Environment Statistics

Images of cyclone Heta 2004

As Niue is situated near the edge of the tropical cyclone belt, it is subjected to gale force winds during the hot season - November to April.

Follow this link to the chart which shows the number of tropical cyclones that affected Niue since 1863 in months of occurrence and its severity.

"CYCLONE HETA - The Mammoth of Cyclones"

“Cyclone Heta reached hurricane strength on New Year's Day 2004 in a deserted part of the Pacific Ocean. After travelling to the Tokelau Islands it retraced its track, heading for Western Samoa where it caused heavy damage. From 4-6 January it headed in a beeline for Niue, passing Niuatoputapu on the way while increasing in strength to the most ferocious storm known to man, a class five hurricane with wind speeds of over 250km/h. Also accelerating its speed to over 30km/h, it turned its most devastating flank to Niue, destroying the capital village Alofi and killing a nurse who sacrificed her life to save her baby.” ( by Dr Floor Anthoni Seafriends Marine Conservation Centre, Leigh ...more

Reports of the Cyclone can be found by following this link - REPORTS OF CYCLONE HETA

Source : Niue Met Office.

Date this website was last updated: Thursday, 18 June 2009