1983 North Indian cyclone season
Apr–Jun · Oct–Dec · Season ended
The 1983 North Indian cyclone season produced 5 named storms, 1 at hurricane strength and 0 major storms, against a 1991–2020 average of 6.3, 2.0 and 1.0. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 6, 25% of the average.
1983 season at a glance
- Named storms: 5 (1991–2020 average 6.3).
- Hurricane strength (64 kt+): 1 (average 2.0).
- Major, 96 kt+: 0 (average 1.0).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 5.8, 25% of the 24 average.
- Named-storm days: 7.8, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Tropical Storm Unnamed, June 24.
- First storm at hurricane strength: Herbert, October 14.
- Last storm to dissipate: Tropical Depression Unnamed, December 22.
- All systems tracked: 8, including 3 that stayed below tropical-storm strength.
Counts use 1-minute best-track winds: named storms reached 34 kt (39 mph), the next column 64 kt (74 mph) and major storms 96 kt (111 mph). Regional agencies here use 10-minute winds (3-minute in India), so their official counts can differ.
Every storm of the 1983 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed | – | TD | — | Bāntva, India |
| Unnamed | – | TS | — | Rambha, India |
| TD 1B | – | TS | — | Talāja, India |
| Unnamed | – | TD | — | — |
| TD 2B | – | TS | — | Vizianagaram, India |
| Herbert | – | C1 | — | — |
| TD 4B | – | TS | — | Sātkania, Bangladesh |
| Unnamed | – | TD | — | — |
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in June 1983 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h). It made landfall near Bāntva, India. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in June 1983 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h). It made landfall near Rambha, India. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- TD 1B: This system formed in the North Indian in August 1983 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h). It made 2 landfalls, first near Talāja, India and last near Maşīrah, Oman. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in September 1983 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- TD 2B: This system formed in the North Indian in October 1983 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h). It made landfall near Vizianagaram, India. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Herbert: Herbert formed in the North Indian in October 1983 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 1 day.
- TD 4B: This system formed in the North Indian in November 1983 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h). It made landfall near Sātkania, Bangladesh. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in December 1983 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 1 day.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 1983
Cyclone Herbert was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 75 mph (120 km/h), on October 14. That is Category 1 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
61 North Indian storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 18 matched it. It produced 10% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 1983
5 of the season’s 8 systems made landfall, none of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
- June 20: Unnamed near Bāntva, India, 35 mph (tropical depression)
- June 25: Unnamed near Rambha, India, 40 mph (tropical storm)
- August 8: TD 1B near Talāja, India, 35 mph (tropical depression)
- August 10: TD 1B near Maşīrah, Oman, 40 mph (tropical storm)
- October 3: TD 2B near Vizianagaram, India, 60 mph (tropical storm)
- November 9: TD 4B near Sātkania, Bangladesh, 65 mph (tropical storm)
How 1983 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 29th of 47 North Indian seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 9 other seasons), 23rd for hurricane strength (tied with 15 other seasons) and 41st for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 11 named storms, in 1998, and the highest ACE is 85, in 2019.
1983 storm names
The 1983 season used 1 name: Herbert.
7 systems were tracked without a name and are listed by number.
1983 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 1983?
The 1983 North Indian cyclone season had 5 named storms, 1 at hurricane strength and 0 major storms, from 8 systems tracked in all. The 1991–2020 average is 6.3 named storms, 2.0 at 64 kt or more and 1.0 major per season. The first to form was Tropical Storm Unnamed and the last was Tropical Storm 4B.
What was the strongest storm of 1983?
Cyclone Herbert. It peaked at 75 mph (120 km/h, 65 kt) on October 14. That is Category 1 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 61 North Indian storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 10% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 1983 season end?
The North Indian Ocean has no official season, so the 1983 season is the calendar year: every storm that formed by December 31 counts. The last system, Tropical Depression Unnamed, dissipated on December 22. Since 1980, 31 North Indian storms reached tropical-storm strength in December.