 Cyclone Donna north of New Caledonia at peak intensity on 8 May | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1 May 2017 |
| Extratropical | 10 May |
| Dissipated | 16 May 2017 |
| Category 5 severe tropical cyclone | |
| 10-minute sustained (FMS) | |
| Highest winds | 205 km/h (125 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 935 hPa (mbar); 27.61 inHg |
| Category 4-equivalent tropical cyclone | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC) | |
| Highest winds | 230 km/h (145 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 929 hPa (mbar); 27.43 inHg |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 2 total |
| Damage | $10 million (2017 USD) |
| Areas affected | Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, New Zealand |
| IBTrACS | |
Part of the 2016–17 South Pacific cyclone season | |
Severe Tropical Cyclone Donna was the strongest off-season tropical cyclone in the Southern Hemisphere at the time, since surpassed by Cyclone Lola in 2023. The twenty-first tropical disturbance, third named storm, and second severe tropical cyclone of the annual cyclone season, Donna formed from an area of disturbed weather that was first monitored west-northwest of Fiji on 1 May 2017. The disturbance drifted eastward amid an increasingly favourable environment, and it was designated Tropical Depression 21F late on 2 May. Twelve hours later, it intensified into a Category 1 on the Australian tropical cyclone scale and was designated Tropical Cyclone Donna as the storm's motion shifted west and then south. After reaching its initial peak as a Category 4 cyclone early on 6 May, the effects of wind shear and upwelling caused the storm to weaken. However, it reintensified into a Category 5 cyclone on 8 May. Soon after, Donna entered a region of strong westerly flow and began to rapidly weaken. Continuing to accelerate in a southerly direction, Donna eventually weakened into a tropical low on 10 May. By 16 May, Donna's remnants had fully dissipated.
Buffeting the island chain of Vanuatu, Donna has resulted in severe damage throughout the northern provinces, though the exact extent is unknown in the absence of good communication.