List of very severe cyclonic storms

A Very Severe Cyclonic Storm is the third highest category used by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to classify tropical cyclones, within the North Indian Ocean tropical cyclone basin between the Malay Peninsula and the Arabian Peninsula. Within the basin a very severe cyclonic storm is defined as a tropical cyclone that has 3-minute mean maximum sustained wind speeds of between 64–89 knots (119–165 km/h; 74–102 mph). The category was introduced alongside the Super Cyclonic Storm category during 1999 in order to replace the previously used Severe Cyclonic Storm with Core of Hurricane Winds. However, it was bifurcated during 2015, when the IMD introduced a new Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm category. There have been at least eight storms that have attained such an intensity. The most recent super cyclonic storm was Cyclone Kyarr in 2019 North Indian Ocean cyclone season.

Cyclone Yaas, shortly before landfall in Odisha on May 26 near peak intensity

Background

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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][2] The basin is officially monitored by the India Meteorological Department's Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre in New Delhi, however, other national meteorological services such as the Bangladesh and Pakistan Meteorological Department's also monitor the basin.[1][2]

The Very Severe Cyclonic Storm category was introduced during 1999 alongside Super Cyclonic Storms in order, to replace the previously used Severe Cyclonic Storm with Core of Hurricane Winds.[2] At the time it was the second-highest category with systems having 3-minute sustained wind speeds of between 64–119 kn (119–220 km/h; 74–137 mph).[2] However, during 2015 the category was bifurcated, after the IMD introduced a new Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm category. As a result, very severe cyclonic storms are currently estimated, to have 3-minute sustained wind speeds of between 64–89 kn (119–165 km/h; 74–102 mph).[1]

