Cyclone Bola was active in late February and early March 1988, and it struck New Zealand in early March 1988.

Key dates

  • The weather system that became Severe Tropical Cyclone Bola first formed on 24 February 1988 north of Fiji.
  • It intensified near Vanuatu around 28 February–2 March 1988 , reaching severe tropical cyclone strength.
  • It completed its transition to an extratropical cyclone on 4 March 1988.
  • The storm hit New Zealand’s North Island (especially Gisborne–East Cape and Hawke’s Bay) with its worst effects over about 6–8 March 1988.

Simple takeaway

If you are asking “when was Cyclone Bola,” most people are referring to its impact on New Zealand, which is remembered as occurring in early March 1988 , with the key anniversary commonly marked on 8 March.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.