| 2014 North Indian Ocean cyclone season | |
|---|---|
 Season summary map | |
| Seasonal boundaries | |
| First system formed | January 4, 2014 |
| Last system dissipated | November 8, 2014 |
| Strongest storm | |
| Name | Nilofar |
| • Maximum winds | 205 km/h (125 mph) (3-minute sustained) |
| • Lowest pressure | 950hPa (mbar) |
| Seasonal statistics | |
| Depressions | 8 |
| Deep depressions | 5 |
| Cyclonic storms | 3 |
| Severe cyclonic storms | 2 |
| Very severe cyclonic storms | 2 |
| Extremely severe cyclonic storms | 2 |
| Total fatalities | 183 total |
| Total damage | $3.58 billion (2014USD) |
| Related articles | |
| North Indian Ocean tropical cyclone seasons 2012,2013,2014,2015,2016 | |
The2014 North Indian Ocean cyclone season was an event in the annual cycle oftropical cyclone formation. The season included two very severe cyclonic storms, both in October, and one other named cyclonic storm, classified according to thetropical cyclone intensity scale of theIndia Meteorological Department.Cyclone Hudhud is estimated to have caused US$3.58 billion in damage across eastern India, and more than 120 deaths.
The scope of this article is limited to the Indian Ocean in the Northern Hemisphere, east of theHorn of Africa and west of theMalay Peninsula. There are two main seas in the North Indian Ocean — theArabian Sea to the west of theIndian subcontinent, abbreviatedARB by theIndia Meteorological Department (IMD); and theBay of Bengal to the east, abbreviatedBOB by the IMD. The systems that form over land are abbreviated asLAND by the IMD. The officialRegional Specialized Meteorological Centre in this basin is the IMD, while theJoint Typhoon Warning Centerof the United States releases unofficial advisories. On average, four to six storms form in this basin every season.
Under the influence of an activeIntertropical Convergence Zone, the season got off to one of its earliest starts on record, with a depression developing over theAndaman Sea during January 4.[1] Over the next couple of days the system moved westwards and made landfall on Sri Lanka, where it weakened into an area of low pressure.[1] Over the next few months the basin remained quiet, before the precursor cyclonic circulation to Depression BOB 02 developed during May 18.[1] As the cyclonic circulation developed it helped the southwest monsoon, advance into the Andaman Sea and parts of the Bay of Bengal, before it developed into a depression during May 21.[2] The depression was short lived and weakened into a remnant low, over the Bay of Bengal during May 23.[1] The southwest monsoon was subsequently delayed by six days setting in over the Indian state of Kerala and eventually moved over the state during June 6.[2] Over the next few days the monsoon set in further over the Bay of Bengal, while it was enhanced over the Arabian Sea by the formation of Cyclonic Storm Nanauk.[1][2] By June 18, the monsoon covered most of the North Indian Ocean and parts of Gujarat, Konkan & Goa, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar and Gangetic West Bengal.[2]
On June 19, an eastward propagation of theMadden–Julian oscillation over the maritime continent, led to the season's first area of low pressure developing over coastal parts ofBangladesh.[2] This helped the monsoon set in over India's north-eastern states and advance in to central India.[2] During the final week of June the monsoon weakened, which led to the emergence of heatwave conditions over eastern parts of coastal India.[2] The monsoon subsequently started to revive as it interacted with the mid-latitude westerlies and it advanced into parts of the Himalayas and northwest India by July 1.[2] During the first week of July an area of low pressure and several upper air cyclonic circulations caused the monsoon to advance further, where it covered the whole ofHaryana,Madhya Pradesh,Punjab andUttar Pradesh by July 7.[2] Over the next two weeks a trough of low pressure and a cyclonic circulation, helped advance the monsoon into remaining parts of the Arabian Sea, central and north-western India.[2] TheIndia Meteorological Department (IMD) subsequently declared that the monsoon covered the whole of India on July 17, which was about two days later that normal.[2]
A change in the lowertropospheric circulation pattern over Rajasthan between September 16–17, from cyclonic to anti cyclonic, which indicated to forecasters that the southwest monsoon had started to withdraw from the region.[2] During September 23, after Rajasthan had remained mainly dry since September 17, the IMD declared that the withdrawal of the southwest monsoon had commenced.[2] Over the next couple of weeks the monsoon gradually withdrew from the Arabian Sea, north-western and central parts of India, before Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Hudhud formed on October 7.[2] After Hudhud had moved northwards and weakened into an area of low pressure, the southwest monsoon withdrew from the rest of India, Sri Lanka and the North Indian Ocean by October 18.[2] During October 18, northeast monsoon rains over Tamil Nadu and neighbouring peninsular India commenced.[2]
