The 1996 North Indian Ocean cyclone season was an above average and extremely deadly season. it had several deadly
tropical cyclones
A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system with a low-pressure area, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain and squalls. Depending on its ...
, with over 2,000 people killed during the year. The
India Meteorological Department
India Meteorological Department (IMD) is an Indian agency of the Ministry of Earth Sciences of the Government of India. It is the principal agency responsible for meteorological observations, weather forecasting and seismology. IMD is headquar ...
(IMD) – the
Regional Specialized Meteorological Center
A Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre (RSMC) is responsible for the distribution of information, advisories, and warnings regarding the specific program they have a part of, agreed by consensus at the World Meteorological Organization as ...
for the northern
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third-largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, covering or approximately 20% of the water area of Earth#Surface, Earth's surface. It is bounded by Asia to the north, Africa to the west and Australia (continent), ...
as recognized by the
World Meteorological Organization
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for promoting international cooperation on atmospheric science, climatology, hydrology an ...
– 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
The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) is a joint United States Navy – United States Air Force command in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The JTWC is responsible for the issuing of tropical cyclone warnings in the North-West Pacific Ocean, South P ...
, which observed one additional storm. The basin is split between the
Bay of Bengal
The Bay of Bengal is the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean. Geographically it is positioned between the Indian subcontinent and the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese peninsula, located below the Bengal region.
Many South Asian and Southe ...
off the east coast of India and the
Arabian Sea
The Arabian Sea () is a region of sea in the northern Indian Ocean, bounded on the west by the Arabian Peninsula, Gulf of Aden and Guardafui Channel, on the northwest by Gulf of Oman and Iran, on the north by Pakistan, on the east by India, and ...
off the west coast. During the year, the activity was affected by the
monsoon
A monsoon () is traditionally a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation but is now used to describe seasonal changes in Atmosphere of Earth, atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with annu ...
season, with most storms forming in June or after October.
The first system originated on May 7 in the
Bay of Bengal
The Bay of Bengal is the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean. Geographically it is positioned between the Indian subcontinent and the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese peninsula, located below the Bengal region.
Many South Asian and Southe ...
, which is the body of water east of India; the storm developed in tandem with
a storm in the southern hemisphere, and ultimately struck
Bangladesh
Bangladesh, officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, eighth-most populous country in the world and among the List of countries and dependencies by ...
. Three storms formed in June.
The first struck Oman and later caused devastating flooding in
Yemen
Yemen, officially the Republic of Yemen, is a country in West Asia. Located in South Arabia, southern Arabia, it borders Saudi Arabia to Saudi Arabia–Yemen border, the north, Oman to Oman–Yemen border, the northeast, the south-eastern part ...
, killing 338 people and causing $1.2 billion in damage. The other two storms struck opposite sides of India, collectively resulting in 226 deaths after causing widespread flooding. After a brief land depression in July and a weak depression in early October, the season featured four notable cyclones beginning in late October. A
low-pressure area moved across southern India, killing 388 people before taking an unusual track in the Arabian Sea. At the end of October, a deep depression killed 14 people in Bangladesh. The
strongest cyclone of the season was also the deadliest, killing 1,077 people when it struck
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh (ISO 15919, ISO: , , AP) is a States and union territories of India, state on the East Coast of India, east coast of southern India. It is the List of states and union territories of India by area, seventh-largest state and th ...
in early November. The final storm of the season executed a rare loop in the Bay of Bengal before weakening and striking southern India in early December, killing seven.
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Season summary
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from:11/06/2013 till:12/06/2013 color:TS text:" 02A (CS)"
from:12/06/2013 till:16/06/2013 color:TS text:"BOB 02 (CS)"
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from:01/05/2013 till:31/05/2013 text:May
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from:01/07/2013 till:31/07/2013 text:July
from:01/08/2013 till:31/08/2013 text:August
from:01/09/2013 till:30/09/2013 text:September
from:01/10/2013 till:31/10/2013 text:October
from:01/11/2013 till:30/11/2013 text:November
from:01/12/2013 till:31/12/2013 text:December
During the season, the IMD used satellite imagery and surface data to assess and predict storms. The agency also utilized a
tropical cyclone forecast model
A tropical cyclone forecast model is a computer program that uses meteorology, meteorological data to weather forecasting, forecast aspects of the future state of tropical cyclones. There are three types of models: statistical, dynamical, or c ...
that used climatology and a storm's persistence to forecast future movement. Warnings and advisories were broadcast throughout India by telegraph and news media.
