2026 South Pacific cyclone season
Cyclone Vaianu 2026
Recorded track and intensity from Apr 3, 2026 to Apr 13, 2026
This storm's record is provisional and may be revised as the archive is updated.
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114 mph
Apr 7, 2026 during the tropical stage
Full archive record, including non-tropical stages if present
Along the recorded center positions
STORM HISTORY
Track and intensity summary
Vaianu is listed in the South Pacific basin for the 2026 season. Its archived track begins on Apr 3, 2026, 12:00 AM UTC at 8.6°S, 172.7°E. US-agency wind is not available for this first observation. These dates describe the available observations, which may include stages before and after the tropical cyclone phase.
The highest recorded tropical-stage one-minute sustained wind is 114 mph, first recorded on Apr 7, 2026, 12:00 AM UTC at 18.1°S, 174.8°E. The minimum recorded tropical-stage central pressure is 954 hPa on Apr 7, 2026, 12:00 AM UTC.
The full record spans 246 hours and approximately 3,560 mi along the recorded center positions. The last recorded position is 53.5°S, 178.3°W on Apr 13, 2026, 06:00 AM UTC. The final tropical-stage observation is earlier, on Apr 8, 2026, 06:00 PM UTC.
QUICK ANSWERS
Vaianu in brief
What was Cyclone Vaianu's highest wind speed?
114 mph, the highest one-minute sustained wind in its tropical stage, recorded on Apr 7, 2026, 12:00 AM UTC.
What category was Cyclone Vaianu?
Category 3 at its peak on the Saffir–Simpson one-minute wind scale. Other agencies classify storms differently.
What was Cyclone Vaianu's lowest pressure?
954 mb, the minimum central pressure recorded during its tropical stage, on Apr 7, 2026, 12:00 AM UTC.
When did Cyclone Vaianu occur?
The archived track runs from Apr 3, 2026, 12:00 AM UTC to Apr 13, 2026, 06:00 AM UTC, with the tropical stage from Apr 5, 2026, 12:00 PM UTC to Apr 8, 2026, 06:00 PM UTC.
Where did Cyclone Vaianu form?
In the South Pacific basin, in the 2026 season. Its first recorded position is 8.6°S, 172.7°E on Apr 3, 2026, 12:00 AM UTC.
Did Cyclone Vaianu make landfall?
No archived position places Cyclone Vaianu's center over land, but positions are six-hourly and a brief landfall can fall between them.
METHODOLOGY
Data sources and limitations
The map and summary are generated from NOAA's IBTrACS v04r01 archive, with provisional positions from the JTWC operational best track; post-season analysis revises them. Wind and category use US-agency records; minimum pressure is calculated during the tropical stage, with the archive's pressure source retained. Categories refer to the Saffir–Simpson one-minute wind scale; local agencies may use different classifications. Coastlines use Natural Earth's 1:10m land data.
Track distance adds great-circle distances between consecutive observations, excluding gaps over 12 hours. This track has no gaps over 12 hours. The line shows the storm's center, not its size, rainfall or flood extent. Converted wind speeds are rounded to the nearest whole unit.
Archive retrieved ; live tracks fetched
NOAA IBTrACS archive and Field documentation
Sources & methodology