1999 North Indian Ocean cyclone season | |
---|---|
Seasonal boundaries | |
First system formed | January 30, 1999 |
Last system dissipated | December 10, 1999 |
Strongest storm | |
Name | BOB 06 (Most intense tropical cyclone in the North Indian Ocean on record) |
• Maximum winds | 260 km/h (160 mph) (3-minute sustained) |
• Lowest pressure | 912 hPa (mbar) |
Seasonal statistics | |
Depressions | 8, 2 unofficial |
Deep depressions | 6, 2 unofficial |
Cyclonic storms | 4, 1 unofficial |
Severe cyclonic storms | 4 |
Very severe cyclonic storms | 3 |
Extremely severe cyclonic storms | 3 (record high, tied with 2019 and 2023) |
Super cyclonic storms | 1 |
Total fatalities | At least 16,485 total |
Total damage | $5.446 billion (1999 USD) |
Related articles | |
The 1999 North Indian Ocean cyclone season was an extremely active and deadly tropical cyclone season in recent times. It was an event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. The North Indian Ocean cyclone season has no official bounds, but cyclones tend to form between April and December, with peaks in May and October-November. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northern Indian Ocean.
The scope of this article is limited to the Indian Ocean in the Northern Hemisphere, east of the Horn of Africa and west of the Malay Peninsula. There are two main seas in the North Indian Ocean – the Arabian Sea to the west of the Indian subcontinent, abbreviated ARB by the India Meteorological Department (IMD); and the Bay of Bengal to the east, abbreviated BOB by the IMD.
The official Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre in this basin is the India Meteorological Department (IMD), while the Joint Typhoon Warning Center releases unofficial advisories. The tropical cyclone scale for this basin is detailed on the right. On average, 4 to 6 storms form in this basin every season. [1]
The season produced an above-average number of cyclonic storms but there was an very above-average number of intense cyclones. In May, a Category 3 cyclone struck Pakistan, leaving 6,400 people dead. In October, two very intense cyclones struck eastern India within two weeks of each other with the latter becoming the most intense Northern Indian Ocean cyclone on record, leaving over 10,000 people dead and causing more than $5.4 billion (1999 USD) in damages.
During the 1999 season, a total of ten tropical cyclones were observed. The India Meteorological Department, the official Regional Specialized Meteorological Center of the North Indian Ocean basin, identified eight of them. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center unofficially tracked two additional cyclones, 03B and 31W, during the course of the season.
Severe cyclonic storm (IMD) | |
Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
Duration | February 2 – February 5 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 95 km/h (60 mph) (3-min); 998 hPa (mbar) |
On January 30, an area of disturbed weather began to develop. Convection began to form around the center and a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert was issued the next day by the JTWC. Development of the storm stalled and the alert was cancelled. The next day, another TCFA was issued but was once more cancelled. Finally, on February 2, after the third TCFA was issued, the low pressure area developed into a tropical storm at 0900Z 370 nm west of Phuket, Thailand. The storm slowly intensified and reached its peak of 45 mph (1-min) on February 3. Shortly after peaking in intensity, vertical wind shear weakened the storm and the low became exposed by 1800Z the same day. The storm later dissipated on February 5 without making landfall. [2]
Extremely severe cyclonic storm (IMD) | |
Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
Duration | May 16 – May 22 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 195 km/h (120 mph) (3-min); 946 hPa (mbar) |
An area of disturbed weather in the Arabian Sea was monitored in early May for possible development. Over the next two weeks, strong convection would develop before sunrise but dissipate by sunset. By May 16, the convection had become constant and a TCFA was issued at 0100Z. The low became a tropical storm by 0900Z. Tropical Storm 02A intensified as it moved to the northwest and reached cyclone status on May 17 at 0600Z. At that time, a mid-latitude trough weakened the subtropical ridge, allowing 02A to curve into Pakistan. 02A continued to intensify and by May 19, it had reached its peak of 125 mph (205 km/h), just below Category four status on the SSHS. 02A made landfall on May 20 near Karachi, Pakistan at peak intensity. The storm began to dissipate as it continued inland over the Indus River Valley on May 21 and completely dissipated the next day.