The basin's activity is sub-divided between the
Arabian Sea
The Arabian Sea () is a region of sea in the northern Indian Ocean, bounded on the west by the Arabian Peninsula, Gulf of Aden and Guardafui Channel, on the northwest by Gulf of Oman and Iran, on the north by Pakistan, on the east by India, and ...
and the
Bay of Bengal
The Bay of Bengal is the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean. Geographically it is positioned between the Indian subcontinent and the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese peninsula, located below the Bengal region.
Many South Asian and Southe ...
on opposite coasts of India, and is generally split before and after the
monsoon
A monsoon () is traditionally a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation but is now used to describe seasonal changes in Atmosphere of Earth, atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with annu ...
season.
The IMD tracked nine tropical disturbances, including one that developed over land, which is below average of 13 systems. Five of the storms formed from October to December, after the end of the
monsoon
A monsoon () is traditionally a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation but is now used to describe seasonal changes in Atmosphere of Earth, atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with annu ...
season. In general, storms moved slower than average, and two of the cyclones took unusual tracks near land – one executed a rare loop in the Bay of Bengal, and another turned abruptly away from the Indian state of
Gujarat
Gujarat () is a States of India, state along the Western India, western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the List of states and union territories ...
.
According to the JTWC, activity in the basin was 60% greater than average, with eight tropical cyclones. Four of these storms attained
hurricane intensity – winds of at least – which was a record at the time.
During June, a series of storms affected India in the height of the monsoon season.
Two storms on opposite sides of the country contributed to the northward progression of the monsoon.
Continued rainfall from the monsoon led to additional flooding. As of July 24, flooding from widespread rains had killed 731 people across India. The floods also wrecked 368,420 houses and ruined of crop fields. The monsoon became reestablished over open waters on October 9, spawning two storms in the basin that month.
There were two simultaneous storms on opposite sides of India in October, which would not happen again until
May 2010.
Systems
Deep Depression BOB 01 (01B)
In early May, a
westerly wind burst spawned two disturbances on both sides of the equator in the eastern Indian Ocean, in association with the
monsoon trough
The monsoon trough is a convergence zone between the wind patterns of the southern and northern hemispheres. It is a portion of the Intertropical Convergence Zone in the Western Pacific,Bin WangThe Asian Monsoon.Retrieved 2008-05-03. and is dep ...
. The system in the southern hemisphere eventually became
Tropical Storm Jenna, while the system in the northern hemisphere developed an area of
convection
Convection is single or Multiphase flow, multiphase fluid flow that occurs Spontaneous process, spontaneously through the combined effects of material property heterogeneity and body forces on a fluid, most commonly density and gravity (see buoy ...
about northwest of
Sumatra
Sumatra () is one of the Sunda Islands of western Indonesia. It is the largest island that is fully within Indonesian territory, as well as the list of islands by area, sixth-largest island in the world at 482,286.55 km2 (182,812 mi. ...
. This disturbance moved generally northward,
and initially remained disorganized; the thunderstorms were removed from the circulation.
However, the JTWC issued a
Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert
A Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (TCFA) is a bulletin released by the U.S. Navy-operated Joint Typhoon Warning Center in Honolulu, Hawaii or the Fleet Weather Center in Norfolk, Virginia, warning of the possibility of a tropical cyclone formi ...
(TCFA) on May 5 once the system became better organized amid low
wind shear
Wind shear (; also written windshear), sometimes referred to as wind gradient, is a difference in wind speed and/or direction over a relatively short distance in the atmosphere. Atmospheric wind shear is normally described as either vertical ...
. Rounding the periphery of a
ridge
A ridge is a long, narrow, elevated geomorphologic landform, structural feature, or a combination of both separated from the surrounding terrain by steep sides. The sides of a ridge slope away from a narrow top, the crest or ridgecrest, wi ...
, the system turned to the northeast. Based on the appearance on satellite imagery, the JTWC classified the system as Tropical Cyclone 01B at 00:00
UTC
Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) is the primary time standard globally used to regulate clocks and time. It establishes a reference for the current time, forming the basis for civil time and time zones. UTC facilitates international communica ...
on May 7.
