Behind super cyclonic storms, extremely severe cyclonic storms are the second-highest classification on the India Meteorological Department (IMD)'s intensity scale. There have been 32 of them since reliable records began in 1960. The most recent extremely severe cyclonic storm was Cyclone Biparjoy of the 2023 North Indian Ocean cyclone season.
The North Indian Ocean tropical cyclone basin is located to the north of the Equator, and encompasses the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea, between the Malay Peninsula and the Arabian Peninsula. [1] The basin is officially monitored by the India Meteorological Department's Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre in New Delhi. [1] Within the basin, an extremely severe cyclonic storm is defined as a tropical cyclone that has 3-minute mean maximum sustained wind speeds between 90–119 knots (165–220 km/h; 105–135 mph). [1]
| Name | Dates as a tropical cyclone | Sustained wind speeds | Pressure | Areas affected | Deaths | Damage (USD) | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Two | May 18 – 29, 1963 | 195 km/h (120 mph) | 947 hPa (27.96 inHg) | No land areas | 0 | None | [2] [3] |
| Unnamed | November 1 – 11, 1966 | 205 km/h (125 mph) | 961 hPa (28.38 inHg) | [4] | |||
| Unnamed | October 21 – 28, 1968 | 195 km/h (120 mph) | 964 hPa (28.47 inHg) | [5] | |||
| Unnamed | November 7 – 8, 1969 | 165 km/h (105 mph) | 975 hPa (28.79 inHg) | Andrah Pradesh | 200 | [6] | |
| Bhola | November 8 – 13, 1970 | 185 km/h (115 mph) | 966 hPa (28.53 inHg) | India, Bangladesh | 300000 | [7] | |
| Unnamed | October 29 – 30, 1971 | 185 km/h (115 mph) | 967 hPa (28.56 inHg) | [8] | |||
| Unnamed | September 8 – 9, 1972 | 205 km/h (125 mph) | 957 hPa (28.26 inHg) | [9] | |||
| Unnamed | September 21 – 22, 1972 | 185 km/h (115 mph) | 963 hPa (28.44 inHg) | [9] | |||
| Unnamed | October 21 – 23, 1975 | 185 km/h (115 mph) | 967 hPa (28.56 inHg) | [10] | |||
| Unnamed | June 9 – 13, 1977 | 165 km/h (105 mph) | 964 hPa (28.47 inHg) | [11] | |||
| Unnamed | November 17 – 18, 1977 | 165 km/h (105 mph) | 974 hPa (28.76 inHg) | [11] | |||
| Unnamed | November 8 – 9, 1978 | 205 km/h (125 mph) | 940 hPa (27.76 inHg) | [12] | |||
| Unnamed | May 11 – 12, 1979 | 205 km/h (125 mph) | 936 hPa (27.64 inHg) | [13] | |||
| BOB 01 | May 3 – 5, 1982 | 215 km/h (130 mph) | Not Specified | Myanmar | 5 | Moderate | [14] |
| BOB 02 | June 3, 1982 | 165 km/h (105 mph) | 952 hPa (28.11 inHg) | [14] | |||
| ARB 15 | November 8, 1982 | 165 km/h (105 mph) | 962 hPa (28.41 inHg) | India | 341 | Unknown | [14] |
| BOB 06 | November 8 – 9, 1983 | 165 km/h (105 mph) | Not Specified | [14] | |||
| BOB 05 | November 12 – 14, 1984 | 215 km/h (130 mph) | Not Specified | India | ≥430 | Moderate | [14] [15] |
| BOB 06 | November 30 – December 1, 1984 | 215 km/h (130 mph) | 973 hPa (28.73 inHg) | India, Somalia | 0 | Unknown | [14] |
| BOB 07 | November 17, 1988 | 205 km/h (125 mph) | Not Specified | [14] | |||
| "Bangladesh" | November 25 – 29, 1988 | 215 km/h (130 mph) | 955 hPa (28.20 inHg) | Bangladesh, India | 6,240 | $13 million | [14] |
| Forrest | November 15 – 22, 1992 | 185 km/h (115 mph) | 952 hPa (28.11 inHg) | Bangladesh, Myanmar | 2 | Unknown | [14] [16] [17] [18] |
| BOB 02 | December 1 – 4, 1993 | 165 km/h (105 mph) | 968 hPa (28.59 inHg) | India | 70 | $216 million | [14] [19] [20] |