Systems

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Name System dates Sustained
wind speeds
Pressure Areas affected Deaths Damage
(USD)
Refs
Unnamed October 31, 1831 Not Specified Not Specified Orissa 22,000 [3]
Unnamed October 2 – 5, 1864 Not Specified Not Specified West Bengal 50,000 [3]
Unnamed April 28 – May 5, 1966 Not Specified Not Specified [4]
Unnamed October 8 – 11, 1967 155 km/h (100 mph) 980 hPa (28.94 inHg) [5]
Unnamed October 20 – 24, 1967 150 km/h (90 mph) 986 hPa (29.12 inHg) [5]
Unnamed December 4 – 8, 1967 130 km/h (80 mph) 988 hPa (29.18 inHg) [5]
Unnamed September 29 – October 4, 1968 130 km/h (80 mph) 984 hPa (29.06 inHg) [6]
Unnamed November 9 – 15, 1968 140 km/h (85 mph) 970 hPa (28.64 inHg) [6]
Unnamed May 2 – 7, 1970 150 km/h (90 mph) 975 hPa (28.79 inHg) Bangladesh, Myanmar [7]
Unnamed October 18 – 22, 1970 130 km/h (80 mph) 980 hPa (28.94 inHg) Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Bangladesh 200-300 [7]
Unnamed September 27 – October 1, 1971 120 km/h (75 mph) 979 hPa (28.91 inHg) West Bengal, Bangladesh [8]
Unnamed December 14 – 21, 1971 130 km/h (80 mph) 987 hPa (29.15 inHg) Arabia [8]
Unnamed April 7 – 11, 1972 150 km/h (90 mph) 983 hPa (29.03 inHg) [9]
Unnamed October 19 – 25, 1972 120 km/h (75 mph) 984 hPa (29.06 inHg) [9]
Unnamed November 15 – 23, 1972 150 km/h (90 mph) 985 hPa (29.09 inHg) [9]
Unnamed December 1 – 8, 1972 140 km/h (85 mph) 984 hPa (29.06 inHg) [9]
Pradeep November 3 – 9, 1973 140 km/h (85 mph) 984 hPa (29.06 inHg) [10]
Contai August 13 – 20, 1974 140 km/h (85 mph) 970 hPa (28.64 inHg) [11]
Unnamed May 1 – 11, 1975 150 km/h (90 mph) 979 hPa (28.91 inHg) [12]
Unnamed May 4 – 8, 1975 155 km/h (100 mph) 976 hPa (28.82 inHg) [12]
Mahuva May 29 – June 3, 1976 130 km/h (80 mph) 970 hPa (28.64 inHg) [13]
Contai September 8 – 19, 1976 130 km/h (80 mph) 977 hPa (28.85 inHg) [13]
Machilipatnam November 3 – 6, 1976 120 km/h (75 mph) 987 hPa (29.15 inHg) [13]
Unnamed December 28, 1976 – January 3, 1976 150 km/h (90 mph) 981 hPa (28.97 inHg) [13]
Unnamed November 8 – 12, 1977 140 km/h (85 mph) 984 hPa (29.06 inHg) [14]
Unnamed May 14 – 17, 1978 150 km/h (90 mph) 965 hPa (28.50 inHg) [15]
Unnamed September 18 - 24, 1979 130 km/h (80 mph) 980 hPa (28.94 inHg) [16]
Unnamed October 28 - November 3, 1981 120 km/h (75 mph) 983 hPa (29.03 inHg) [17]
Unnamed November 16 - 20, 1981 120 km/h (75 mph) 983 hPa (29.03 inHg) [17]
Unnamed December 4 - 11, 1981 140 km/h (85 mph) 980 hPa (28.94 inHg) [17]
BOB 01 May 21 - 26, 1985 120 km/h (75 mph) Not Specified [18][19]
BOB 01 January 30 - February 4, 1987 140 km/h (85 mph) 970 hPa (28.64 inHg) [18][20]
ARB 01 November 12 - 15, 1993 120 km/h (75 mph) 986 hPa (29.12 inHg) [18]
ARB 02 November 15 - 20, 1994 120 km/h (75 mph) 984 hPa (29.06 inHg) [18]
BOB 07 November 8 - 9, 1995 145 km/h (90 mph) 978 hPa (28.88 inHg) [18]
BOB 08 November 6, 1996 145 km/h (90 mph) 978 hPa (28.88 inHg) [18]
BOB 09 December 3 - 4, 1996 120 km/h (75 mph) 984 hPa (29.06 inHg) [18]
BOB 08 November 15, 1998 145 km/h (90 mph) 982 hPa (29.00 inHg) [18]
BOB 09 November 21 - 22, 1998 120 km/h (75 mph) 984 hPa (29.06 inHg) [18]
BOB 01 May 12 - 14, 2003 120 km/h (75 mph) 980 hPa (28.94 inHg) [18]
Phet June 2 - 4, 2010 155 km/h (100 mph) 964 hPa (28.47 inHg) [18]
Thane December 25 - 31, 2011 140 km/h (85 mph) 969 hPa (28.61 inHg) [18]
Lehar November 23 – 28, 2013 140 km/h (85 mph) 980 hPa (28.94 inHg) Malay Peninsula, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India [18]
Vardah December 6 – 13, 2016 130 km/h (80 mph) 975 hPa (28.79 inHg) Sumatra, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Thailand
Malaysia, Sri Lanka, India
[18]
Ockhi November 29 - December 6, 2017 155 km/h (100 mph) 976 hPa (28.82 inHg) Sri Lanka, South India, Western India, Maldives 137 [21]
Luban October 6 – 15, 2018 140 km/h (85 mph) 978 hPa (28.88 inHg) Yemen, Oman 14 [22]
Titli October 8 – 13, 2018 150 km/h (90 mph) 972 hPa (28.70 inHg) Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal, Bangladesh 85 [22]
Gaja November 10 – 18, 2018 130 km/h (80 mph) 976 hPa (28.82 inHg) Andaman Islands, India, Sri Lanka 46 [22]
Vayu June 10 – 17, 2019 150 km/h (90 mph) 970 hPa (28.64 inHg) Maldives, India, Pakistan, Oman [23]
Hikaa September 22 – 25, 2019 140 km/h (85 mph) 972 hPa (28.70 inHg) Western India, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen [24]
Bulbul November 5 – 11, 2019 140 km/h (85 mph) 976 hPa (28.82 inHg) Myanmar, Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Eastern India, Bangladesh
[25]
Gati November 21 – 24, 2020 140 km/h (85 mph) 976 hPa Socotra, Yemen, Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia 9 $1 million
Nivar November 23 – 27, 2020 120 km/h (75 mph) 980 hPa Sri Lanka, India 14 $600 million
Yaas May 23 – 28, 2021 130 km/h (80 mph) 972 hPa Sri Lanka, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Myanmar, India, Bangladesh 20 $2.84 billion [26]

Climatology

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Very Severe Cyclonic Storms by month.
Month Number of storms
January
1
February
0
March
0
April
1
May
7
June
2
July
0
August
1
September
5
October
7
November
16
December
8
Very Severe Cyclonic Storms by decade.
Period Number of storms
1960s
5
1970s
19
1980s
5
1990s
7
2000s
1
2010s
11
2020s
0