Three hours later, the IMD classified the system as a depression about south of
Kolkata
Kolkata, also known as Calcutta ( its official name until 2001), is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of West Bengal. It lies on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River, west of the border with Bangladesh. It is the primary ...
.
The storm intensified further while moving toward southeastern
Bangladesh
Bangladesh, officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, eighth-most populous country in the world and among the List of countries and dependencies by ...
. The JTWC upgraded it to a tropical storm,
while the IMD upgraded it to a deep depression.
Around 00:00 UTC on May 8, the storm made
landfall
Landfall is the event of a storm moving over land after being over water. More broadly, and in relation to human travel, it refers to 'the first land that is reached or seen at the end of a journey across the sea or through the air, or the fact ...
along
Cox's Bazar District
Cox's Bazar District () is a district in the Chittagong Division of Bangladesh.
It is named after Cox's Bazar town. It is located south of Chittagong. Cox's Bazar is also known by the names ''Panowa'' ("yellow flower") and ''Palongkee''. T ...
. Quickly weakening over land, the system dissipated over northern
Myanmar
Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; and also referred to as Burma (the official English name until 1989), is a country in northwest Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia and has ...
later that day.
The system brought rainfall to southeastern India and Bangladesh.
Kalapara Upazila
Kalapara Upazila (, also known as Khepupara () is an upazila of Patuakhali District in the Division of Barisal, Bangladesh.
History
The Rakhine tribe of Bangladesh first settled in this upazila. A section of the people belonging to the Buddhist R ...
in the latter country recorded of precipitation on May 7. A station in Cox's Bazar recorded peak winds of .
The storm produced high tides that flooded villages on the coast, while one girl was swept away by high waves. High winds knocked down trees and houses. There were 140 fishermen missing following the storm on 10 boats.
Tropical Storm 02A
On May 31, a weak circulation persisted over the warm waters of the
Gulf of Aden
The Gulf of Aden (; ) is a deepwater gulf of the Indian Ocean between Yemen to the north, the Arabian Sea to the east, Djibouti to the west, and the Guardafui Channel, the Socotra Archipelago, Puntland in Somalia and Somaliland to the south. ...
. It moved east-northeastward along the coast of Yemen and Oman, bringing dry air from the north which decreased the convection. The system moved farther offshore on June 7 into the open Arabian Sea, where it interacted with the south-west monsoon and developed more convection.
The convection became more persistent by June 9 about northeast of Somalia by June 9.
Moving northwestward, the system organized enough for the JTWC to classify it as Tropical Cyclone 02A about from the
Oman
Oman, officially the Sultanate of Oman, is a country located on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula in West Asia and the Middle East. It shares land borders with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Oman’s coastline ...
coastline.
This marked the first occasion that a
tropical cyclone originated from a system in the Gulf of Aden.
Later on June 11, it struck Oman's southeast coast. The storm weakened over land, dissipating on June 12,
although it continued to produce rainfall – heavy at times – over the next few days.
The IMD did not track the system.
Offshore Oman, the storm's rough waves disabled an oil tanker and damaged a fishing boat, killing one person in the latter incident. Striking Oman, the storm produced significant rainfall totals well above the monthly average, peaking at in the
Dhofar region. Strong winds where the storm moved ashore damaged buildings and the local water plant. The rains washed out roads and isolated villages, killing two people due to drowning in
Al-Ghubra
Al Ghubra (also Al-Ghubrah or Ghubrah; Arabic: الغبرة) is a suburb of Muscat, the capital city of the Sultanate of Oman
Oman, officially the Sultanate of Oman, is a country located on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula in ...
.
However, the effects were more severe in Yemen, where the floods were considered the worst on record.
The storm produced the heaviest rainfall in 70 years, reaching in
Ma'rib
Marib (; Old South Arabian: 𐩣𐩧𐩨/𐩣𐩧𐩺𐩨 ''Mryb/Mrb'') is the capital city of Marib Governorate, Yemen. It was the capital of the ancient kingdom of '' Sabaʾ'' (), which some scholars believe to be the ancient Sheba of bibl ...
.
