The effects of the 2020 North Indian Ocean cyclone season in India was considered one of the worst in decades, largely due to Super Cyclonic Storm Amphan. Throughout most of the year, a series of cyclones impacted the country, with the worst damage occurring in May, from Cyclone Amphan. The season started with Super Cyclonic Storm Amphan, which affected East India with very severe damages. 98 total people died from the storm. Approximately 1,167 km (725 mi) of power lines of varying voltages, 126,540 transformers, and 448 electrical substations were affected, leaving 3.4 million without power. Damage to the power grid reached ₹3.2 billion (US$42 million). Four people died in Odisha, two from collapsed objects, one due to drowning, and one from head trauma. Across the ten affected districts in Odisha, 4.4 million people were impacted in some way by the cyclone. At least 500 homes were destroyed and a further 15,000 were damaged. Nearly 4,000 livestock, primarily poultry, died. The cyclone was strongest at its northeast section. The next storm was a depression that did not affect India. Then Severe Cyclonic Storm Nisarga hit Maharashtra, with high damages. Nisarga caused 6 deaths and 16 injuries in the state. Over 5,033 ha (12,435 acres) of land were damaged.
Then three depressions, BOB 02, BOB 03, and ARB 03, brought heavy rains to India. Soon after, Cyclone Nivar brought high winds and heavy rain to South India, and it costed $600 million (2020 USD). Cyclone Burevi only brushed Kerala and Tamil Nadu, only bringing rain. Flooding occurred in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, inundating the Chidambaram Nataraja Temple. Crop damage also occurred in the area. However, the state of Kerala was spared from the worst of the storm. Burevi left 11 people dead with 5 others missing as of December 6, 2020. Burevi was the last storm of the season.
Name | Dates of impact | Fatalities | Damages (Millions US$) | Maximum intensity during passage |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cyclone Amphan | May 20–21, 2020 | 98 | $13.5 billion | 169 kilometres per hour (105 mph) |
Cyclone Nisarga | June 3–4, 2020 | 6 | $803 million | 110 kilometres per hour (68 mph) |
Depression BOB 02 [nb 1] | October 13–17, 2020 | 98 | $681 million | 55–65 km/h (34–40 mph) |
Depression BOB 03 | October 23, 2020 | None | Minimal | 35 mph (56 km/h) |
Cyclone Nivar | November 25–27, 2020 | 14 | $600 million | 56 kilometres per hour (35 mph) |
Cyclone Burevi | December 4–5, 2020 | 9 | N/A | 72 kilometres per hour (45 mph) |
The only storm of the month, Amphan caused lots of damage to standing crops, thousands of trees were uprooted, and power and water supply was interrupted in the state capital Kolkata. At least 86 people died in West Bengal; [1] most of the fatalities were due to electrocution or the collapse of homes. [2] The state government estimated that the storm caused at least ₹1.02 trillion (US$13.5 billion) in damage and directly affected 70 percent of the state's population. [3] [1] [4] An estimated storm surge of 5 m (16 ft) inundated a wide swath of coastal communities and communications were severed. The greatest inundations were expected in the Sundarbans, where flooding could extend 15 km (9.3 mi) inland. [5] Embankments in the region were overtaken by the surge, leading to inundation of the islands in the Sundarbans. [6] Bridges linking islands to the Indian mainland were swept away. [7] The cyclone produced sustained winds of 112 km/h (70 mph) and gusts to 190 km/h (120 mph), which were recorded by the Alipore