| Depression (IMD) | |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | January 4 – January 7 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 45 km/h (30 mph)(3-min); 1004 hPa (mbar) |
Under the influence of an active Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), a low-pressure system formed over the Bay of Bengal on January 2, slowly organizing as it moved into a favorable environment. A Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (TCFA) was issued by theJoint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC). On January 4, theIndia Meteorological Department (IMD) commenced its advisories on the storm, designating itDepression BOB 01, followed by the JTWC classifying the storm a tropical cyclone. The storm intensified a little further, before it made landfall over northSri Lanka on January 6 and degenerating into a low-pressure area during the following day.[3]
The storm brought moderate rainfall to northern Sri Lanka. On January 6,Vavuniya reported the highest amount of rainfall of 210 mm (8.3 in), followed byPuttalam,Anuradhapura andTrincomalee receiving 50 mm (2.0 in) each. The depression was the first storm in the North Indian Ocean to form in the month of January sinceCyclonic Storm Hibaru in 2005.[3]
| Depression (IMD) | |
  | |
| Duration | May 21 – May 23 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 45 km/h (30 mph)(3-min); 1000 hPa (mbar) |
A low-pressure area formed over the Bay of Bengal on May 19. It slowly consolidated, prompting IMD to classify it as a Depression on May 21, followed by JTWC issuing a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (TCFA) in the following hours.[4][5] Over the following day, the depression continued moving north-northeastwards towards an area of high vertical wind shear. The JTWC cancelled the TCFA issued for the system, stating that high wind shear had caused the convection to start dissipating.[6] The storm continued losing convection, until it weakened into a well-marked low-pressure area on May 23.[7] The remnant system persisted for several more days, moving over the Indian state ofOdisha late on May 25, before dissipating on the following day.[8]
The depression brought much-needed relief to Odisha which had been suffering from aheat wave that claimed at least 22 lives. Coastal areas previously reporting temperatures near 40 °C (104 °F) fell below 30 °C (86 °F) during the system's passage.[9] Heavy rains affected many areas, including 208 mm (8.2 in) atBhawanipatna which experienced temperatures of 45 °C (113 °F) days earlier. The highest 24‑hour rainfall was 210 mm (8.3 in) inBaleswar.[10] Six districts were placed under a flood alert due to the rains.[9] A bridge near Hatadahi in theRayagada district was swept away by flooding.[10]
| Cyclonic storm (IMD) | |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | June 10 – June 14 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 85 km/h (50 mph)(3-min); 986 hPa (mbar) |
Under the influence of an active southwest monsoon surge, a low-pressure area formed over theArabian Sea on June 9. It slowly organized, and was classified tropical storm02A by the JTWC in the early hours of June 10. In the following hours, the IMD upgraded the storm to a depression and subsequently a deep depression, designating it "ARB 01". On June 11, the system was upgraded to Cyclonic Storm intensity and was namedNanauk by the IMD as it continued to intensify under favorable environmental conditions. The following day, Nanauk reached its peak intensity with a minimum central pressure of 986 hPa (29.12 inHg) and 3-minute sustained winds of 85 km/h (53 mph). As it tracked further northwestwards, the storm encountered moderate vertical wind shear, dry air and lowsea surface temperatures, causing it to weaken rapidly into a Depression on June 13. A low-level steering flow deflected the storm to take a northward path, and the system was last noted as a well-marked low-pressure area on June 14.[11]
| Depression (IMD) | |
  | |
| Duration | July 21 – July 23 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 45 km/h (30 mph)(3-min); 988 hPa (mbar) |
On July 19, an upper level cyclonic circulation lay over the north-eastern Bay of Bengal and parts of Gangetic West Bengal and Odisha.[2] Over the next day an area of low pressure formed, under the influence of this cyclonic circulation and rapidly concentrated into a Depression during July 21, over Odisha and West Bengal.[2] Over the next couple of days the system moved westwards, before it weakened into an area of low pressure during July 23 over northwest Madhya Pradesh.[1] The area of low pressure subsequently merged with the monsoon during July 25, while the cyclonic circulation persisted over Rajasthan and Punjab, before it was last noted during July 31.[1] Under the influence of the depression, heavy to extremely heavy rainfall was recorded in the states of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha.[1] In Odisha a total of 12 people lost their lives, while around 29,479 hectares (72,840 acres) of crops were affected and 1351 houses were damaged.[1][2]
