Cyclone Maila

Not to be confused with Cyclone Mala, Tropical Storm Malia, Hurricane Maria, or Typhoon Maria.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Maila

File:Maila 2026-04-07 0505Z.jpg Maila as a Category 4 cyclone in the Solomon Sea on 7 April
Meteorological history
Formed	2 April 2026
Category 5 severe tropical cyclone
10-minute sustained (BOM)
Highest winds	215 km/h (130 mph)
Highest gust	295 km/h (185 mph)
Lowest pressure	924 hPa (mbar); 27.29 inHg
Category 4-equivalent tropical cyclone
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC)
Highest winds	230 km/h (145 mph)
Lowest pressure	930 hPa (mbar); 27.46 inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities	None
Missing	3
Damage	Unknown
Areas affected	Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea
IBTrACS
Part of the 2025–26 Australian region cyclone season

Severe Tropical Cyclone Maila is an active, erratic, and extremely rare tropical cyclone in the Australian region which recently became the first tropical cyclone to form in the Port Moresby area of responsibility since Cyclone Guba in 2007. Maila was the twenty-third tropical low, eleventh tropical cyclone, and seventh severe tropical cyclone of the 2025–26 Australian region cyclone season. The origins of Maila stemmed from a tropical low, 37U, which was first designated on 2 April, located between Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. The tropical low crossed the 155th meridian east into Port Moresby's area of responsibility on 4 April, where it would begin to consolidate, being given the name Maila later that day and was upgraded to a Category 1 cyclone on the Australian scale. Maila began to quickly strengthen while moving sluggishly and erratically, and by the next day, the cyclone was upgraded to a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone, or a Category 1 on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Over the next few days, Maila would slowly drift eastward whilst maintaining Category 3 status on the Australian scale, by 7 April, the cyclone would resume its intensification, reaching Category 4 status on the Australian scale, or Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Its rapid intensification would continue into the next morning, where it achieved Category 5 status on the Australian scale and Category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson scale.

Meteorological history

File:Maila 2026 path.png

Map plotting the track and the intensity of the storm, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale

On 2 April, Tropical Low 37U formed in the northeastern Coral Sea, between Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. On 4 April, the system crossed 155°E into the area of responsibility of TCWC Port Moresby and was given the name Maila. Maila was the first tropical cyclone to be named by TCWC Port Moresby since Cyclone Guba in 2007. Rapid strengthening and gradual northwestward movement occurred throughout the remainder of the day. By 5 April, Maila intensify and reached Category 3 status on the Australian scale, or Category 1 on the Saffir-Simpson scale follow by that, Maila's intensification would slow down and begin to fluctuate for the next two days as it drifted to the east. Intensification resumed on 7 April where it was upgraded to a Category 4 cyclone on the Australian scale (Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson scale). By the next morning, Maila had rapidly intensified into a Category 5 cyclone on the Australian scale (Category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson scale), albeit the eastern periphery of the storm's structure began to become uneven due to its own oceanic upwelling.

File:Cyclone Maila Strengthens Over the Solomon Sea (CIRA 2026-04-07 - labels).webm

Maila undergoing rapid intensification over the Solomon Sea on 7 April

Preparations and impact

The Tropical Cyclone Warning Center in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, issued tropical cyclone warnings and heavy rain warnings across the southeastern portion of the country.

Eight people on a dinghy from Woodlark Island who made medical evacuations to Milne Bay went missing during the storm. The dinghy's crew was later found sheltering on Egom Island, waiting for clear weather. Flights to Tokua Airport were cancelled due to a flooded runway. Roads in New Britain were heavily damaged by Maila. Power outages were also reported on New Britain. Water service failed in Rabaul and Kokopo.

The Solomon Islands were battered with heavy winds and rains. The seas around the nation was also agitated. The Western Province and Choiseul Province were significantly affected by tidal floods from Maila. Three people went missing in the nation.

See also

• Weather of 2026
• Tropical cyclones in 2026

External links

This article "Cyclone Maila" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Cyclone Maila. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.

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