Cyclone Maila
 Maila near peak intensity over the Solomon Sea on 7 April | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1 April 2026 |
| Remnant low | 11 April 2026 |
| Dissipated | 12 April 2026 |
| Category 5 severe tropical cyclone | |
| 10-minute sustained (BOM) | |
| Highest winds | 205 km/h (125 mph) |
| Highest gusts | 280 km/h (175 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 929 hPa (mbar); 27.43 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 | 25+ |
| Injuries | 1+ |
| Missing | 4+ |
| Damage | Unknown |
| Areas affected | Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea |
Part of the 2025–26 Australian region cyclone season | |
Severe Tropical Cyclone Maila was a very erratic and exceptionally rare tropical cyclone in the Australian region, becoming the first tropical cyclone to be named by the Tropical Cyclone Warning Center in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea since Cyclone Guba in 2007. It was also the strongest tropical cyclone in the Port Moresby's area of responsibility in recorded history. 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, designated 37U by the Bureau of Meteorology, which was first designated on 2 April, located between Papua New Guinea and 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.