1987 North Indian cyclone season
Apr–Jun · Oct–Dec · Season ended
The 1987 North Indian cyclone season produced 8 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 15, 62% of the average.
1987 season at a glance
- Named storms: 8 (1991–2020 average 6.3).
- Hurricane strength (64 kt+): 0 (average 2.0).
- Major, 96 kt+: 0 (average 1.0).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 14.7, 62% of the 24 average.
- Named-storm days: 19.5, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Tropical Storm 1B, February 1.
- First storm at hurricane strength: none.
- Last storm to dissipate: Tropical Storm 8B, December 23.
- All systems tracked: 11, 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 1987 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TD 1B | – | TS | 970 mb | — |
| TD 2B | – | TS | 980 mb | Lālmohan, Bangladesh |
| TD 3A | – | TS | — | — |
| Unnamed | – | TD | 990 mb | — |
| Unnamed | – | TD | 993 mb | — |
| Unnamed | – | TD | 997 mb | — |
| TD 4B | – | TS | 994 mb | Avanigadda, India |
| TD 5B | – | TS | 984 mb | Nellore, India |
| TD 6B | – | TS | 990 mb | Repalle, India |
| TD 7B | – | TS | — | Talaināyar Agrahāram, India |
| TD 8B | – | TS | — | — |
- TD 1B: This system formed in the North Indian in January 1987 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 970 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- TD 2B: This system formed in the North Indian in May 1987 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 980 mb. It made landfall near Lālmohan, Bangladesh. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- TD 3A: This system formed in the North Indian in June 1987 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 8 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in August 1987 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 990 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in September 1987 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 993 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 1 day.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in September 1987 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 997 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 1 day.
- TD 4B: This system formed in the North Indian in October 1987 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 994 mb. It made landfall near Avanigadda, India. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- TD 5B: This system formed in the North Indian in October 1987 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 984 mb. It made landfall near Nellore, India. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- TD 6B: This system formed in the North Indian in November 1987 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 990 mb. It made landfall near Repalle, India. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- TD 7B: This system formed in the North Indian in December 1987 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h). It made 3 landfalls, first near Talaināyar Agrahāram, India and last near Dābhol, India. The system was tracked for 11 days.
- TD 8B: This system formed in the North Indian in December 1987 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 1987
Tropical Storm 1B was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 65 mph (100 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 970 mb, on February 2. It stayed below hurricane strength (64 kt, 74 mph).
85 North Indian storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 23 matched it. It produced 12% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 1987
5 of the season’s 11 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 4: TD 2B near Lālmohan, Bangladesh, 50 mph (tropical storm)
- October 15: TD 4B near Avanigadda, India, 45 mph (tropical storm)
- November 2: TD 5B near Nellore, India, 55 mph (tropical storm)
- November 12: TD 6B near Repalle, India, 50 mph (tropical storm)
- December 4: TD 7B near Talaināyar Agrahāram, India, 30 mph (tropical depression)
- December 5: TD 7B near Arantāngi, India, 30 mph (tropical depression)
- December 12: TD 7B near Dābhol, India, 35 mph (tropical depression)
How 1987 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 7th of 47 North Indian seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 4 other seasons), 39th for hurricane strength (tied with 8 other seasons) and 29th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 11 named storms, in 1998, and the highest ACE is 85, in 2019.
1987 storm names
No storm in the 1987 season was named.
11 systems were tracked without a name and are listed by number.
1987 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 1987?
The 1987 North Indian cyclone season had 8 named storms, 0 at hurricane strength and 0 major storms, from 11 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 8B.
What was the strongest storm of 1987?
Tropical Storm 1B. It peaked at 65 mph (100 km/h, 55 kt) with a lowest pressure of 970 mb on February 2. It stayed below hurricane strength (64 kt, 74 mph). 85 North Indian storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 12% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 1987 season end?
The North Indian Ocean has no official season, so the 1987 season is the calendar year: every storm that formed by December 31 counts. The last system, Tropical Storm 8B, dissipated on December 23. Since 1980, 31 North Indian storms reached tropical-storm strength in December.