Meteorological history | |
---|---|
Formed | 9 November 1984 |
Dissipated | 15 November 1984 |
Extremely severe cyclonic storm | |
3-minute sustained (IMD) | |
Highest winds | 215 km/h (130 mph) |
Lowest pressure | 975 hPa (mbar);28.79 inHg |
Category 2-equivalent tropical cyclone | |
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC) | |
Highest winds | 155 km/h (100 mph) |
Overall effects | |
Fatalities | 604 |
Areas affected | Andhra Pradesh,Tamil Nadu |
Part of the 1984 North Indian Ocean cyclone season |
The 1984 Sriharikota cyclone,officially named Tropical Cyclone 03B,was the worst to hit the central east coast of India in seven years. Its erratic movement along the coast of Andhra Pradesh brought intense flooding in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu,resulting in 604 fatalities. The short-lived storm was the most powerful of the 1984 North Indian Ocean cyclone season.
In 1984,the North Indian Ocean saw two uneventful cyclones prior to November 9. Tropical Cyclone OIA formed in late May,which developed over the western Arabian Sea. This storm tracked west-southwest and into the Gulf of Aden. It struck about 65 km (40 mi) west of Berbera,Somalia,where it quickly dissipated. Cyclone OIA is the first documented and one of a few tropical cyclones to transit the Gulf of Aden since space satellites began tracking in 1966. [1] There were no casualties or damage. [2]
On October 12,Tropical Cyclone 02B developed in the north-central Bay of Bengal. Due to the presence of Tropical Storm Susan in the South China Sea,it could not develop into a stronger storm. It followed a north–northwest path. The storm made landfall about 19 km (12 mi) south of Balasore,where it rapidly weakened and eventually dissipated. Heavy rains were reported but the storm did not cause damage. [2]
Tropical Cyclone 03B developed as a low-pressure area over the south-central Bay of Bengal on the morning of November 9. The storm intensified into a deep depression in the evening. It followed a west-northwestward path, becoming a tropical storm on November 10 and a cyclone on the 11th. By the evening, it had become a severe cyclonic storm. A break in the ridge brought it northward, where steering currents collapsed on 13th. The storm traveled north on the 12th, where a 11–28 km (6.8–17.4 mi)-wide eye was observed via satellite. The storm maintained a mostly stationary position during the 13th. After attaining peak winds of 100 mph (160 km/h), the cyclone looped slowly to the west and crossed Sriharikota in southern Andhra Pradesh on the 14th. It gradually dissipated on the 15th. [2] [3]
The cyclone's intensification, stall and erratic movements occurred very close to the coast, [3] which resulted in prolonged torrential rain and flooding. [2] A total of 604 people died. [4] Flooding affected a large area of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. A storm surge of 20 ft (6.1 m) hit the nearby village of Durgarajupatnam which led to coastal inundation up to 3 km (1.9 mi) from the coast. Nearly 1,00,000 livestock were killed and 400,000 houses were destroyed in Andhra Pradesh. A 1.4 m (4 ft 7 in) surge was recorded near Gudur. In nearby Tamil Nadu, the storm brought moderate damage and killed 54 people.