Flood waters washed away or damaged of roads and 21 bridges, some of them dating back 2,000 years to the
Roman era
In modern historiography, ancient Rome is the Roman people, Roman civilisation from the founding of Rome, founding of the Italian city of Rome in the 8th century BC to the Fall of the Western Roman Empire, collapse of the Western Roman Em ...
.
The storm washed away the
topsoil
Topsoil is the upper layer of soil. It has the highest concentration of organic matter and microorganisms and is where most of the Earth's biological soil activity occurs.
Description
Topsoil is composed of mineral particles and organic mat ...
or otherwise wrecked of crop fields, accounting for US$100 million in agriculture damage.
At least 1,820 houses were destroyed,
many of them built on
wadi
Wadi ( ; ) is a river valley or a wet (ephemerality, ephemeral) Stream bed, riverbed that contains water only when heavy rain occurs. Wadis are located on gently sloping, nearly flat parts of deserts; commonly they begin on the distal portion ...
s, or dry river beds.
Overall damage was estimated at US$1.2 billion,
and there were 338 deaths in Yemen.
The
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans and Grant (money), grants to the governments of Least developed countries, low- and Developing country, middle-income countries for the purposes of economic development ...
assisted in a project to rebuild the damaged infrastructure in Yemen and to mitigate against future floods.
Cyclonic Storm BOB 02 (03B)
On June 9, a disturbance began forming within the monsoon trough off the southeast coast of India.
Inflow
Inflow may refer to:
* Inflow (hydrology), the water entering a body of water
* Inflow (meteorology)
Inflow is the flow of a fluid into a large collection of that fluid. Within meteorology, inflow normally refers to the influx of warmth and mo ...
from the south helped the system organize,
and the convection became more defined on June 11. At 06:00 UTC the next day, the JTWC classified the system as Tropical Cyclone 03B,
and three hours later the IMD classified it as a depression.
A ridge to the east initially steered the system to the northwest, although an approaching
trough
Trough may refer to:
In science
* Trough (geology), a long depression less steep than a trench
* Trough (meteorology), an elongated region of low atmospheric pressure
* Trough (physics), the lowest point on a wave
* Trough level (medicine), the l ...
turned it to the northeast, parallel to the coastline.
Early on June 13, the JTWC assessed peak 1-minute winds of ,
and on the next day, the IMD upgraded the system to a cyclonic storm. Both the intensity and the track were unusual for the month of June. At 00:00 UTC on June 16, the IMD estimated peak 3-minute winds of , around which time the storm turned back to the northwest. Five hours later, the storm made landfall near
Visakhapatnam
Visakhapatnam (; List of renamed places in India, formerly known as Vizagapatam, and also referred to as Vizag, Visakha, and Waltair) is the largest and most populous metropolitan city in the States and union territories of India, Indian stat ...
, Andhra Pradesh, and it rapidly weakened into a remnant low.
The JTWC continued tracking the remnants until June 18 when the system was over
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh (; ; ) is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and the largest city is Indore, Indore. Other major cities includes Gwalior, Jabalpur, and Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, Sagar. Madhya Pradesh is the List of states and union te ...
.
About 3,000 people evacuated ahead of the storm in Andhra Pradesh.
When the storm struck the state, the highest winds on land were around . However, the most severe effects were due to heavy rainfall, in part due to the storm's interaction with the monsoon.
Chennai
Chennai, also known as Madras (List of renamed places in India#Tamil Nadu, its official name until 1996), is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Tamil Nadu by population, largest city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost states and ...
in northeastern
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is the southernmost States and union territories of India, state of India. The List of states and union territories of India by area, tenth largest Indian state by area and the List of states and union territories of Indi ...
recorded on June 14, breaking the 100 year old record for the greatest June daily rainfall total.
Three people died near the city after the rains flooded streets. The highest daily rainfall was in
Khammam district
Khammam district is a district in the eastern region of the Indian state of Telangana. The city of Khammam is the district headquarters. The district shares boundaries with Suryapet district, Suryapet, Mahabubabad district, Mahabubabad, Bhadra ...
in
Telangana
Telangana is a States and union territories of India, state in India situated in the Southern India, south-central part of the Indian subcontinent on the high Deccan Plateau. It is the List of states and union territories of India by area, ele ...
. Widespread areas in Andhra Pradesh received over of precipitation,
locally peaking at ,
causing flooding that breached reservoirs and damaged 3,833 canals.