observatory, Kolkata, West Bengal, damaging homes and uprooting trees and electric poles. [8] Wind speed along coastal areas were measured up to 150–160 km/h (93–99 mph). In Canning a wind speed of 157 km/h (98 mph) with gusting up to 185 km/h (115 mph) was recorded, while nearby Nimpith and Sagar Island observed 155 km/h (96 mph) and 111 km/h (69 mph) wind speed. [9] The Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport recorded wind speeds up to 133 km/h (83 mph) .This overturned vehicles and snapped approximately 10,000 trees. [9] [5] [10] [11] The Calcutta Municipal Corporation stated that Amphan toppled over 4,000 electric poles, leaving much of the city without power for over 14 hours. [12] [13]
At least 19 people were killed in Kolkata. [11] The storm also triggered widespread flooding around the city. 236 mm of rain was recorded in Kolkata. [11] Many in the state have lost their entire homes as well. [14] Also, electricity and telephone lines brought down and houses flattened. [15] Lots of roads were flooded and 14 million were without power. [15] In North 24 Parganas, 2 people were killed and up to 5,500 homes were damaged. [8] Thousands of mud homes were damaged in the neighboring Hooghly district. [5] A million homes were damaged in South 24 Parganas and breached embankments led to the flooding of villages and swaths of cropland. [16] [2] About 26,000 homes were destroyed in Gosaba. Saltwater inundation affected surrounding areas following damage to 19 km (12 mi) of nearby embankments. Around 150 km from the area in Nadia, the storm caused severe damage. [11] Across West Bengal, 88,000 hectares (217,000 acres) of rice paddies and 200,000 hectares (500,000 acres) of vegetable and sesame crops were damaged. [2] 17 people died in the West Bengal State, [15] and 98 total in India. Amphan was the worst in 283 years. [17]
Nisarga caused 6 deaths and 16 injuries in Maharashtra. Over 5,033 ha (12,440 acres) of land were damaged. [18] The Government of Maharashtra put the total damage from Nisarga at Rs.60.48 billion (US$803 million), and the state required Rs11 billion (US$146 million) to recover from the damage caused by Nisarga. [19] [20] In total, Nisarga killed 6 and caused $803 million in damage.
October had three depressions: BOB 02, ARB 03, and BOB 03.
Due to BOB 02, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, Maharashtra, and coastal Karnataka experienced heavy rain on 12 and 13 October with the capital city, with Hyderabad experiencing 32 cm of record breaking torrential rain creating flash floods on the city by 13 October. [21] 2 people died in Vijayawada, and 50 people died on different parts of Telangana, including 19 in Hyderabad. [22] Additionally, twenty seven people died in Maharashtra. [23] [24] Extreme crop loss in north Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana occurred due to the system. [25] The Chief Minister of Telangana estimated ₹5,000 crore (US$681 million) worth of damage. [22] On 18 October, a second cyclone killed two more people in Hyderabad. Over 37,000 families were affected by the second flood. Rainfall reached over 110 mm (4.3 in) in parts of Hyderabad, with heavier rainfall amounts outside of the city. [26] With over 80 people having lost their lives and about 40,000 families being displaced, post rain gathering up-to 20,000 tons of waste. [27] [28] The remnants then reintensified into Depression ARB 03.
BOB 03 brought high winds and some rain to West Bengal, a state still reeling from Amphan. There were no deaths during the storm and minimal damage occurred with heavy rainfall.
