Part of the 2021 North Indian Ocean cyclone season | |
Date | 6 – 12 November 2021 (2 years, 11 months, 3 weeks and 1 day) |
---|---|
Location | India (Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh) Sri Lanka |
Also known as | 2021 Tamil Nadu floods, India-Sri Lanka floods, Chennai floods |
Type | Flood |
Cause | Depression BOB 05 and a low pressure system associated with the Northeast monsoon |
Deaths | 41 total (16 in India; 25 in Sri Lanka) |
Property damage | Unknown |
The 2021 South India floods are a series of floods associated with Depression BOB 05 and a low pressure system that caused widespread disruption across the Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and the nearby Sri Lanka. The rainfall started on 1 November in Tamil Nadu. [1] The flooding was caused by extremely heavy downpours from BOB 05, killing at least 41 people [2] across India and Sri Lanka.
On 6 November, the IMD noted the formation of a cyclonic circulation over southeastern Bay of Bengal near Sumatra. [3] Two days later at 13:30 UTC (19:00 IST), the JTWC started tracking the same system as Invest 91B. [4] On 9 November, under the influence of the cyclonic circulation, a low-pressure area formed over the same area. [5] On the next day, it was upgraded to a well-marked low pressure area after the IMD noted the formation of a defined vortex in association with the system. [6] [7] At 15:00 UTC (21:30 IST), the IMD further upgraded it to a depression as its convective structure had improved significantly. [8] By 19:30 UTC (01:00 IST), the JTWC issued a TCFA for system. [9] At 09:00 UTC of 11 November, the JTWC declared it as a tropical cyclone and designated as 04B. According to the JTWC, this system had slightly higher wind speeds, since it peaked as a tropical storm with winds of 65 km/h (40 mph). [10] However, the system could not further intensify, due to land interaction as well as high wind shear produced by an upper tropospheric ridge. [10] [11] Between 12:00 and 13:00 UTC (17:30 and 18:30 IST), the system made landfall very close to Chennai at the same intensity, [12] and by 00:00 UTC (05:30 IST) the next day the system weakened into a well-marked low pressure area. [13] The JTWC issued its final advisory at 15:00 UTC of 11 November as it moved further inland into Tamil Nadu. [14]
Several red alerts were issued for several areas in India, including Cuddalore, Sivaganga, Ramanathapuram, Karaikal, Tiruvallur, Chennai, Kanchipuram, Chengalpattu, Viluppuram, and Tiruvannamalai for 10 to 11 November. [15] Over 11,000 were displaced in India due to BOB 05's rainfall impact. [16]
Although the cyclone didn't move across towards Kerala, it has brought heavy rainfall and delayed the withdrawal of the Northeast monsoon in the northern part of the state. Orange alert was issued in the northern districts of the state from November 12 to November 16. [17]
The state had its first bout of severe rainfall on 6 November, which the IMD attributed to a cyclonic circulation in the Bay of Bengal. This system would eventually strengthen into BOB 05. A meteorological station at the time recorded the maximum quantity of rain for the day, 23 centimetres (230 mm; 9.1 in). Rainfall totaled 21 centimetres (210 mm; 8.3 in) at both Nungambakkam and Ambattur. [18] On 8 November, the former would reach its maximum total amount of 21.5 centimetres (215 mm; 8.5 in).Due to the floods, which were extended from 8–9 November, the state issued a school holiday. By 7 November, three people had died as a result of the disaster, and two more had gone missing. Flooding also caused traffic disruptions over Chennai, and flood warnings were issued for Vellore as the Mordhana river overflowed. Due to the continuing rains, a major reservoir in the state was also expected to reach its maximum capacity. On that day, 650 families in a residential area were also rescued. Meanwhile, relief and cleanup efforts for the state's displaced citizens have begun. [19]
By 9 November, five people had died. Residents in north Chennai had to deal with knee-deep flooding, and some had already resorted to swimming pools and other available options to avoid getting wet. Central Chennai was the hardest hit in the city, as two canals and one river overflowed in the area, causing major flooding. Many people there lost their homes, and snakes were said to have been present in their homes. Flood warnings were in effect in the impacted areas, as residents expressed concern about cows wading through floodwaters throughout the storm. In addition, due to the continuing rain, Chennai has been placed on red alert. Reservoirs continued to pour water, and the Tamil Nadu Revenue and Disaster Management Minister announced that 538 huts and four houses had been damaged. School activities have also been canceled by the state administration until 9 November. [20] [2]
Due to the ongoing rain, seven more people have been added to the death toll, bringing the total to 12 on 10 November. In the Tiruchirappalli district, almost 200 acres (81 ha) 200 acres (81 hectares) of rice fields were damaged and swamped by floodwaters, while road closures and traffic detours remained in Chennai. In addition to the metropolis, the IMD has issued a red alert for Viluppuram and Cuddalore, as heavy rain is expected to persist. A toddler was killed by a wall collapse in Thanjavur district, while an elderly woman perished from electrocution in Tiruchirapalli. As a result, the state's death toll has risen to 14. Flights across Chennai were also suspended or diverted to other airports. [21]