| "Bangladesh" | April 26 – May 2, 1994 | 215 km/h (130 mph) | 940 hPa (27.76 inHg) | Bangladesh, Myanmar | 350 | $125 million | [14] [21] [22] [23] |
| BOB 07 | November 21 – 25, 1995 | 190 km/h (115 mph) | 956 hPa (28.23 inHg) | Sumatra, Myanmar, Bangladesh | 172 | Unknown | [14] [24] [25] [26] |
| "Bangladesh" | May 14 – 20, 1997 | 165 km/h (105 mph) | 964 hPa (28.47 inHg) | Bangladesh | 1,146–1296 | Significant | [14] [27] [28] |
| "Gujarat" | June 13 – 15, 1998 | 165 km/h (105 mph) | 958 hPa (28.29 inHg) | India | 4,000–10,000 | $3 billion | [14] [29] [30] [31] |
| "Pakistan" | May 16 – 22, 1999 | 195 km/h (120 mph) | 946 hPa (27.94 inHg) | Pakistan | 700 | $6 million | [14] [32] |
| BOB 05 | October 15 – 19, 1999 | 165 km/h (105 mph) | 968 hPa (28.59 inHg) | India | >80 | Unknown | [14] [32] [33] |
| BOB 05 | November 26 – 30, 2000 | 190 km/h (115 mph) | 958 hPa (28.29 inHg) | West India, Somalia | 12 | >$12 million | [14] [34] [35] |
| "Sri Lanka" | December 23 – 28, 2000 | 165 km/h (105 mph) | 970 hPa (28.64 inHg) | Sri Lanka, India | 9 | Minimal | [36] [37] [34] [14] |
| "India" | May 21 – 28, 2001 | 215 km/h (130 mph) | 932 hPa (27.52 inHg) | Western India, Myanmar, Andaman Islands | 900 | Minimal | [14] [38] |
| "Myanmar" | May 16 – 19, 2004 | 165 km/h (105 mph) | 952 hPa (28.11 inHg) | Myanmar | 236 | $99.2 million | [14] [39] [40] [41] |
| Mala | April 24 – 30, 2006 | 185 km/h (115 mph) | 954 hPa (28.17 inHg) | Andaman Islands, Myanmar, Thailand | 37 | $6.7 million | [14] [42] [43] |
| Sidr | November 11 – 16, 2007 | 215 km/h (130 mph) | 944 hPa (27.88 inHg) | Bangladesh, West Bengal, Northeast India | 15,000 | $2.21 billion | [14] [44] [45] |
| Nargis | April 27 – May 3, 2008 | 165 km/h (105 mph) | 962 hPa (28.41 inHg) | Andaman Islands, Nicobar Islands, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Yunnan | 138 373 | $12.9 billion | [14] [46] [47] |
| Giri | October 20 – 23, 2010 | 195 km/h (120 mph) | 950 hPa (28.05 inHg) | Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Yunnan | 157 | $359 million | [14] |
| Phailin | October 8 – 14, 2013 | 215 km/h (130 mph) | 940 hPa (27.76 inHg) | Malay Peninsula, Andaman Islands, Nicobar Islands, India, Myanmar, Nepal | 45 | $4.26 billion | [14] |
| Hudhud | October 7 – 14, 2014 | 185 km/h (115 mph) | 950 hPa (28.05 inHg) | Andaman Islands, Nicobar Islands, India, Nepal | 124 | $3.58 billion | [14] |
| Nilofar | October 28 – 29, 2014 | 205 km/h (125 mph) | 950 hPa (28.05 inHg) | India, Pakistan | 0 | Minor | [14] |
| Chapala | October 30 – November 2, 2015 | 215 km/h (130 mph) | 940 hPa (27.76 inHg) | Oman, Somalia, Yemen | 9 | $100 million | [14] |
| Megh | November 8, 2015 | 175 km/h (110 mph) | 964 hPa (28.47 inHg) | Oman, Somalia, Yemen | 18 | Unknown | [14] |
| Mekunu | May 25, 2018 | 175 km/h (110 mph) | 960 hPa (28.35 inHg) | Yemen, Oman, Saudi Arabia | 26 | $1.5 billion | [48] |
| Fani | April 30 – May 3, 2019 | 215 km/h (130 mph) | 932 hPa (27.52 inHg) | Sumatra, Nicobar Islands, Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, Bhutan | 89 | $8.1 billion | [49] |
| Maha | October 30 – November 7, 2019 | 185 km/h (115 mph) | 956 hPa (28.23 inHg) | Sri Lanka, Southern India, Maldives, Western India, Oman | 0 | Minor | |
| Tauktae | May 14 – 19, 2021 | 195 km/h (120 mph) | 950 hPa (28.05 inHg) | Maldives, India, Pakistan | 174 | $1.57 billion | [50] |