In Andhra Pradesh, over 200 villages were submerged by floodwaters. Thousands of trees were uprooted. Roads and bridges were damaged while rail and electrical services were disrupted. [5] More than 70 villages around Pulicat Lake area were submerged under 10 ft (3.0 m) of water. The rough surges drowned several hundred cattle and 37 residents. There were unconfirmed reports that a village at the shore was buried along with its residents by large amounts of sand. [6]
Seventeen people died in Chennai, and 60,000 individuals who lived in huts became homeless. The cyclone was described as the worst since 1977 in the Nellore district. There, 816 villages across a 7,710 km2 (2,980 sq mi) area were struck by heavy winds up to 220 mph (350 km/h). More than 270 people died before rescuers from the Indian army arrived. Another 150,000 were made homeless. About 100 km (62 mi) north of Chennai, towers and electrical poles at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre on Sriharikota island were ripped out. [5] Villages and their residents in northern Tamil Nadu and the south Andhra Pradesh coast were left in extreme conditions. A survivor recalled having to cling onto a tree for two days to escape the water. [6]
Six satellites were operating during the duration of the storm which provided warning to the area. This was in response to the 1977 cyclone, hence the death toll was lower this time. Many AIADMK ministers from Tamil Nadu had moved to New Delhi to attend to electoral matters with the Congress when the cyclone struck. Officials, food and other emergency supplies were rushed to four districts, including Nellore prior to the cyclone's arrival. Rescue operstions took place as soon as the storm subsided. [6] After the disaster, Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi ordered an assessment team to evaluate the damage in the affected states. N. T. Rama Rao and Prime Minister Gandhi participated in an aerial survey of the area. Prime Minister Gandhi later allocated ₹100 million for relief efforts. [6]
The 2005 North Indian Ocean cyclone season caused much devastation and many deaths in Southern India despite the storms’ weakness. The basin covers the Indian Ocean north of the equator as well as inland areas, sub-divided by the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. Although the season began early with two systems in January, the bulk of activity was confined from September to December. The official India Meteorological Department tracked 12 depressions in the basin, and the unofficial Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) monitored two additional storms. Three systems intensified into a cyclonic storm, which have sustained winds of at least 63 km/h (39 mph), at which point the IMD named them.
The 1992 North Indian Ocean cyclone season was unofficially the most active year on record for the basin, with 10 tropical storms developing, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC). There are two main seas in the North Indian Ocean – the Bay of Bengal to the east of the Indian subcontinent – and the Arabian Sea to the west of India. The official Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre in this basin is the India Meteorological Department (IMD), while the JTWC releases unofficial advisories. An average of four to six storms form in the North Indian Ocean every season with peaks in May and November. Cyclones occurring between the meridians 45°E and 100°E are included in the season by the IMD.
The 2008 North Indian cyclone season was one of the most disastrous tropical cyclone seasons in modern history, causing more than 140,000 fatalities and over US$15 billion in damage. At the time, it was the costliest season in the North Indian Ocean, until it was surpassed by 2020. The season has no official bounds but cyclones tend to form between April and December. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northern Indian Ocean. There are two main seas in the North Indian Ocean—the Bay of Bengal, which is east of India, and the Arabian Sea, which is west of India. The official Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre in this basin is the India Meteorological Department (IMD), however the Joint Typhoon Warning Center releases unofficial advisories for military interests. An average of four to six storms form in the North Indian Ocean every season. Cyclones occurring between the meridians 45°E and 100°E are included in the season by the IMD.
The 2003 North Indian Ocean cyclone season was the last season that tropical cyclones were not publicly labeled by India Meteorological Department (IMD). Also was mostly focused in the Bay of Bengal, where six of the seven depressions developed. The remaining system was a tropical cyclone that developed in the Arabian Sea in November, which was also the only system that did not affect land. There were three cyclonic storms, which was below the average of 4–6. Only one storm formed before the start of the monsoon season in June, although it was also the most notable. On May 10, a depression formed in the central Bay of Bengal, and within a few days became a very severe cyclonic storm. After it stalled, it drew moisture from the southwest to produce severe flooding across Sri Lanka, killing 254 people and becoming the worst floods there since 1947. Damage on the island totaled $135 million (2003 USD). The storm eventually made landfall in Myanmar on May 19. It is possible that the storm contributed to a deadly heat wave in India due to shifting air currents.
The 2002 North Indian Ocean cyclone season was a below average season in terms of tropical cyclone formation. The season had no official bounds, but most storms formed in either May or after October. No depressions or storms formed during the monsoon season from July to September, the first such instance on record. There are two main seas in the North Indian Ocean – the Bay of Bengal to the east of the Indian subcontinent – and the Arabian Sea to the west of India. The official Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre in this basin is the India Meteorological Department (IMD), while the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) releases unofficial advisories. An average of four to six storms form in the North Indian Ocean every season with peaks in May and November. Cyclones occurring between the meridians 45°E and 100°E are included in the season by the IMD.