In
Madanapalle
Madanapalle is a city in Annamayya district and Rajampet Lok Sabha constituency of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is a Selection Grade Municipality and largest City in Annamayya District. Madanapalle is headquarters of Madanapalle Man ...
, flood waters reached deep, forcing 1,500 people to leave their homes.
The floods also damaged of crop fields,
with damage to bananas, coconuts, and mangroves.
The storm damaged or destroyed 1,594 homes,
leaving over 3,000 families homeless.
Overall damage was estimated at
RS$820 million (US$23.5 million) in Andhra Pradesh, and there were 68 deaths in the state,
mostly due to
flash flood
A flash flood is a rapid flooding of low-lying areas: washes, rivers, dry lakes and depressions. It may be caused by heavy rain associated with a severe thunderstorm, hurricane, or tropical storm, or by meltwater from ice and snow. Flash f ...
ing.
Elsewhere in India, the storm killed 111 people, including 44 in Tamil Nadu where 18 boats were damaged or missing.
In some areas, the rains helped end a drought.
After the storm passed, the Andhra Pradesh government provided each family RS$1,000 (US$30) if their house was destroyed, and RS$100,000 (US$3,000) if they lost a family member.
Severe Cyclonic Storm ARB 01 (04A)
While the previous storm was paralleling the east Indian coastline, another disturbance formed off the west coast on June 15, also associated with the monsoon. The new area of convection persisted,
developing a distinct circulation by the next day. Early on June 17, a depression developed about west of
Mumbai
Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial capital and the most populous city proper of India with an estimated population of 12 ...
.
At 18:00 UTC that day, the JTWC classified it as Tropical Cyclone 04A, after the wind field became more defined.
The system moved to the northeast within the influence of the monsoon, and quickly intensified due to an
anticyclone
A high-pressure area, high, or anticyclone, is an area near the surface of a planet where the atmospheric pressure is greater than the pressure in the surrounding regions. Highs are middle-scale meteorological features that result from interpl ...
aloft providing favorable conditions.
On June 18, the IMD upgraded the system to a cyclonic storm, and further to a severe cyclonic storm by 18:00 UTC that day. At 23:00 UTC, the storm made landfall on
Gujarat
Gujarat () is a States of India, state along the Western India, western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the List of states and union territories ...
near
Diu, only the fourth cyclone since 1891 to strike the state in June. An hour later the IMD assessed peak 3-minute winds of , based on the appearance of an
eye feature.
Meanwhile, the JTWC assessed slightly stronger 1-minute winds of , equivalent to a minimal hurricane.
The storm turned northward and slowly weakened, degenerating into a remnant low over
Rajasthan
Rajasthan (; Literal translation, lit. 'Land of Kings') is a States and union territories of India, state in northwestern India. It covers or 10.4 per cent of India's total geographical area. It is the List of states and union territories of ...
on June 20 before being swept up by an approaching trough.
The storm moved ashore with a high
storm surge
A storm surge, storm flood, tidal surge, or storm tide is a coastal flood or tsunami-like phenomenon of rising water commonly associated with low-pressure weather systems, such as cyclones. It is measured as the rise in water level above the ...
, estimated at in
Bharuch
Bharuch () is a city at the mouth of the river Narmada in Gujarat in western India. Bharuch is the administrative headquarters of Bharuch District.
The city of Bharuch and surroundings have been settled since times of antiquity. It was a shi ...
. Winds reached in
Veraval
Somnath, also known as Veraval, is a city and the headquarters of Gir Somnath district in the Indian States and territories of India, state of Gujarat. Somnath temple, a place of pilgrimage due to its importance as one of the 12 Jyotirlinga si ...
, while heavy rainfall spread across the region, totaling over in some parts of Gujarat.
South of the landfall point, high winds and waves washed 10 boats ashore near Mumbai, forcing the crews to be rescued by helicopters.
The storm disrupted wheat production and port operations in western India.
In Gujarat, the storm uprooted trees and damaged of crop fields, with 2,113 cattle killed between Gujarat and neighboring
Maharashtra
Maharashtra () is a state in the western peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau. It is bordered by the Arabian Sea to the west, the Indian states of Karnataka and Goa to the south, Telangana to th ...
to the south.