| Mocha | May 9 –15, 2023 | 215 km/h (130 mph) | 938 hPa (27.70 inHg) | Bangladesh, Myanmar | 463 | $1.5 billion | [51] |
| Biparjoy | June 6 – 19, 2023 | 165 km/h (105 mph) | 958 hPa (28.29 inHg) | India, Pakistan | 17 | [52] |
In the Indian Ocean north of the equator, tropical cyclones can form throughout the year on either side of the Indian subcontinent, although most frequently between April and June, and between October and December.
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 2006 North Indian Ocean cyclone season had no 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 2004 North Indian Ocean cyclone season was the first in which tropical cyclones were officially named in the basin. Cyclone Onil, which struck India and Pakistan, was named in late September. The final storm, Cyclone Agni, was also named, and crossed into the southern hemisphere shortly before dissipation. This storm became notable during its origins and became one of the storms closest to the equator. The season was fairly active, with ten depressions forming from May to November. The India Meteorological Department designated four of these as cyclonic storms, which have maximum sustained winds of at least 65 km/h (40 mph) averaged over three minutes. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center also issued warnings for five of the storms on an unofficial basis.
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 2009 North Indian Ocean cyclone season was an average season in terms of the number of cyclonic storms, however the storms were mostly weak in nature. It was the first season since 2005 wherein a storm did not strength above severe cyclonic storm status. 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.
Cyclonic Storm Phyan developed as a tropical disturbance to the southwest of Colombo in Sri Lanka on November 4, 2009. Over the next couple of days, the disturbance gradually developed before weakening as it made landfall on Southern India on November 7. After the disturbance emerged into the Arabian Sea, it rapidly became more of a concern to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reporting early on November 9 that the disturbance had intensified into a Depression, and designated it as Depression ARB 03 whilst the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert. Later that day, the JTWC designated the system as Cyclone 04A. During the next day, the Depression turned towards the northeast the IMD reported that it had intensified into a Cyclonic Storm and named it as Phyan.
The 1961 North Indian Ocean cyclone season had no 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. 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 1962 North Indian Ocean cyclone season had 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. The IMD includes cyclones occurring between the meridians 45°E and 100°E in the season.
The 1963 North Indian Ocean cyclone season had no 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. 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 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 2020 North Indian Ocean cyclone season was the costliest North Indian Ocean cyclone season on record, mostly due to the devastating Cyclone Amphan. it was an above average season featuring 5 cyclonic storms. 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 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.