| Deep depression (IMD) | |
  | |
| Duration | August 4 – August 7 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 55 km/h (35 mph)(3-min); |
On 3 August, a low-pressure area formed over the Bay of Bengal under the influence of an upper air cyclonic circulation.[12] The system slowly intensified into a depression the following day while being located inland overMidnapore. The depression moved further inland, underwent intensification and was upgraded to a deep depression the same day. The storm moved further westwards and weakened into a depression on August 5,[13][14] and was last noted as a well marked low-pressure area on August 7 over northwesternMadhya Pradesh.
The storm activated a flood situation inOdisha, affecting 12 districts of the state.Waterlogging was reported in the cities ofCuttack andBhubaneshwar, and nearly 200 villages were affected after theBaitarani river swelled more than two meters over its flood danger level.[15]Sambalpur district received the highest amount of rainfall at 336.8 millimetres (13.26 in), followed byBalasore district receiving 226.4 millimetres (8.91 in).[16][17] Seven people were reported to be missing after two trawlers capsized off the coast.[18] The state government evacuated about 17,000 people from low-lying areas. 23 deaths were reported due to torrential rainfall.[19]
| Extremely severe cyclonic storm (IMD) | |
| Category 4 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | October 7 – October 14 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 185 km/h (115 mph)(3-min); 950 hPa (mbar) |
Under the influence of an upper air cyclonic circulation, a low-pressure area formed over theAndaman Sea on October 6.[20] The system drifted westward and intensified into a depression and subsequently into a deep depression the next day, followed by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) issuing a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (TCFA).[21] Owing to favorable environmental conditions, the storm intensified into a cyclonic storm on October 8 and was namedHudhud.[22][23] Its convection consolidated in the following hours, and Hudhud became a Severe Cyclonic Storm on October 9. Hudhud underwentrapid intensification in the following days, intensified into a Very severe cyclonic storm and developed a well-definedeye feature. Shortly before landfall nearVisakhapatnam,Andhra Pradesh on October 12, Hudhud reached its peak strength with three-minute wind speeds of 175 km/h (109 mph) and a minimum central pressure of 950 hPa (28.05 inHg).[24] The system drifted northwards over land and was last noted as a well-marked low-pressure area over eastUttar Pradesh on October 14.[25]
Hudhud brought extensive damage to the coastal districts ofAndhra Pradesh. Damage amounted to₹21,908 crore (US$3.58 billion).[26]
| Extremely severe cyclonic storm (IMD) | |
| Category 4 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | October 25 – October 31 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 205 km/h (125 mph)(3-min); 950 hPa (mbar) |
In late October, a low-pressure area formed over the Arabian Sea. It slowly consolidated and a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (TCFA) was issued by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) on October 24.[27] The following day, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) classified the storm as a depression, designating it ARB 02, and the JTWC estimated tropical storm winds at the storm's center, starting advisories for the system.[28] On October 26, the system remained stationary and intensified into a Deep Depression. Subsequently, the IMD reported the storm had intensified into a cyclonic storm, and named itNilofar.[29][30] The following day, the IMD upgraded the storm into a severe cyclonic storm and further to a very severe cyclonic storm, and the JTWC reported hurricane-strength winds at Nilofar's center as it meanwhile developed an eye feature.[31][32][33] On October 28, Nilofar underwentrapid intensification throughout the day, reaching a peak strength of 950 mbar (28.05 inHg) with wind speeds exceeding 205 km/h (127 mph), tied withHudhud. Over the following days, the storm recurved northeastwards and experienced high vertical wind shear, causing it to weaken rapidly into a minimal cyclonic storm on October 30. The low-level circulation center of the storm became exposed in the following hours and IMD downgraded the storm into a well-marked low-pressure area on October 31, issuing its final advisory for the system.