References

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  1. ^ a b c RA I Tropical Cyclone Committee. Tropical Cyclone Operational Plan for the Tropical Cyclone Operational Plan for the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea 2019 (PDF) (Report). World Meteorological Organization. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d Best track data of tropical cyclonic disturbances over the north Indian Ocean (PDF) (Report). India Meteorological Department. July 14, 2009. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  3. ^ a b "Historical records of 12 most devastating cyclones, which formed in the Bay of Bengal and made landfall on the East coast of India". National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project. Archived from the original on June 5, 2010. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  4. ^ India Weather Review Annual Summary — Part-C: Storms and Depressions 1966 (PDF) (Report). India Meteorological Department. 1967. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  5. ^ a b c India Weather Review Annual Summary — Part-C: Storms and Depressions 1967 (PDF) (Report). India Meteorological Department. 1969. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  6. ^ a b India Weather Review Annual Summary — Part-C: Storms and Depressions 1968 (PDF) (Report). India Meteorological Department. 1969. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  7. ^ a b India Weather Review Annual Summary — Part-C: Storms and Depressions 1970 (PDF) (Report). India Meteorological Department. 1971. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  8. ^ a b Das, P K; George, C A; Jambunathan, R. "Cyclones and Depressions of 1971 - Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea" (PDF). Mausam. 31 (3): 453–356.
  9. ^ a b c d Das, P K; George, C A; Jambunathan, R (1973). "Cyclones and Depressions of 1972 - Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea" (PDF). Mausam. 24 (4): 327–344. doi:10.54302/mausam.v24i4.5165. S2CID 247045331.
  10. ^ Alexander, George; George, C A; Jambunathan, R (1974). "Cyclones and Depressions of 1973 - Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea" (PDF). Mausam. 25 (3 & 4): 347–362. doi:10.54302/mausam.v25i3.5240. S2CID 249031839.
  11. ^ Alexander, George; George, C A; Jambunathan, R (1976). "Cyclones and Depressions of 1974 - Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea" (PDF). Mausam. 27 (2): 113–126. doi:10.54302/mausam.v27i2.2417. S2CID 246971391.
  12. ^ a b Alexander, George; George, C A; Jambunathan, R (1977). "Cyclones and Depressions of 1975 - Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea" (PDF). Mausam. 28 (1): 3–20. doi:10.54302/mausam.v28i1.2655. S2CID 246968196.
  13. ^ a b c d Alexander, George; George, C A; Jambunathan, R. "Cyclones and Depressions in the Indian Seas in 1976" (PDF). Mausam. 29 (4): 613–628.
  14. ^ Pant, P S; Ramakrishnan, A R; Jambunathan, R (1980). "Cyclones and Depressions over the Indian Seas in 1977" (PDF). Mausam. 31 (3): 337–356. doi:10.54302/mausam.v31i3.3533. S2CID 246784388.
  15. ^ Srinivasan, V; Ramakrishnan, A R; Jambunathan, R. "Cyclones and Depressions over the Indian Seas in 1978" (PDF). Mausam. 31 (4): 495–506. doi:10.54302/mausam.v31i4.3444. S2CID 246781079.
  16. ^ Mukherjee, A K; Ramakrishnan, A R; Jambunathan, R (1981). "Cyclones and Depressions over the Indian Seas in 1979" (PDF). Mausam. 32 (2): 115–126. doi:10.54302/mausam.v32i2.3398. S2CID 246848511.
  17. ^ a b c Mukherjee, A K; Ramakrishnan, A R; Jambunathan, R. "Cyclones and Depressions over Indian Seas in 1981" (PDF). Mausam. 34 (1): 1–8. doi:10.54302/mausam.v34i1.2029. S2CID 246915439.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "IMD Best track data 1982-2022" (xls). India Meteorological Department. A guide on how to read the database is available here.
  19. ^ Das, Nooton; Rao, M R M; Biswas, N C. "Cyclones and Depressions over Indian Seas and the Indian sub-continent during 1987" (PDF). Mausam. 38 (1): 1–8. doi:10.54302/mausam.v38i1.2629. S2CID 249004871.
  20. ^ Das, Nooton; Dessai, D S; Biswas, N C. "Cyclones and Depressions over Indian Seas and the Indian sub-continent during 1987" (PDF). Mausam. 40 (1): 1–8.
  21. ^ Report on Cyclonic Disturbances (Depressions and Tropical Cyclones) over North Indian Ocean in 2017 (PDF) (Report). India Meteorological Department. April 2018. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
  22. ^ a b c Report on Cyclonic Disturbances (Depressions and Tropical Cyclones) over North Indian Ocean in 2018 (PDF) (Report). India Meteorological Department. July 2019. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  23. ^ Very Severe Cyclonic Storm "Vaya" over the Arabian Sea (PDF) (Report). India Meteorological Department. July 2019. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  24. ^ Very Severe Cyclonic Storm "Hikka" over eastcentral and adjoining northeast Arabian Sea (PDF) (Report). India Meteorological Department. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  25. ^ Very Severe Cyclonic Storm "Bulbul" over the Bay of Bengal (PDF) (Report). India Meteorological Department. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  26. ^ Khanra, Sujoy; Mandal, Suman; Konar, Debashis (May 29, 2021). "Initial Cyclone Yaas damage Rs 20,000 crore, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee tells PM Modi". The Times of India. Retrieved 2021-05-29.
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