The 2001 North Indian Ocean cyclone season was fairly quiet, although activity was evenly spread between the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. There were six depressions tracked by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), which is the official Regional Specialized Meteorological Center for the northern Indian Ocean. The agency also tracked four cyclonic storms, which have maximum winds of at least 65 km/h (40 mph) sustained over 3 minutes. The American-based Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) tracked an additional storm – Tropical Storm Vamei – which crossed over from the South China Sea at a record-low latitude.
The 2000 North Indian Ocean cyclone season was fairly quiet compared to the year before, 1999 North Indian Ocean cyclone season, with all of the activity originating in the Bay of Bengal. The basin comprises the Indian Ocean north of the equator, with warnings issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in New Delhi. There were six depressions throughout the year, of which five intensified into cyclonic storms – tropical cyclones with winds of 65 mph (105 km/h) sustained over 3 minutes. Two of the storms strengthened into a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm, which has winds of at least 120 km/h (75 mph), equivalent to a minimal hurricane. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) also tracked storms in the basin on an unofficial basis, estimating winds sustained over 1 minute.
The 1977 Andhra Pradesh cyclone was a devastating tropical cyclone that hit Andhra Pradesh in November 1977, killing at least 10,000 people. The worst affected areas were in the Krishna River delta region. The island of Diviseema, which was hit by a seven-metre-high (20 ft) storm surge, experienced a loss of life running into the thousands. The large loss of life prompted the establishment of early warning meteorological stations on the coast of Andhra Pradesh. Cyclone shelters and other measures for disaster management were also taken. A memorial, at the point of furthest advance of the tidal wave, near the town of Avanigadda, was built in memory of the people who died in the storm.
The 1995 North Indian Ocean cyclone season was below-average and was primarily confined to the autumn months, with the exception of three short-lived deep depressions in May. There were eight depressions in the basin, which is Indian Ocean north of the equator. The basin is subdivided between the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea on the east and west coasts of India, respectively. Storms were tracked by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), which is the basin's Regional Specialized Meteorological Center, as well as the American-based Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) on an unofficial basis.
The 1996 North Indian Ocean cyclone season featured several deadly tropical cyclones, with over 2,000 people killed during the year. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) – the Regional Specialized Meteorological Center for the northern Indian Ocean as recognized by the World Meteorological Organization – issued warnings for nine tropical cyclones in the region. Storms were also tracked on an unofficial basis by the American-based Joint Typhoon Warning Center, which observed one additional storm. The basin is split between the Bay of Bengal off the east coast of India and the Arabian Sea off the west coast. During the year, the activity was affected by the monsoon season, with most storms forming in June or after October.
The 1990 North Indian Ocean cyclone season featured a below average total of twelve cyclonic disturbances and one of the most intense tropical cyclones in the basin on record. During the season the systems were primarily monitored by the India Meteorological Department, while other warning centres such as the United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center also monitored the area. During the season, there were at least 1,577 deaths, while the systems caused over US$693 million in damages. The most significant system was the 1990 Andhra Pradesh cyclone, which was the most intense, damaging, and the deadliest system of the season.
The 1993 North Indian Ocean cyclone season was the least active on record in the basin, with only four tropical disturbances. There are two main seas in the North Indian Ocean – the Bay of Bengal to the east of the Indian subcontinent and the Arabian Sea to the west. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued advisories for the systems in its official capacity as the local Regional Specialized Meteorological Center, while the Joint Typhoon Warning Center also issued advisories for two of the storms on an unofficial basis. Of the five disturbances tracked by the IMD, two intensified into cyclonic storms.
The 1984 North Indian Ocean cyclone season was part of the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. The season has no official bounds but cyclones tend to form between April and December. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northern Indian Ocean. There are two main seas in the North Indian Ocean—the Bay of Bengal to the east of the Indian subcontinent and the Arabian Sea to the west of India. The official Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre in this basin is the India Meteorological Department (IMD), while the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) releases unofficial advisories. An average of five tropical cyclones form in the North Indian Ocean every season with peaks in May and November. Cyclones occurring between the meridians 45°E and 100°E are included in the season by the IMD.
