Storms near Cook Islands
The record holds 36 tropical cyclones whose tracks passed within 50 km of the Cook Islands between 1942 and 2025. The busiest month is February, with 12 of them. The strongest, measured where each came closest to the place, reached category 4 strength. 9 of the storms have no wind speed in the record.
- 36storms within 50 km
- 3major (category 3 to 5) near here
- 8at category 1 strength or more
A storm counts once, however many times it came close. The category is the storm's strongest point within 50 km, which can be weaker than its peak elsewhere.
How strong were the storms near Cook Islands?
| Category near here | Storms | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical depression | 3 | 8% |
| Tropical storm | 16 | 44% |
| Category 1 | 4 | 11% |
| Category 2 | 1 | 3% |
| Category 3 | 1 | 3% |
| Category 4 | 2 | 6% |
| Category 5 | 0 | 0% |
| Unknown intensity | 9 | 25% |
The agency behind most of the intensity figures here is the US Joint Typhoon Warning Center (southern hemisphere).
Cook Islands storms over time
The 2020s only run to 2025, so that bar is for a shorter period. This place's record starts in 1942, and records before the satellite era (about the 1960s) are far less complete.
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| 1940s | 3 |
| 1950s | 2 |
| 1960s | 3 |
| 1970s | 5 |
| 1980s | 6 |
| 1990s | 6 |
| 2000s | 6 |
| 2010s | 3 |
| 2020s | 2 |
Earlier decades hold fewer storms partly because they were harder to see. Before weather satellites (about the 1960s) many storms that stayed at sea went unrecorded, so compare decades with care.
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| Jan | 7 |
| Feb | 12 |
| Mar | 8 |
| Apr | 1 |
| May | 0 |
| Jun | 1 |
| Jul | 0 |
| Aug | 0 |
| Sep | 0 |
| Oct | 0 |
| Nov | 1 |
| Dec | 6 |
Strongest storms near Cook Islands
- Meena (2005)1 February 2005 to 11 February 2005, peak Category 4 (125 kt), 915 hPa
- Percy (2005)23 February 2005 to 5 March 2005, Category 4 (115 kt) near here, peak Category 5 (140 kt), 900 hPa
- Nancy (2005)10 February 2005 to 18 February 2005, Category 3 (105 kt) near here, peak Category 4 (125 kt), 935 hPa
- Pat (2010)6 February 2010 to 12 February 2010, peak Category 2 (90 kt), 960 hPa
- Agatha (1972)22 March 1972 to 28 March 1972, peak Category 1 (80 kt), 965 hPa
- Charles (1978)13 February 1978 to 1 March 1978, peak Category 1 (75 kt), 945 hPa
Most recent storms near Cook Islands
- Pita (2025)10 January 2025 to 12 January 2025, peak Tropical storm (40 kt), 994 hPa, provisional
- Unnamed storm of February 2024 (South Pacific and Australian region)14 February 2024 to 17 February 2024, peak Tropical storm (55 kt), 989 hPa
- Mike (2014)17 March 2014 to 26 March 2014, Tropical depression (30 kt) near here, peak Tropical storm (57 kt), 986 hPa
- Garry (2013)18 January 2013 to 29 January 2013, Tropical storm (55 kt) near here, peak Category 2 (85 kt), 970 hPa
- Pat (2010)6 February 2010 to 12 February 2010, peak Category 2 (90 kt), 960 hPa
Many of these storms killed people and destroyed homes. The figures are the official record's, and this page says nothing about their human cost.
Notable storms near Cook Islands with their own pages
- Meena (2005)1 February 2005 to 11 February 2005, peak Category 4 (125 kt), 915 hPa
- Percy (2005)23 February 2005 to 5 March 2005, peak Category 5 (140 kt), 900 hPa
- Nancy (2005)10 February 2005 to 18 February 2005, peak Category 4 (125 kt), 935 hPa
- Keli (1997)5 June 1997 to 17 June 1997, peak Category 4 (115 kt), 955 hPa