Cyclone season in tahiti

The cyclone season in the south pacific doesnt leave many options for sailing. Why to spend the cyclone season in the marquesas jasna. The best time to visit tahiti is between may and october. The marquesas one of the few exceptions with sunny weather, deserted anchorages and welcoming locals. Cyclone season cruising in australia and the south pacific. For example, fiji has experienced more than three times as many cyclones as tahiti over the last five decades. Despite the obvious danger, the idea of spending the south pacific cyclone season in the tropics is tempting. The chart was processed from data supplied by the us meteorological agency noaa. The papeete, tahiti, french polynesia tropical storm risk chart above shows the cyclone season. During the hot and humid season, therefore between november and april, the islands of french polynesia can be hit by occasional tropical cyclones.

As cyclone oli hits french polynesia, authorities are taking all necessary safety precautions. According to the posts sounds like this will be a good time to go, however i just heard about cyclone larry in australia. Tongan the tropical cyclone tc activity expected in the 201920 tropical cyclone season to affect tonga is likely to be around average 1 to 2 cyclones on average. It is a hurricane hole providing excellent shelter for cyclone season on your own anchor, even better if your boat is the right size for haulout at tahiti nautic center. Weather in tahiti, particularly cyclones tahiti forum.

The 2016 pacific hurricane season was tied as the fifthmost active season on record, alongside the 2014 season. For example, during the 19821983 season, tahiti experienced fijinamed cyclones lisa, prema, nisha, rewa, veena, and william. Find out more about our data sources more about tropical storms. There is no bad time to go to french polynesia, but some periods are better than others. The tropical cyclone season runs from 1 november to 30 april. Enso, a closely watched gauge of sealevel air pressure differences between tahiti and darwin. French polynesia was touched lastly by cyclones at the beginning of the 90s. We are planning to go to tahiti and bora bora for 21 days in april. Natural disasters french polynesia travel advice gov.

Fewer than average numbers of tropical cyclones are expected in the australian region for the 201920 cyclone season novemberapril. Weather in tahiti decemberjanuary did i make a mistake. In general we can say that the climate of french polynesia has a hot and humid season from november to april, and a cool and dry season from may to october. The island tahiti is muggier with more rainfall and potential for tropical storms. Panache will be based in tahiti, french polynesia for the 201819 cyclone season. Winds can reach speeds of over 220 kmh and can eventually evolve to a cyclone, an extremely rare event though.

Fewer cyclones than average likely for australia this season. After seeing what happened in fiji recently i would like to know when cyclones occur in tahiti. Tropical cyclones affecting tahiti and french polynesia. During the high season, temperatures are milder and there are fewer rain showers with less humidity, and better visibility for divers. French polynesia is on the far eastern edge of the south pacific cyclone hurricane belt. Dangerous category 5 cyclone harold due direct hit in.

Cyclone season is a good time of year to build an extra day or two into your holiday. Following a rather mild start to april for much of northern new england, a winterlike storm system is set to deliver over a foot. Every year more and more boats choose to spend more than one season in french polynesia, enjoying some of the best cruising grounds in the world rather than rushing through the south pacific in 6 months to reach new zealand or australia by the beginning of november. Due to this, you can ensure a boat that stays in tahiti during this period because the risk is quite low from the end of november to the end of march the reverse of the caribbean hurricane season. Tahiti also has no hurricane season, but they can happen occasionally following an odd weather pattern. Tropical storms including cyclones can occur between the months of november and april. The humid season also called rainy season starts in november and ends in march. This landlocked lagoon is on the south west coast of tahiti on the south side of the isthmus joining tahiti nui to tahiti iti. Prior to olis arrival, roughly 3,400 people were evacuated from lowlying, coastal areas in tahiti and the surrounding islands. July and august are the busiest tourist season in french polynesia. Bomb cyclone to bury parts of northeast under feet of april snow. The 20152016 cyclone season was the deadliest on record.

The average numbers of tropical cyclones during the season in the western and eastern regions are four and seven respectively. In the northern islands of vanua levu and taveuni, the rainy season november through april has a much greater effect and if you really want to dive that area, youd be advised to stick to the dry season. Travel vaccines and advice for tahiti passport health. The first thing to know is that tahiti lies on the limit of the south pacific cyclone region. Also what about this big wave someone was talking about. Best time of year to visit fiji visual itineraries. The south pacific tropical cyclone season typically extends between 1 november and 30 april. The typhoon season in japan begins in may and ends in october. Another factor to consider is the part of an island that youll visit. Many of us who cruise in the tropics have a difficult time giving up the barefootandbikini lifestyle to hole up in a subtropical region for six months and await our. It should be noted that very, very typhoons ever come close to.

By the end of the cruising season, each boat has to decide where they feel safe to weather out the south pacific cyclone season. Throughout the course of the year, a total of 22 named storms, hurricanes and six major hurricanes were observed within the basin. There actually are no hurricanes in tahiti or anywhere in the south pacific. Average risk of tropical cyclones across the south pacific. Tropical depressions and cyclones tahiti cruising boat. French polynesia is located in an active earthquake area.