The storm damaged 41,134 houses in the two states,
and overall damage was estimated at RS$196 million (US$5.6 million). There were 47 deaths related to the cyclone.
Depression LAND 01
Toward the end of July, a well-defined low-pressure area developed in the northwest Bay of Bengal. It moved onshore and developed into a depression over southeastern India near
Daltonganj
Medininagar, formerly Daltonganj, is a city and municipal corporation in Palamu district in the Indian state of Jharkhand. It is also the administrative headquarter of Palamu district and divisional headquarters of Palamu division, as well a ...
on July 26. Turning to the west, the system moved through central India, bringing heavy rainfall along its path. The system degenerated into a remnant low on July 28 over Rajasthan, and the next day was absorbed by the monsoon trough.
Depression BOB 03
On October 1, a depression formed in the western Bay of Bengal. Moving westward, it failed to intensify beyond . Around 00:00 UTC on October 2, the system made landfall near
Ongole
Ongole (), natively known as Ongolu, is a city in Prakasam district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is the headquarters of Prakasam district. It is known for Ongole cattle, an indigenous breed of oxen.
Etymology
The name 'Ongole' i ...
, Andhra Pradesh. Later that day the system degenerated into a remnant low over
Karnataka
Karnataka ( ) is a States and union territories of India, state in the southwestern region of India. It was Unification of Karnataka, formed as Mysore State on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, States Re ...
state. It turned northward and moved through central India, bringing widespread heavy rainfall along its path. Eventually it turned to the northeast, dissipating over the
Himalayas
The Himalayas, or Himalaya ( ), is a mountain range in Asia, separating the plains of the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau. The range has some of the Earth's highest peaks, including the highest, Mount Everest. More than list of h ...
on October 5.
In southern India, the storm wrecked houses, while flash flooding swept away people into rivers. At least 22 people were killed in the country.
Severe Cyclonic Storm ARB 02 (05A)
Described by the JTWC as having "one of the most unusual tracks in North Indian Ocean cyclone history",
the storm originated as an area of convection that formed on October 14 in the southern Bay of Bengal. Moving westward, it struck near Chennai on October 17 as a well-defined
low-pressure area
In meteorology, a low-pressure area (LPA), low area or low is a region where the atmospheric pressure is lower than that of surrounding locations. It is the opposite of a high-pressure area. Low-pressure areas are commonly associated with incle ...
. It crossed southern India and emerged into the Arabian Sea on October 20. 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. The IMD estimated peak 3-minute winds of , and the JTWC estimated peak 1-minute winds of . On October 25, the storm abruptly stalled and weakened offshore 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
Somalia, officially the Federal Republic of Somalia, is the easternmost country in continental Africa. The country is located in the Horn of Africa and is bordered by Ethiopia to the west, Djibouti to the northwest, Kenya to the southwest, th ...
.
In southern India, the storm dropped heavy rainfall that caused severe flooding in Andhra Pradesh.
At least 112 reservoirs or dams were breached,
killing 200 people in
Prakasam district
Prakasam district is one of the twelve districts in the coastal Andhra region of the States and union territories of India, Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It was formed in 1970 and reorganised on 4 April 2022. The headquarters of the district is ...
.
The waters ruined about of crop fields and damaged about 53,000 houses, leaving thousands homeless and forcing 100,000 people to leave their homes.
The floods killed 388 people in southern India and caused US$128.5 million in damage.
The storm later brushed the west coast of India, stranding 50 boats.
Deep Depression BOB 04 (06B)
The monsoon trough produced an area of convection south of the
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands is a union territory of India comprising 572 islands, of which only 38 are inhabited. The islands are grouped into two main clusters: the northern Andaman Islands and the southern Nicobar Islands, separated by a ...
on October 21. Located south of a ridge, the system moved westward through an area of hostile wind shear, which prevented quick development by displacing the circulation east of the convection.
The JTWC issued a TCFA on October 22 once it appeared the shear was decreasing, although the system did not organize initially. After the convection became more defined, the JTWC classified the system as Tropical Cyclone 06B on October 25 in the central Bay of Bengal.
An approaching trough from the west weakened the ridge, allowing the storm to turn to the north and later northeast.
The IMD classified the system as a depression on October 27, and later that day estimated peak 3-minute winds of , making it a deep depression.
