest of Fayaoué in Loyalty Islands.
Lucas: January 29 to February 4, 2021
Wind speed:
max. 115 km/h
on land:
max. 96 km/h
Diameter:
max. 907 km
Air pressure:
below 975 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
Affected regions
Loyalty Islands
South Province
Loyalty Islands
South Province
Harold: April 1-11, 2020
Wind speed:
max. 278 km/h
Diameter:
max. 3741 km
Eye:
max. 56 km
Air pressure:
below 903 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 5
The cyclone did not make direct landfall in New Caledonia. On April 5th, 2020 at 5:00 pm it had the shortest distance at about 352 km northwest of Wala in North Province.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Port-Olry in Vanuatu on April 5th at 2:00 am.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Port-Olry in Vanuatu on April 5th at 2:00 am.
Gretel: March 13-19, 2020
Region:
Eastern Australia
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 Caledonia. On March 15th, 2020 at 8:00 pm it had the shortest distance at about 53 km southeast of Poya in North Province.
Gretel: March 13-19, 2020
Region:
Eastern Australia
Wind speed:
max. 115 km/h
Diameter:
max. 993 km
Air pressure:
below 971 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
Affected regions
North Province
South Province
North Province
South Province
Uesi: February 6-17, 2020
Wind speed:
max. 143 km/h
Diameter:
max. 852 km
Eye:
max. 37 km
Air pressure:
below 969 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 1
Affected regions
North Province
North Province
Oma: February 11-28, 2019
Region:
Eastern Australia
Wind speed:
max. 139 km/h
Diameter:
max. 3741 km
Eye:
max. 167 km
Air pressure:
below 968 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 1
Affected regions
North Province
South Province
Loyalty Islands
North Province
South Province
Loyalty Islands
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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