What the record says
Waka was a cyclone in the South Pacific and Australian region basin that lasted about 9 days, from 28 December 2001 to 6 January 2002. Its peak was Category 3 (100 kt) on 31 December 2001, with a 1-minute sustained wind of 100 kt (115 mph, 185 km/h). Its lowest recorded pressure was 930 hPa.
- Category 3peak intensity
- 100 ktpeak wind (115 mph)
- 930 hPalowest pressure
- 9 dayslifetime
Source of the peak wind: US Joint Typhoon Warning Center (southern hemisphere). The regional forecast centre (RSMC Wellington (MetService New Zealand)) gave a peak of 75 kt on its own averaging convention (10-minute winds), so the two figures differ.
It has its own page because it reached category 3 or stronger.
This page gives the official record's figures. It does not describe the human cost of the storm, which is far larger than any wind speed or pressure here.
Where it came ashore
The record shows no landfall: the storm stayed at sea.
Countries it came within 50 km of
Strongest effect first.
How to read this track
The line joins the storm's six-hourly positions with straight lines, coloured by its intensity at each point, so it shows how the storm strengthened and weakened. The real path curved between the positions. A dashed grey stretch means the storm had become post-tropical. Records before the satellite era (about the 1960s) are estimates.
Source: NOAA NCEI IBTrACS, public domain. See data sources and caveats.
Other notable storms near Tonga
- Ian (2014)4 January 2014 to 15 January 2014, peak Category 4 (130 kt), 935 hPa
- Gita (2018)7 February 2018 to 22 February 2018, peak Category 4 (125 kt), 927 hPa
- Wilma (2011)20 January 2011 to 30 January 2011, peak Category 4 (115 kt), 939 hPa
- Eseta (2003)8 March 2003 to 15 March 2003, peak Category 3 (110 kt), 925 hPa
- Isaac (1982)27 February 1982 to 5 March 1982, peak Category 3 (108 kt), 930 hPa
The 2002 South Pacific and Australian region season · All notable storms