Cyclones in Wallis and Futuna
Cyclones occur rarely in Wallis and Futuna. On average, they happen about once per year. The hardest hit regions are Circonscription d'Uvéa.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.
Wallis and Futuna 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 Wallis and Futuna:
› Tsunamis
› The most severe cyclones in the world
Back to overview: Wallis and Futuna
Current satellite image of the south-east Pacific
31.05.2023 © CIMSS University of Wisconsin-Madison
Most violent cyclones in Wallis and Futuna since 2018
Zazu: December 13-16, 2020
Wind speed:
max. 100 km/h
Diameter:
max. 296 km
Air pressure:
below 985 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
The cyclone did not make direct landfall in Wallis and Futuna. On December 14th, 2020 at 12:00 am it had the shortest distance at about 362 km southwest of Mata-Utu in Circonscription d'Uvéa.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Hihifo in Tonga on December 14th at 12:00 am.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Hihifo in Tonga on December 14th at 12:00 am.
Zazu: December 12-16, 2020
Wind speed:
max. 102 km/h
on land:
max. 65 km/h
Diameter:
max. 704 km
Air pressure:
below 980 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
Affected regions
Circonscription d'Uvéa
Circonscription d'Uvéa
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
Circonscription d'Uvéa
Circonscription d'Uvéa
Vicky: February 20-24, 2020
Wind speed:
max. 78 km/h
Diameter:
max. 759 km
Air pressure:
below 990 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
The cyclone did not make direct landfall in Wallis and Futuna. On February 20th, 2020 at 6:00 pm it had the shortest distance at about 196 km west of Mata-Utu in Circonscription d'Uvéa.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Asau in Samoa on February 20th at 6:00 pm.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Asau in Samoa on February 20th at 6:00 pm.
Pola: February 25 to March 3, 2019
Wind speed:
max. 180 km/h
on land:
max. 56 km/h
Diameter:
max. 204 km
Air pressure:
below 950 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 3
Affected regions
Circonscription d'Uvéa
Circonscription d'Uvéa
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
The cyclone did not make direct landfall in Wallis and Futuna. On February 9th, 2019 at 12:00 pm it had the shortest distance at about 111 km southwest of Alo in Circonscription d'Alo.
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.