The 1990 Andhra Pradesh cyclone was the worst disaster to affect Southern India since the 1977 Andhra Pradesh cyclone. The system was first noted as a depression on 4 May 1990, while it was located over the Bay of Bengal about 600 km (375 mi) to the southeast of Chennai, India. During the next day the depression intensified into a cyclonic storm and started to intensify rapidly, becoming a super cyclonic storm early on 8 May. The cyclone weakened slightly before it made landfall on India about 300 km (190 mi) to the north of Madras in the Andhra Pradesh state as a very severe cyclonic storm with winds of 165 km/h (105 mph). While over land the cyclone gradually dissipated. The cyclone had a severe impact on India, with over 967 people reported to have been killed. Over 100,000 animals also died in the cyclone with the total cost of damages to crops estimated at over $600 million.
India is a country in the north of Indian Ocean that is the most vulnerable to getting hit by tropical cyclones in the basin, from the east or from the west. On average, 2–3 tropical cyclones make landfall in India each year, with about one being a severe tropical cyclone or greater.
Cyclonic Storm Nilam was the deadliest tropical cyclone to directly affect South India since Cyclone Jal in 2010. Originating from an area of low pressure over the Bay of Bengal on October 28, 2012, the system began as a weak depression 550 km (340 mi) northeast of Trincomalee, Sri Lanka. Over the following few days, the depression gradually intensified into a deep depression, and subsequently a cyclonic storm by October 30. It made landfall near Mahabalipuram on October 31 as a strong cyclonic storm with peak winds of 85 km/h (55 mph). In Chennai's Marina Beach, strong winds pushed piles of sand ashore and seawater reached nearly a 100 m (330 ft) inland. Schools and colleges in the city remained closed for more than three days.
The 1960 North Indian Ocean cyclone season featured two deadly tropical cyclones that killed approximately 20,000 people collectively in East Pakistan. The Indian subcontinent divides the North Indian Ocean into two areas: the Bay of Bengal to the east and the Arabian Sea to the west. The official Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre in this basin is the India Meteorological Department (IMD), while the Joint Typhoon Warning Center releases unofficial advisories. On average, five storms form in the North Indian Ocean every season with dual peaks in activity during May and November. Cyclones that occurred between 45°E and 100°E were included in seasonal records by the IMD.
The October 1996 India cyclone had an unusual and protracted path that spanned much of the northern Indian Ocean. It originated in a weather disturbance that formed on October 14 in the southern Bay of Bengal, off India's east coast. Moving westward, it struck Andhra Pradesh on October 17 as a well-defined low-pressure area. It crossed southern India and reorganized in the Arabian Sea off the western coast of India. The system developed into a depression on October 22 and quickly intensified while moving northward. By October 24, the cyclone approached hurricane intensity as it developed an eye, reaching peak winds of at least 110 km/h (70 mph). On October 25, the storm abruptly stalled and weakened off Gujarat, and progressed southwestward as a minimal storm. It was no longer classifiable as a tropical cyclone by October 28, although its remnants persisted until November 2 when they dissipated east of Somalia.
The 2018 North Indian Ocean cyclone season was one of the most active North Indian Ocean cyclone seasons since 1992, with the formation of fourteen depressions and seven cyclones. The North Indian Ocean cyclone season has no official bounds, but cyclones tend to form between April and December, with the two peaks in May and November. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northern Indian Ocean.
The 2020 North Indian Ocean cyclone season was the costliest North Indian Ocean cyclone season on record, mostly due to the devastating Cyclone Amphan. The North Indian Ocean cyclone season has no official bounds, but cyclones tend to form between April and November, with peaks in late April to May and October to November. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northern Indian Ocean. The season began on May 16 with the designation of Depression BOB 01 in the Bay of Bengal, which later became Amphan. Cyclone Amphan was the strongest storm in the Bay of Bengal in 21 years and would break Nargis of 2008's record as the costliest storm in the North Indian Ocean. The season concluded with the dissipation of Cyclone Burevi on December 5. Overall, the season was slightly above average, seeing the development of five cyclonic storms.