The cyclone struck the same area which had been hit hard by Tropical Cyclone 03A, a category three as well, almost exactly a year prior. It proved to be very deadly with 6,400 people reported to be dead. Damages totaled to $6 million (1999 USD).
02A was the strongest storm to ever form in the Arabian Sea until 2001, when cyclone 01A became the strongest storm to form in the Arabian Sea. It was itself surpassed in 2007 when Cyclone Gonu became the first category five to form in the Arabian Sea. [3] That would itself be surpassed again in 2019 when Cyclone Kyarr became the most intense system in the Arabian Sea.
Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
Duration | June 8 – June 11 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 65 km/h (40 mph) (1-min); 997 hPa (mbar) |
On June 8, an area of low pressure formed 235 nm south of Chittagong, Bangladesh. The low slowly developed over the next two days while drifting to the west and northwest. On June 10, a TCFA was issued at 0830Z and the first warning on Tropical Storm 03B was issued at 1500Z the same day. The storm made landfall as a minimal tropical storm to the west of Calcutta, India later that day. 03B rapidly weakened due to vertical wind shear and the interaction with land and dissipated on June 11. No fatalities or damages have been associated with 03B. [4]
Deep depression (IMD) | |
Duration | June 17 – June 17 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 55 km/h (35 mph) (3-min); 986 hPa (mbar) |
A weak depression existed on June 17 before it made landfall near Berhampur. The depression was monitored by the IMD, not the JTWC.
Deep depression (IMD) | |
Duration | July 27 – July 28 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 55 km/h (35 mph) (3-min); 990 hPa (mbar) |
A depression formed on July 27, strengthened slightly before moving inland into the Odisha state on July 28. The depression was monitored by the IMD, not the JTWC.
Depression (IMD) | |
Duration | August 6 – August 9 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 45 km/h (30 mph) (3-min); 992 hPa (mbar) |
A depression formed in the northern Bay of Bengal on August 6 and moved inland into the Odisha state the next day. It was dissipated by August 8. The depression was monitored by the IMD, not the JTWC.
Extremely severe cyclonic storm (IMD) | |
Category 4 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
Duration | October 15 – October 19 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 165 km/h (105 mph) (3-min); 968 hPa (mbar) |
On October 15, a developing area of low pressure, located 220 nm northwest of the Andaman Islands began to intensify. By 1730Z a TCFA was issued and the first advisory on Tropical Storm 04B was issued at 2100Z. 04B was moving to the west-northwest at 8–12 knots as it continued to intensify. On October 17, the storm began to turn to a more northerly direction as it intensified to a cyclone. 04B underwent explosive intensification the same day and reached its peak of 140 mph at 0000Z. The storm held this intensity as it made landfall on the Odisha coastline near Gopalpur beach. The storm began to weaken due to the interaction with land and dissipated on October 19.
04B was responsible for 198 fatalities and hundreds of houses and huts in low-lying areas were destroyed by flooding. [5] Several thousand others were injured by the storm and hundreds were left homeless. The Prime Minister of India requested that relief supplies be distributed to the affected region immediately. [6]
Super cyclonic storm (IMD) | |
Category 5 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
Duration | October 25 – November 3 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 260 km/h (160 mph) (3-min); 912 hPa (mbar) |
On October 23, a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (TCFA) was issued by the JTWC for an area of low pressure in the South China Sea. The low did not develop further and the TCFA was cancelled. On October 25, the low crossed the Malay Peninsula. Later that day, the system reorganized and another TCFA was issued at 1930 UTC, with advisories for Tropical Cyclone 05B initiated early the next morning. The storm tracked to the northwest and continued to intensify quickly; peaking as a 160 mph category five late on October 28. 11 hours after peaking, 05B weakened slightly to 155 mph and made landfall near the same area that 04B had only 11 days prior. The storm slowly weakened as it stalled just onshore in Odisha, India while dumping torrential rains. The storm reemerged into the Bay of Bengal on October 31 as a 45 mph tropical storm. 05B slowly weakened as it drifted southward. 05B weakened to a tropical depression on October 31, before dissipating on November 4.
