1985 North Indian cyclone season
Apr–Jun · Oct–Dec · Season ended
The 1985 North Indian cyclone season produced 7 named storms, 0 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 13, 53% of the average.
1985 season at a glance
- Named storms: 7 (1991–2020 average 6.3).
- Hurricane strength (64 kt+): 0 (average 2.0).
- Major, 96 kt+: 0 (average 1.0).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 12.6, 53% of the 24 average.
- Named-storm days: 16.3, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Tropical Storm 1B, May 22.
- First storm at hurricane strength: none.
- Last storm to dissipate: Tropical Storm 6B, December 14.
- All systems tracked: 15, including 8 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 1985 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TD 1B | – | TS | — | Feni, Bangladesh |
| TD 2A | – | TS | — | Dayapar, India |
| Unnamed | – | TD | — | — |
| Unnamed | – | TD | — | — |
| Unnamed | – | TD | — | Balasore, India |
| Unnamed | – | TD | — | Kendrāparha, India |
| Unnamed | – | TS | — | — |
| Unnamed | – | TD | — | — |
| Unnamed | – | TD | — | — |
| Unnamed | – | TD | — | — |
| TD 3B | – | TS | — | Mādugula, India |
| TD 4B | – | TS | — | Chāndbāli, India |
| Unnamed | – | TD | — | Pudupattanam, India |
| TD 5B | – | TS | — | Kāvali, India |
| TD 6B | – | TS | — | Nellore, India |
- TD 1B: This system formed in the North Indian in May 1985 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h). It made landfall near Feni, Bangladesh. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- TD 2A: This system formed in the North Indian in May 1985 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h). It made landfall near Dayapar, India. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in August 1985 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.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in August 1985 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.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in August 1985 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h). It made landfall near Balasore, India. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in August 1985 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h). It made landfall near Kendrāparha, India. The system was tracked for 1 day.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in September 1985 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in September 1985 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.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in October 1985 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.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in October 1985 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 3 days.
- TD 3B: This system formed in the North Indian in October 1985 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h). It made landfall near Mādugula, India. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- TD 4B: This system formed in the North Indian in October 1985 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h). It made landfall near Chāndbāli, India. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in November 1985 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h). It made landfall near Pudupattanam, India. The system was tracked for 1 day.
- TD 5B: This system formed in the North Indian in November 1985 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h). It made landfall near Kāvali, India. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- TD 6B: This system formed in the North Indian in December 1985 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h). It made landfall near Nellore, India. The system was tracked for 5 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 1985
Tropical Storm 1B was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 70 mph (110 km/h), on May 24. It stayed below hurricane strength (64 kt, 74 mph).
80 North Indian storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 4 matched it. It produced 18% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 1985
9 of the season’s 15 systems made landfall, none of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
- May 25: TD 1B near Feni, Bangladesh, 50 mph (tropical storm)
- May 31: TD 2A near Dayapar, India, 40 mph (tropical depression)
- August 6: Unnamed near Balasore, India, 35 mph (tropical depression)
- August 15: Unnamed near Kendrāparha, India, 35 mph (tropical depression)
- October 11: TD 3B near Mādugula, India, 50 mph (tropical storm)
- October 16: TD 4B near Chāndbāli, India, 60 mph (tropical storm)
- November 12: Unnamed near Pudupattanam, India, 35 mph (tropical depression)
- November 17: TD 5B near Kāvali, India, 60 mph (tropical storm)
- December 13: TD 6B near Nellore, India, 50 mph (tropical storm)
How 1985 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 12th of 47 North Indian seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 6 other seasons), 39th for hurricane strength (tied with 8 other seasons) and 34th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 11 named storms, in 1998, and the highest ACE is 85, in 2019.
1985 storm names
No storm in the 1985 season was named.
15 systems were tracked without a name and are listed by number.
1985 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 1985?
The 1985 North Indian cyclone season had 7 named storms, 0 at hurricane strength and 0 major storms, from 15 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 1B and the last was Tropical Storm 6B.
What was the strongest storm of 1985?
Tropical Storm 1B. It peaked at 70 mph (110 km/h, 60 kt) on May 24. It stayed below hurricane strength (64 kt, 74 mph). 80 North Indian storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 18% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 1985 season end?
The North Indian Ocean has no official season, so the 1985 season is the calendar year: every storm that formed by December 31 counts. The last system, Tropical Storm 6B, dissipated on December 14. Since 1980, 31 North Indian storms reached tropical-storm strength in December.