The wet season, when these phenomena are most likely to occur, is from december to march. The humid season in tahiti is from november to april. Although the season was very active, it was considerably less active than the previous season, with large gaps of inactivity at the beginning and. I know a couple have hit tahiti in april some years ago but i am not sure which are. The leeward islands enjoy a prevailing wind easterly wind of 15 or 20 knots, increasing to 25 knots, and the sea becoming choppy with swells of 35 ft. The nominal south pacific cyclone season extends from about november through april, so the safe cruising season goes from may through october. The humid season also called rainy season starts in november and ends in. Best time of year to visit tahiti, moorea, and bora bora visual. The most common strategy is to reach new zealand or australia by the end of october or early november. The season ran throughout the year during 2009, with most tropical cyclones forming between may and november.

Most of the activity during the season occurred within the central and eastern parts of the basin with french polynesia affected by several systems. The tahiti and bora bora low season prices are from the 1st of november to the 20th of december, and from the 20th of january to the 31st of march. I do sincerely appreciate you taking the time to read it and. Every year, hundreds of boats transit the south pacific, leaving from ports in north or central america. A page on bora bora weather by months covers the main seasons, with the pros and cons of traveling during each season. Tahiti weather, travel specials, highlow season airfares, advice on which islands. Except for the christmas and new year period when its very exciting in bora bora low season overlaps with the. The season started earlier than normal with 3 systems developing before the official start of the season on november 1, 1997, while the final system of the season dissipated on may 3, 1998. French polynesia is on the far eastern edge of the south pacific cyclone hurricane belt, and storms can occur between november and march. They occur rarely, though storm squalls are common, as are tidal waves not tsunamis. As the storm bypassed tahiti and nearby islands on february 4 and 5, the local government declared a red alert as winds up to 195 kmh 120 mph impacted the region. Theyll tell you that you can spend the cyclone season perfectly safely in tahiti because the area never gets cyclones. Thats not as good news as you might thinkits because theyre not called hurricanes in that region, theyre called cyclones.

The 2009 pacific typhoon season was the period that tropical cyclones formed in the western pacific ocean. However, there are two or three times as many tourists per resort thus increasing demand for sightseeing activities and prices for lodging and events. It brings mugginess, humidity as well as heavier and more frequent rains than in the dry season. French polynesia is on the eastern edge of the south pacific cyclonehurricane belt. The weather is at its best comfortable and dry in july and august, but this is the prime vacation and festival season. Fiji has warm water temperatures yearround although thin wetsuits are recommended for deeper dives. The humid season in tahiti runs from november through march. Tahiti is mostly out of the hurricane path hurricanes are called cyclones in. These are probably the best months to come sailing. To stay up to date subscribe to me and my friend weather coverage for updates. What are the options for keeping your boat in french. July is the busiest month because of the heiva nui festival. The first tropical cyclone of the season occurred on november, slightly earlier than normal.

The typhoons that regularly lash southeast asia during monsoon season originate in the pacific ocean before moving west. The height of the wet season brings the greatest possible threat of cyclones. Best time of year to visit tahiti, moorea, and bora bora. Fiji bore the brunt of that season, with severe tropical cyclone winston smashing into the fiji islands in 2016, packing winds in. The best way to work out the first part of a south pacific schedule is to work backwards. With the addition of warm water, light winds, and humidity, a thunderstorm can grow in intensity to become a typhoon. The subject is relevant given the damage caused by the irma hurricane on the caribbean islands. Aim to arrive in port a couple of days early in case difficulties arise.

While many tropical depressions bypass the main tourist. The cyclone season in french polynesia runs during the austral summer, november through april. When is the best time to visit tahiti during a travel to french polynesia. Papeete, tahiti weather averages for planning holidays. Panache and the south pacific cyclone season currents. A cyclone has battered french polynesia and forced the evacuation of thousands of residents and tourists to churches, schools and temples. French polynesia is on the eastern edge of the south pacific cyclone zone. The territory has two main seasons, the rainy season and the dry season. Nearaverage cyclone numbers are also likely for the eastern south pacific but model accuracy is very low. It is a time of humidity and heavier rains and also is when tropical storms can occur. It is worth noting that preparing for the aftermath is important too, as children are often endangered most in natural disasters, child charity reports. The safest option is not to be in the cyclone zone from november. The 199798 south pacific cyclone season was the most active south pacific tropical cyclone season on record, with 16 tropical cyclones occurring within the south pacific basin between 160e and 120w.

The best time to travel to tahiti travel tips usa today. Although the temperatures are balmy yearround, tahitis winter season enjoys less humidity. The 201920 south pacific cyclone season is the period of the year when most tropical. However, nisha was also known as orama because tahiti named it not realizing fiji had already assigned a name. The wet season, when these phenomena are most likely to occur, is. Dry season the dry season occurs from april through october with the coming of the southeast. This is a strengthening cyclone due to hit vanuatu as a very strong cyclone. The archipelago that includes tahiti was under red alert until the cyclone passes, and all roads were closed. Weve sat through one there, and its certainly not the first. The first tropical cyclone of the season developed a day before the season officially began on october 30, while the last tropical cyclone of the season dissipated on may 16. However, if youre having trouble getting into your port of embarkation, make sure you contact the cruise line carry the tollfree emergency number.