On 11 November, the human death toll from the event remained at 16, with 157 cattle fatalities. The state police also rescued and considered dead an unconscious guy; nevertheless, he survived when he was taken to the hospital. In Chennai, around 444 residential areas were also flooded. Flood warnings were issued for the affected areas, particularly for those who live near the Arani River. BOB 05 dumped the most rain in the state, with 23 centimetres (230 mm; 9.1 in) falling in Tambaram and Chengalpattu on that day. The National Disaster Response Force teams also came in the former and Cuddalore to stabilize and aid the area's administrations for probable assistance, while southern Chennai lost power due to heavy rains on that day. As a precaution, railway services were suspended, and operations at the Madras High Court were restricted to skeletal forces. Reservoirs across the state are also seeing an uptick in water levels. In Tamil Nadu, relief operations were also deployed, and the state government formed a committee to examine the amount of crop damage as a result of the rains. [22] [23]
Areas in the state capital, Chennai, were waterlogged and government officials had to use pumps to drain communities who were stranded in waist-deep waters. [2] The storm brought the highest single day rainfall total since 2015, when it received over 49.4 centimeters (494 mm; 19.4 in) on 1 December. On 11 November 2021, Chennai received 21 centimeters (210 mm; 8.2 in) of rain. [15]
Authorities in Andhra Pradesh had to rescue stranded inhabitants in Kosasthalaiyar due to floods caused to the depression. Due to the same cause, a village was cut off from the main highways. Control centers were also established for districts around the state that could suffer excessive rainfall as a result of the system. Rainfall totaled 18 millimetres (0.71 in) at Sullurpeta, Nellore, and 14 centimetres (140 mm; 5.5 in) in Tada. At 21.6 centimetres (216 mm; 8.5 in), Chittoor received the most from the system. Due to the inclement weather, school activities were also canceled. National Disaster Response Force teams were also assigned to Nellore and Chitoor in the event of a rescue mission. The storm was said to have caused damage to the Tada-Srikalahasti route, leaving motorists stuck. Irrigation tanks were also breached. Wind warnings were issued for ports around the country, and fishermen were urged not to travel into the impacted area of the Bay of Bengal between 11 and 12 November. Several trees were also destroyed, and there was a minor landslide. [22]
Landslides injured five in the country, with flooding killing 25 people in the country. [2]
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 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.
Cyclonic Storm Nisha was a fairly weak but catastrophic tropical cyclone that struck Sri Lanka, and India which killed over 200. It was the ninth tropical cyclone of the 2008 North Indian Ocean cyclone season, and the seventh tropical cyclone in the Bay of Bengal that year.
The 2012 North Indian Ocean cyclone season was a very inactive season. The season had a very late start, with the first system forming in October. During the season, only five systems formed, of which only two became cyclonic storms. Both the storms made landfall, and they, along with the deep depressions, were responsible for 128 deaths and economic losses worth at least $56.7 million.
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 2015 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 months of 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.
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 2017 North Indian Ocean cyclone season was a below average yet deadly season in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. This season produced only three named storms, of which one only intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm. 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 season began with the formation Cyclone Maarutha on April 15 and ended with the dissipation of a deep depression on December 9.
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 2019 North Indian Ocean cyclone season was the second most active North Indian Ocean cyclone season on record in terms of cyclonic storms, the 1992 season was more active according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. The season featured 12 depressions, 11 deep depressions, 8 cyclonic storms, 6 severe cyclonic storms, 6 very severe cyclonic storms, 3 extremely severe cyclonic storms, and 1 super cyclonic storm, Kyarr, the first since Cyclone Gonu in 2007. Additionally, it also became the third-costliest season recorded in the North Indian Ocean, only behind the 2020 and 2008 seasons.
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 2021 North Indian Ocean cyclone season was an average season, the North Indian Ocean cyclone season has no official bounds, but cyclones tend to form between April and December, peaking between May and November. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northern Indian Ocean. The season began on April 2, when a depression designated as BOB 01 was formed in the north Andaman Sea and quickly made landfall in Myanmar. The basin remained quiet for over a month before Cyclone Tauktae formed. It rapidly intensified into an extremely severe cyclonic storm before making landfall in Gujarat, become the strongest storm ever to strike that state since the 1998 Gujarat cyclone. Later that month, BOB 02 formed and later strengthened into Cyclone Yaas. Yaas rapidly intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm before making landfall in northwestern Odisha. The season's strongest tropical cyclone was Cyclone Tauktae, with maximum wind speeds of 185 km/h (115 mph) and a minimum barometric pressure of 950 hPa (28.05 inHg).