The JTWC assessed a higher intensity of . Accelerating northeastward, the storm made landfall near the border of India and Bangladesh around 18:00 UTC on October 28.
Moving through Bangladesh, the system quickly weakened and degenerated into a remnant low on October 29 over the Indian state of
Assam
Assam (, , ) is a state in Northeast India, northeastern India, south of the eastern Himalayas along the Brahmaputra Valley, Brahmaputra and Barak River valleys. Assam covers an area of . It is the second largest state in Northeast India, nor ...
.
Ahead of the storm, the government of Bangladesh evacuated about 500,000 people, with the assistance of 32,000 people helping spread word of the storm to coastal villages. Boats were advised to return to port. As the cyclone moved ashore, it produced heavy rains and winds,
along with a
storm surge
A storm surge, storm flood, tidal surge, or storm tide is a coastal flood or tsunami-like phenomenon of rising water commonly associated with low-pressure weather systems, such as cyclones. It is measured as the rise in water level above the ...
. Heavy rainfall caused disruptions and flooding in
Kolkata
Kolkata, also known as Calcutta ( its official name until 2001), is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of West Bengal. It lies on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River, west of the border with Bangladesh. It is the primary ...
in eastern India.
In Bangladesh, flooding drowned thousands of cattle in
Chittagong
Chittagong ( ), officially Chattogram, (, ) (, or ) is the second-largest city in Bangladesh. Home to the Port of Chittagong, it is the busiest port in Bangladesh and the Bay of Bengal. The city is also the business capital of Bangladesh. It ...
and damaged of crop fields.
The storm wrecked about 15,000 thatch huts across the country. About 400 houses were destroyed in
Barisal District
Barisal District, officially Barishal District () is a district in south-central Bangladesh, it was formerly called Bakerganj district, and established in 1797. Its headquarters is in Barisal city, which is also the headquarters of Barisal ...
, leaving thousands homeless.
Three children were killed in
Khulna
Khulna (, ) is the third-largest city in Bangladesh, after Dhaka and Chittagong. It is the administrative centre of the Khulna District and the Khulna Division. It is the divisional centre of 10 districts of the division. Khulna is also the seco ...
after their house collapsed. At least 14 people were killed and over 2,000 people were injured, with 100 fishermen left missing after their boats were wrecked.
Two fishermen seeking shelter were accidentally shot and killed by members of the Bangladesh navy, who thought the fishermen were pirates.
Very Severe Cyclonic Storm BOB 05 (07B)
After a
tropical depression
A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system with a low-pressure area, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain and squalls. Depending on its locat ...
from the Western Pacific dissipated over Myanmar, another disturbance formed in the extreme eastern Bay of Bengal on November 1. It moved westward due to a ridge to the north, slowly organizing. On November 4, the IMD classified the system as a depression, although the JTWC had classified it as Tropical Cyclone 07B a day prior. The storm quickly organized and developed a well-defined
eye
An eye is a sensory organ that allows an organism to perceive visual information. It detects light and converts it into electro-chemical impulses in neurons (neurones). It is part of an organism's visual system.
In higher organisms, the ey ...
. On November 6, the cyclone struck about south of
Kakinada
Kakinada (; formerly known as Cocanada) is a Port, port city and municipal corporation in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Situated along the Bay of Bengal, it serves as the headquarters of Kakinada district and is a prominent economic and c ...
, Andhra Pradesh at peak intensity. The IMD estimated peak winds of , while the JTWC assessed peak winds of . Soon after
landfall
Landfall is the event of a storm moving over land after being over water. More broadly, and in relation to human travel, it refers to 'the first land that is reached or seen at the end of a journey across the sea or through the air, or the fact ...
, the cyclone weakened and dissipated by November 7.
Ahead of the storm, about 225,000 families evacuated,
although many towns lacked proper storm shelters. When the cyclone made landfall, it produced strong winds up to inland, dropped of rainfall across a region, and flooded over 250 villages along portion of the coast.
About 70% of the overall damage was in
East Godavari district
East Godavari is a district in the Coastal Andhra region of Andhra Pradesh, India. Its district headquarters is at Rajamahendravaram.
Geography
This district is surrounded by:
* North East: Alluri Sitharama Raju district
* North West: Eluru ...
,
where two villages were entirely destroyed.