Damage from the cyclone was tremendous. Flooding from the storm's rain was described as being the worst in 100 years as well as the worst in India's post-independence history. The storm claimed the lives of at least 9,887 people [7] and 406,000 livestock. Damages from the storm totaled to $4.44 billion (1999 USD). [8]
Tropical depression (SSHWS) | |
Duration | December 5 (Entered basin) – December 5 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 35 km/h (25 mph) (1-min); |
The remnants of this storm from the Western Pacific basin entered the Andaman Sea on December 5 but redevelopment did not occur. [9]
Depression (IMD) | |
Duration | December 8 – December 10 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 45 km/h (30 mph) (3-min); 998 hPa (mbar) |
A Tropical Depression formed in the Bay of Bengal on December 8. The depression was monitored by the IMD, not the JTWC. The depression remained out over open waters before dissipating on December 10. [10]
Name | Dates | Peak intensity | Areas affected | Damage (USD) | Deaths | Refs | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Category | Wind speed | Pressure | ||||||
BOB 01 | February 2 –5 | Severe Cyclonic storm | 95 km/h (60 mph) | 998 hPa (29.47 inHg) | Sri Lanka | None | None | |
ARB 01 | May 16 –22 | Extremely Severe Cyclonic storm | 195 km/h (120 mph) | 946 hPa (27.94 inHg) | India, Pakistan | $6 million | 6,400 | |
03B | June 8 –11 | Tropical Storm | 65 km/h (40 mph) | 997 hPa (29.12 inHg) | India | Unknown | Unknown | |
BOB 02 | June 17 –17 | Deep depression | 55 km/h (35 mph) | 986 hPa (29.12 inHg) | India | Unknown | Unknown | |
BOB 03 | July 27 –28 | Deep depression | 55 km/h (35 mph) | 990 hPa (29.23 inHg) | India | Unknown | Unknown | |
BOB 04 | August 6 –9 | Depression | 45 km/h (30 mph) | 992 hPa (29.29 inHg) | India | Unknown | Unknown | |
BOB 05 | October 15 –19 | Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm | 165 km/h (105 mph) | 968 hPa (28.59 inHg) | India, Myanmar | $1 billion | 198 | |
BOB 06 | October 25 – November 3 | Super Cyclonic Storm | 260 km/h (160 mph) | 912 hPa (26.93 inHg) | India, Thailand, Myanmar, Bangladesh | $4.44 billion | >9,887 | |
31W | December 5 | Tropical Depression | 35 km/h (25 mph) | Not specified | Myanmar, Thailand | None | None | |
BOB 07 | December 8 –10 | Depression | 45 km/h (30 mph) | 998 hPa (29.47 inHg) | India, Sri Lanka | None | None | |
Season aggregates | ||||||||
8 systems, 2 unofficial | February 2–December 10 | 260 km/h (160 mph) | 912 hPa (26.93 inHg) | $5.446 billion | >16,485 |
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 2007 North Indian Ocean cyclone season was one of the most active North Indian Ocean cyclone seasons on record. The North Indian Ocean cyclone season has no official bounds, but cyclones tend to form between April and December, with peaks in May and November. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northern Indian Ocean.
Below is a timeline of the 2007 North Indian Ocean cyclone season, documenting major events with regards to tropical cyclone formation, strengthening, weakening, landfall, extratropical transition, as well as dissipation. The 2007 North Indian Ocean cyclone season was an ongoing event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation.
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 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 1998 North Indian Ocean cyclone season was an active season in 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 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 Ocean cyclone season officially ran throughout the year during 2008, with the first depression forming on April 27. The timeline includes information that was not operationally released, meaning that information from post-storm reviews by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC), and the India Meteorological Department (IMD), such as information on a storm that was not operationally warned on. This timeline documents all the storm formations, strengthening, weakening, landfalls, extratropical transitions, as well as dissipation's during the 2008 North Indian Ocean cyclone season.