| Deep depression (IMD) | |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | November 5 – November 8 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 55 km/h (35 mph)(3-min); 1000 hPa (mbar) |
During November 3, an area of low pressure developed over the Bay of Bengal, under the influence of active northeast monsoon conditions. On November 5, the IMD identified the system as a depression and designated it with the identifier 'BOB 04'.[34] This was followed by the JTWC issuing a TCFA[35] and subsequently initiating advisories on the system. The JTWC designated it '05B' and was reporting 35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph) winds around the center on November 6.[36] Later that day, the IMD upgraded BOB 04 into a Deep Depression.[37] The system drifted northwards over the next couple of days, maintaining its intensity. Located between two subtropical ridges, BOB 04 mostly showed quasi-stationary motion.[38] However, albeit the adequately favorable conditions for further intensification, BOB 04 failed to intensify further. This resulted in the IMD downgrading the system into a Depression[39] and further into an area of low pressure by November 8.[40]
This is a table of all storms in the 2014 North Indian Ocean cyclone season. It mentions all of the season's storms and their names, durations, peak intensities (according to the IMD storm scale), landfall(s) – denoted by bold location names – damages, and death totals. Damage and death totals include the damage and deaths caused when that storm was a precursor wave or extratropical low, and all of the damage figures are in 2014 USD.
| Name | Dates | Peak intensity | Areas affected | Damage (USD) | Deaths | Ref(s). | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | Wind speed | Pressure | ||||||
| BOB 01 | January 4–7 | Depression | 45 kilometres per hour (28 mph) | 1,004 hPa (29.65 inHg) | Sri Lanka | Minor | None | |
| BOB 02 | May 21–23 | Depression | 45 kilometres per hour (28 mph) | 1,000 hPa (29.53 inHg) | Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India | Minor | None | |
| Nanauk | June 10–14 | Cyclonic storm | 85 kilometres per hour (53 mph) | 986 hPa (29.12 inHg) | Pakistan, Oman | None | None | |
| LAND 01 | July 21–22 | Depression | 45 kilometres per hour (28 mph) | Not specified | India | Minor | 12 | [1] |
| LAND 02 | August 4–7 | Deep depression | 55 kilometres per hour (34 mph) | Not specified | India,Bangladesh | Minor | 47 | [1] |
| Hudhud | October 7–14 | Extremely severe cyclonic storm | 185 kilometres per hour (115 mph) | 950 hPa (28.05 inHg) | Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India, Visakhapatnam, Nepal | $3.58 billion | 124 | [26][41][42][43][44] |
| Nilofar | October 25–31 | Extremely severe cyclonic storm | 205 kilometres per hour (127 mph) | 950 hPa (28.05 inHg) | India, Pakistan | Minor | None | |
| BOB 04 | November 5–8 | Deep depression | 55 kilometres per hour (34 mph) | 1,000 hPa (29.53 inHg) | None | None | None | |
| Season aggregates | ||||||||
| 8 systems | January 4 – November 8 | 205 kilometres per hour (127 mph) | 950 hPa (28.05 inHg) | $3.58 billion | 183 | |||
