Cyclones in Tonga
Cyclones only occur occasionally in Tonga. On average, they happen about 2 times a year. The hardest hit regions are Niuas and Vava‘u.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.
Tonga 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 Tonga:
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› The most severe cyclones in the world
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Current satellite image of the south-east Pacific
28.05.2023 © CIMSS University of Wisconsin-Madison
Most violent cyclones in Tonga since 2018
Zazu: December 13-16, 2020
Wind speed:
max. 100 km/h
on land:
max. 94 km/h
Diameter:
max. 296 km
Air pressure:
below 985 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
Affected regions
Niuas
Vava‘u
Niuas
Vava‘u
Zazu: December 12-16, 2020
Wind speed:
max. 102 km/h
on land:
max. 96 km/h
Diameter:
max. 704 km
Air pressure:
below 980 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
Affected regions
Niuas
Vava‘u
Ha‘apai
Niuas
Vava‘u
Ha‘apai
Wasi: February 20-23, 2020
Wind speed:
max. 111 km/h
on land:
max. 83 km/h
Diameter:
max. 537 km
Air pressure:
below 975 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
Affected regions
Niuas
Vava‘u
Niuas
Vava‘u
Vicky: February 20-24, 2020
Wind speed:
max. 78 km/h
on land:
max. 37 km/h
Diameter:
max. 759 km
Air pressure:
below 990 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
Affected regions
Eua
Eua
Pola: February 25 to March 3, 2019
Wind speed:
max. 180 km/h
Diameter:
max. 204 km
Eye:
max. 37 km
Air pressure:
below 950 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 3
The cyclone did not make direct landfall in Tonga. On February 26th, 2019 at 4:00 pm it had the shortest distance at about 157 km east of Hihifo in Niuas.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Mata-Utu in Wallis and Futuna on February 26th at 1:00 am.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Mata-Utu in Wallis and Futuna on February 26th at 1:00 am.
Neil: February 9-10, 2019
Wind speed:
max. 69 km/h
Diameter:
max. 370 km
Air pressure:
below 994 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
Affected regions
Ha‘apai
Tongatapu
Eua
Ha‘apai
Tongatapu
Eua
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.