The storm destroyed of crops and killed millions of cattle and chicken.
Across Andhra Pradesh, the storm damaged 647,554 houses, including over 10,000 that were destroyed. Overall damage totaled RS$21.5 billion (US$602 million),
comparable to a
cyclone in 1977 that also hit Andhra Pradesh. There were 1,077 confirmed deaths with many others missing, although many of the dead were washed into the sea and were unlikely to be found.
After the storm, the government and local
Red Cross
The organized International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is a Humanitarianism, humanitarian movement with approximately 16million volunteering, volunteers, members, and staff worldwide. It was founded to protect human life and health, to ...
chapters helped residents recover from the damage,
while the
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans and Grant (money), grants to the governments of Least developed countries, low- and Developing country, middle-income countries for the purposes of economic development ...
provided money to better prepare Andhra Pradesh for future storms.
Very Severe Cyclonic Storm BOB 06 (08B)
Originating from the monsoon trough, a well-defined circulation persisted on November 26 near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, accompanied by a poorly defined area of convection.
It formed in an area of moderate wind shear,
allowing the system to slowly organize while moving to the west-northwest.
Both the IMD and the JTWC initiated warnings on November 28, the latter classifying it as Tropical Cyclone 08B.
On November 29, the storm turned to the north and east, beginning a four-day loop in the central Bay of Bengal; the JTWC noted that it was the longest-lasting loop on record in the body of water.
During this time, the system remained weak, never intensifying beyond deep depression status.
A strengthening ridge to the north turned the storm back to the west on November 30 into an area of lighter wind shear.
On December 2, the system intensified into a cyclonic storm and eventually to a very severe cyclonic storm on the next day, with the IMD estimating peak 3-minute winds of .
The JTWC upgraded the system to the equivalent of a hurricane on December 4, estimating peak 1-minute winds of .
Increased wind shear decoupled the convection from the center; the thunderstorms continued to the west-northwest and struck Andhra Pradesh, while the circulation turned southwestward. Weakening further, the system made landfall on Tamil Nadu between Chennai and
Pondicherry
Pondicherry, officially known as Puducherry, is the Capital city, capital and most populous city of the Puducherry (union territory), Union Territory of Puducherry in India. The city is in the Puducherry district on the southeast coast of Indi ...
around 16:00 UTC on December 6. It rapidly weakened over land, dissipating the next day.
Ahead of the storm, about 200,000 people evacuated the Indian coastline and Very Heavy downpour stuck Tirupati and Chennai, following the damaging cyclone that struck Andhra Pradesh a month earlier. Officials used buses and trucks to transport residents in nearly 500 villages. Officials warned fishermen not to go out to sea during the storm. To prevent accidents, workers closed roads and shut off power ahead of the storm. Two people died in Andhra Pradesh while the storm was still offshore, one due to a house collapsing and the other due to a fallen tree. Heavy rainfall related to the cyclone killed two people before the system moved ashore. The storm dropped heavy rainfall in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Winds in Chennai reached ,
strong enough to knock down trees and cause accidents; one motorist was killed by a tree near
Chennai Airport
Chennai International Airport is an international airport serving the city of Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu, India. It is located in Tirusulam in Chengalpattu district, in the Greater Chennai Metropolitan Area around southwest of the ...
.
Overall, the storm resulted in seven fatalities.
See also
*
1996 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1996 Atlantic hurricane season had the most major hurricanes since 1950, which are Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson scale. The season was above-average, featuring a total of thirteen named storms, nine hurricanes, and six m ...
*
1996 Pacific hurricane season
The 1996 Pacific hurricane season had below normal tropical cyclone activity, producing 9 tropical storms, of which 5 became hurricanes, with 2 of those intensifying into major hurricanes. With an Accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) index of 53.9, ...
*
1996 Pacific typhoon season
The 1996 Pacific typhoon season was an above average season, producing 30 tropical storms, 16 typhoons and six super typhoons. It has no official bounds; it ran year-round in 1996, but most tropical cyclones tend to form in the northwestern Paci ...
* South-West Indian Ocean cyclone seasons:
1995–96,
1996–97
* Australian region cyclone seasons:
1995–96,
1996–97
* South Pacific cyclone seasons:
1995–96,
1996–97
Notes
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:1996 North Indian Ocean Cyclone Season