Storms near French Polynesia
The record holds 36 tropical cyclones whose tracks passed within 50 km of French Polynesia between 1961 and 2026. The busiest month is February, with 11 of them. The strongest, measured where each came closest to the place, reached category 3 strength. 3 of the storms have no wind speed in the record.
- 36storms within 50 km
- 4major (category 3 to 5) near here
- 13at 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 French Polynesia?
| Category near here | Storms | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical depression | 1 | 3% |
| Tropical storm | 19 | 53% |
| Category 1 | 6 | 17% |
| Category 2 | 3 | 8% |
| Category 3 | 4 | 11% |
| Category 4 | 0 | 0% |
| Category 5 | 0 | 0% |
| Unknown intensity | 3 | 8% |
The agency behind most of the intensity figures here is the US Joint Typhoon Warning Center (southern hemisphere).
French Polynesia storms over time
The 2020s only run to 2026, so that bar is for a shorter period. This place's record starts in 1961, and records before the satellite era (about the 1960s) are far less complete.
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 2 |
| 1970s | 3 |
| 1980s | 12 |
| 1990s | 11 |
| 2000s | 5 |
| 2010s | 2 |
| 2020s | 1 |
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 | 5 |
| Feb | 11 |
| Mar | 6 |
| Apr | 4 |
| May | 0 |
| Jun | 1 |
| Jul | 0 |
| Aug | 0 |
| Sep | 0 |
| Oct | 0 |
| Nov | 3 |
| Dec | 6 |
Strongest storms near French Polynesia
- Oli (2010)29 January 2010 to 8 February 2010, Category 3 (105 kt) near here, peak Category 4 (115 kt), 925 hPa
- Nisha:orama (1983)20 February 1983 to 28 February 1983, peak Category 3 (100 kt), 925 hPa
- Veena (1983)7 April 1983 to 14 April 1983, peak Category 3 (100 kt), 925 hPa
- Martin (1998)28 October 1997 to 8 November 1997, peak Category 3 (100 kt), 945 hPa
- Wasa (1992)5 December 1991 to 13 December 1991, Category 2 (90 kt) near here, peak Category 3 (105 kt), 940 hPa
- Osea (1998)21 November 1997 to 28 November 1997, peak Category 2 (90 kt), 950 hPa
Most recent storms near French Polynesia
- Unnamed storm of December 2025 (South Pacific and Australian region)5 December 2025 to 6 December 2025, peak Tropical storm (39 kt), 999 hPa, provisional
- Yalo (2016)23 February 2016 to 26 February 2016, peak Tropical storm (55 kt), 993 hPa
- Oli (2010)29 January 2010 to 8 February 2010, Category 3 (105 kt) near here, peak Category 4 (115 kt), 925 hPa
- Arthur (2007)20 January 2007 to 29 January 2007, Tropical storm (55 kt) near here, peak Category 1 (65 kt), 975 hPa
- Zita (2007)20 January 2007 to 25 January 2007, peak Tropical storm (60 kt), 975 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 French Polynesia with their own pages
- Oli (2010)29 January 2010 to 8 February 2010, peak Category 4 (115 kt), 925 hPa
- Nisha:orama (1983)20 February 1983 to 28 February 1983, peak Category 3 (100 kt), 925 hPa
- Veena (1983)7 April 1983 to 14 April 1983, peak Category 3 (100 kt), 925 hPa
- Martin (1998)28 October 1997 to 8 November 1997, peak Category 3 (100 kt), 945 hPa
- Wasa (1992)5 December 1991 to 13 December 1991, peak Category 3 (105 kt), 940 hPa
- Kim (2000)23 February 2000 to 3 March 2000, peak Category 3 (100 kt), 935 hPa
- Keli (1997)5 June 1997 to 17 June 1997, peak Category 4 (115 kt), 955 hPa