The 1994 North Indian Ocean cyclone season was a below-average year in which eight tropical cyclones affected seven countries bordering the North Indian Ocean. The India Meteorological Department tracks all tropical cyclones in the basin, north of the equator. The first system developed on March 21 in the Bay of Bengal, the first March storm in the basin since 1938. The second storm was the most powerful cyclone of the season, attaining maximum sustained winds of 215 km/h (135 mph) in the northern Bay of Bengal. Making landfall near the border of Bangladesh and Myanmar, the cyclone killed 350 people and left US$125 million in damage.
The 2009 North Indian Ocean cyclone season was an event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. The North Indian Ocean cyclone season has no official bounds, but cyclones tend to form between April and December, with 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 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.
Cyclonic Storm Rashmi was the seventh tropical cyclone of the 2008 North Indian Ocean cyclone season and second cyclonic storm, as well as the fifth tropical cyclone in the Bay of Bengal that year. A fairly weak tropical cyclone, it caused some notable damage in Bangladesh and India.
The 2010 North Indian Ocean cyclone season was one of the most active tropical cyclone season in the North Indian Ocean since 1998. The season saw 8 depressions and 5 named storms forming in the region.
The 2011 North Indian Ocean cyclone season was the least active tropical cyclone season in the North Indian Ocean since 1993. Only two cyclonic storms formed, below the average of four to six. The North Indian Ocean cyclone season has no official bounds, but cyclones tend to form between April and December, with 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 scope of this article is limited to the Indian Ocean in the Northern Hemisphere, east of the Horn of Africa and west of the Malay Peninsula. There are two main seas in the North Indian Ocean — the Arabian Sea to the west of the Indian subcontinent, abbreviated ARB by the India Meteorological Department (IMD); and the Bay of Bengal to the east, abbreviated BOB by the IMD.
The 2013 North Indian Ocean cyclone season was an event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation, in which tropical cyclones formed in the North Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea. The season had no official bounds, but cyclones typically formed between May and December, with the peak from October to November. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northern Indian Ocean.
The 2014 North Indian Ocean cyclone season was an event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. The season included two very severe cyclonic storms, both in October, and one other named cyclonic storm, classified according to the tropical cyclone intensity scale of the India Meteorological Department. Cyclone Hudhud is estimated to have caused US$3.58 billion in damage across eastern India, and more than 120 deaths.
The 2016 North Indian Ocean cyclone season was an event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. It was the deadliest season since 2010, killing more than 400 people. The season was an average one, seeing four named storms, with one further intensifying into a very severe cyclonic storm. The first named storm, Roanu, developed on 19 May while the season's last named storm, Vardah, dissipated on 18 December. 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 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.
The 1999 East India Cyclone, was the second strongest, deadliest, and costliest of the 1999 North Indian Ocean cyclone season. On October 15, a developing area of low pressure, located 220 nm northwest of the Andaman Islands began to intensify. By 1730Z a TCFA was issued and the first advisory on Tropical Storm 04B was issued at 2100Z. 04B was moving to the west-northwest at 8–12 knots as it continued to intensify. On October 17, the storm began to turn to a more northerly direction as it intensified to a cyclone. 04B underwent explosive intensification the same day and reached its peak of 140 mph at 0000Z. The storm held this intensity as it made landfall on the Odisha coastline near Gopalpur beach at around 8am. The storm began to weaken due to the interaction with land and dissipated on October 19. 04B was responsible for at least 180 fatalities and hundreds of houses and huts in low-lying areas were destroyed by flooding. Several thousand others were injured by the storm and hundreds were left homeless. The Prime Minister of India requested that relief supplies be distributed to the affected region immediately.
The 2023 North Indian Ocean cyclone season was a highly above-average and deadly season, becoming the most active since 2019, with nine depressions and six cyclonic storms forming. It was the deadliest since 2017, mostly due to Cyclone Mocha, and had the second-highest accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) in the basin, after 2019. It also had the most extremely severe cyclonic storms on record, tying with 1999 and 2019. The North Indian Ocean cyclone season has no official bounds, but cyclones tend to form between April and December, with the peak from May to November. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northern Indian Ocean. However, a cyclone can form at any time during the year shown by an unnamed depression that affected Sri Lanka in January–February.
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