The month of November contribute with Cyclone Nivar which cause significant damage in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
The Cyclone brought heavy to very heavy rains over North coastal Tamil Nadu starting 23 November 2020. Chennai received continuous downpours between 23 November and 25 November 2020 with RMC Chennai recording 163 mm (6.4 in) ending 25 November 8:30 AM IST. Chennai and other parts of North Tamil Nadu, saw gusty winds touching up to 60–70 km/h (35–45 mph) from 24 November to 25 November 2020. Several roads were closed in the area of the Greater Chennai Corporation were closed due to waterlogging. [29] Due to intense rainfall, Chembarambakkam lake have released water for the first time after five years. [30] Many areas including Madipakkam, Velachery, Adambakkam and suburbs around Tambaram and low-lying regions along the river Adyar were flooded. Rainwater entering houses was also seen in some places in the western suburbs. [31] The Greater Chennai Corporation removed uprooted trees from 223 roads. The estimates of Chennai civic officials reported that flood water entered around 40,000 homes within the borders of the corporation. [32] Five people were reported dead in Tamil Nadu. [33]
In Puducherry, trees were uprooted, electric poles were damaged and several areas were flooded as of November 26. [34] The Chief Minister of Puducherry V. Narayanasamy reported that the initial loss in agriculture and other sectors was estimated at ₹4 billion (US$54.2 million). [35]
The remnants of Cyclone Nivar caused eight people were reported dead in Andhra Pradesh. The rainfalls made significant impact on the districts of Chittoor, Prakasam, Kadapa and Nellore, 112,000 people were affected, 2,294 houses/huts were damaged, 6,133 homes were left stranded, 2,618 small animals, 88 large animals and 8,130 poultry birds were reported dead based on a preliminary evaluation. [36] In Nellore district, Paddy seedlings in 2,500 ha (6,200 acres) drowned and in Prakasam district, standing crops in 34,000 hectares were damaged. [37]
Burevi was the last storm of the season, and it brought heavy rain and torrential flooding to Southern India.
Burevi caused minimal impacts to India, but Tamil Nadu was not completely spared. In Tamil Nadu, 9 people were killed due to Burevi. [38] The Wellington Dam's water level reached above the highest flood stage. [39] Flooding isolated many villages from the capital, Chennai. The Chidambaram Nataraja Temple in the district of Cuddalore was flooded after receiving 340 mm (13.386 in) of precipitation. In Barathampattam, agricultural land was flooded, causing crop damage. [40] [41]
In Puducherry, precipitation amounts of 138 mm (5.433 in) were recorded as of December 4, 2020. In Pondicherry, the power supply of the city was briefly cut off on December 3. In the area, damage to trees, crops, and huts was reported. [42] Although Burevi brought torrential rainfall to Kerala, the worst of the cyclone missed the state. [43] [44]
The 2020 North Indian Ocean cyclone season was the costliest North Indian Ocean cyclone season in recorded history. The season cost more than $15.78 billion (2020 USD), and a total of 128 people were killed.
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 1970 North Indian Ocean cyclone season had no bounds, but tropical cyclones in the North Indian Ocean tend to form between April and December, with peaks in May and November. The 1970 season saw a total of seven cyclonic storms, of which three developed into severe cyclonic storms. The Bay of Bengal was more active than the Arabian Sea during 1970, with all of the three severe cyclonic storms in the season forming there. Unusually, none of the storms in the Arabian Sea made landfall this year. The most significant storm of the season was the Bhola cyclone, which formed in the Bay of Bengal and hit Bangladesh on November 12. The storm killed at least 500,000, making it the deadliest tropical cyclone in recorded history. The season was also the deadliest tropical cyclone season globally, with 500,805 fatalities, mostly due to the aforementioned Bhola cyclone.
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 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.
Severe Cyclonic Storm Laila was the first cyclonic storm to affect southeastern India in May since the 1990 Andhra Pradesh cyclone. The first tropical cyclone of the annual season, Laila developed on May 17, 2010 in the Bay of Bengal from a persistent area of convection. Strengthening as it tracked northwestward, it became a severe cyclonic storm on May 19. The next day, Laila made landfall in Andhra Pradesh, and it later dissipated over land. It caused flooding and damage along its path. Laila is an Urdu/Arabic name, meaning Night. It was the worst storm to hit Andhra Pradesh in the last 14 years.
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 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.
Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Vardah was the fourth cyclonic storm, as well as the most intense tropical cyclone of the 2016 North Indian Ocean cyclone season. The remnants of the system later regenerated into Depression ARB 02 in the Arabian Sea. The system struck the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, as well as South India, before later affecting Somalia.
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.
Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Ockhi was a strong tropical cyclone that devastated parts of Sri Lanka and India in 2017, and was the most intense tropical cyclone in the Arabian Sea since Cyclone Megh in 2015. The ninth depression, and the third and strongest named storm of the 2017 North Indian Ocean cyclone season, Ockhi originated from an area of low pressure that formed over the southwest Bay of Bengal on November 28. The storm organized into a Depression off southeast coast of Sri Lanka on November 29, causing damage to property and life in Sri Lanka while passing by. Due to high atmospheric moisture and warmer oceanic surface temperature between Sri Lanka and Kanyakumari in mainland India, Ockhi intensified into a cyclonic storm on November 30.
2020 was regarded as the most active tropical cyclone year on record, documenting 104 named tropical systems. During the year, 142 tropical cyclones formed in bodies of water known as tropical cyclone basins. Of these, a record-high of 104, including three subtropical cyclones in the South Atlantic Ocean and three tropical-like cyclones in the Mediterranean, were named by various weather agencies when they attained maximum sustained winds of 35 knots. The strongest storm of the year was Typhoon Goni, peaking with a pressure of 905 hPa (26.72 inHg). The deadliest storm of the year was Hurricane Eta which caused 175 fatalities and another 100+ to be missing in Central America and the US, while the costliest storm of the year was Hurricane Laura, with a damage cost around $19.1 billion in the Greater Antilles, The Bahamas, and the Gulf Coast of the United States.
Super Cyclonic Storm Amphan was an extremely powerful and catastrophic tropical cyclone that caused widespread damage in Eastern India, specifically in West Bengal and Odisha, and in Bangladesh, in May 2020. It was the strongest tropical cyclone to strike the Ganges Delta. It was a rare cyclone that lashed northern Bangladesh from Rajshahi to Rangpur in the early hours of 21 May with strong winds. It caused severe damage to mango production of Rajshahi and Rangpur. It was also the fourth super cyclone that hit West Bengal and Kolkata since 2015 as well as being one of the strongest storms to impact the area. Causing over US$13 billion of damage, Amphan is also the costliest cyclone ever recorded in the North Indian Ocean, surpassing the record held by Cyclone Nargis of 2008.
Severe Cyclonic Storm Nisarga was the strongest tropical cyclone to strike the Indian state of Maharashtra in the month of June since 1891. It was also the first cyclone to impact Raigad & Mumbai since Phyan of 2009. The third depression and second named cyclone of the 2020 North Indian Ocean cyclone season, Nisarga originated as a depression in the Arabian Sea and moved generally northward. On 2 June, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) upgraded the system to a cyclonic storm, assigning the name Nisarga. On the next day, Nisarga further intensified to a severe cyclonic storm and turned to the northeast, ultimately making landfall approximately 95 km (60 mi) south of Mumbai. Nisarga rapidly weakened once inland and dissipated on 4 June.
The following is a list of weather events that occurred on Earth in the year 2020.
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.
Cyclone Amphan was the costliest tropical cyclone ever recorded in India and the North Indian Ocean, and the strongest cyclone ever since the 1999 Odisha Cyclone. It was the first storm, and strongest of the historic 2020 North Indian Ocean cyclone season, the costliest recorded cyclone season. It made landfall in West Bengal with 100 mph winds. Within India, the storm killed 98 people, and caused $13.8 billion. Amphan produced extremely high winds that ripped roofs off houses and uprooted trees, and storm surges of 15 ft (4.6 m) in areas like Digha, West Bengal.
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.
Severe Cyclonic Storm Michaung was a moderate tropical cyclone which formed in the Bay of Bengal during the 2023 North Indian Ocean cyclone season. Michaung originated as a low-pressure area in the Gulf of Thailand which crossed into the Bay of Bengal and became a deep depression on December 2. It developed into a cyclonic storm thereafter and was named Michaung. It was the ninth depression and the sixth named cyclonic storm of the season. The cyclone gradually moved north-west over the next few days towards the eastern coast of India. The storm peaked with sustained winds of 60 knots causing heavy rainfall in north-eastern Tamil Nadu including Chennai and south-eastern Andhra Pradesh before making landfall near Bapatla in Andhra Pradesh on December 5.