The 2022 North Indian Ocean cyclone season was an event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. It was an above-average season in terms of depressions and average in terms of deep depressions, but slightly below average in terms of cyclonic storms. It was also the least deadly North Indian Ocean cyclone season since 1988, according to official data. The season's strongest tropical cyclone was Cyclone Asani, with maximum wind speeds of 100 km/h and a minimum barometric pressure of 982 hPa. 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.
Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Nivar was a tropical cyclone which brought severe impacts to portions of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh in late November 2020. The eighth depression and fourth named storm of the 2020 North Indian Ocean cyclone season, Nivar originated from a disturbance in the Intertropical Convergence Zone. The disturbance gradually organized and on 23 November, both the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that a tropical depression had formed. On the next day, both agencies upgraded the system to a tropical storm, with the latter assigning it the name Nivar. Nivar made its landfall over north coastal Tamil Nadu between Puducherry and Chennai close to Marakkanam. Overall, Nivar caused $600 million in damages.
Cyclonic Storm Burevi was a weak tropical cyclone which made landfall in Sri Lanka, becoming the first to do so since a depression in 2014, and brought minimal impact to Southern India in December 2020. The ninth depression and fifth named storm of the 2020 North Indian Ocean cyclone season, Burevi originated from a low-pressure area which formed on November 28. The system gradually became a depression on November 30, with the JTWC issuing a TCFA soon after. The depression then was upgraded into Cyclone Burevi the following day. Burevi slowly intensified reaching its peak intensity on December 2, just before making landfall in Sri Lanka. Burevi then weakened, entering the Gulf of Mannar the next day. Burevi proceeded to dissipate after stalling on December 5.
Cyclonic Storm Gulab and Severe Cyclonic Storm Shaheen were two tropical cyclones that caused considerable damage to South and West Asia during the 2021 North Indian Ocean cyclone season. Gulab impacted India and Pakistan, while Shaheen impacted Iran, Oman and the United Arab Emirates. Gulab was the third named storm of the 2021 North Indian Ocean cyclone season, as well as the fourth named storm of the season after its reformation in the Arabian Sea as Shaheen. The cyclone's origins can be traced back to a low-pressure area situated over the Bay of Bengal on September 24. The Pakistan Meteorological Department named this new cyclone Gulab. as a red rose.On September 26, Gulab made landfall in India's Andhra Pradesh and Pakistans Karachi but weakened overland, before degenerating into a remnant low on September 28. The system continued moving westward, emerging into the Arabian Sea on September 29, before regenerating into a depression early on September 30. Early on October 1, the system restrengthened into a Cyclonic Storm, which was named Shaheen. The system gradually strengthened as it entered the Gulf of Oman. While slowly moving westward, the storm turned southwestward, subsequently making an extremely rare landfall in Oman on October 3, as a Category 1-equivalent cyclone. Shaheen then rapidly weakened, before dissipating the next day.
Cyclonic Storm Jawad was a relatively very weak tropical cyclone that caused disruptions over the East India and Bangladesh while bringing heavy rainfall and strong winds over these states as a weakened system. The tenth depression, sixth deep depression and fifth cyclonic storm of the active 2021 North Indian Ocean cyclone season, its predecessor was first tracked by Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) in the South China Sea as an area of low pressure. It then moved west-northwestwards into the Gulf of Thailand, where it crossed into the Andaman Sea by December 1. Near midnight of that day, the JTWC issued a TCFA on the system and on the next day, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) upgraded the system to a depression after passing through the Nicobar Islands. Further intensification ensued as the depression tracked through environmental conditions favorable for strengthening, and the system was upgraded into a deep depression on December 3 and into a cyclonic storm by 06:00 UTC that day, with the IMD naming it Jawad. However, this intensification was short-lived, as the system weakened to a deep depression back due to wind shear.
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.
Severe Cyclonic Storm Asani was a strong tropical cyclone that made landfall in India in May 2022. It was the strongest storm of 2022 North Indian Ocean cyclone season. The third depression and deep depression, and the first named storm of the 2022 North Indian Ocean cyclone season, Asani originated from a depression that the Indian Meteorological Department first monitored on May 7. Conditions rapidly favored development as the system became a deep depression by that day before intensifying to a Cyclonic Storm Asani. On the next day it further intensified and peak to a severe cyclonic storm, before making landfall as a deep depression system over Andhra Pradesh. It degenerated into a well marked low-pressure on May 12.
Severe Cyclonic Storm Mandous was the third cyclonic storm, as well as the third most intense tropical cyclone of the 2022 North Indian Ocean cyclone season. The remnants of the system later regenerated into Deep Depression ARB 03 in the Arabian Sea. The system struck the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, as well as South India.