1988 North Indian cyclone season
Apr–Jun · Oct–Dec · Season ended
The 1988 North Indian cyclone season produced 6 named storms, 2 at hurricane strength and 1 major storm, against a 1991–2020 average of 6.3, 2.0 and 1.0. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 18, 77% of the average.
1988 season at a glance
- Named storms: 6 (1991–2020 average 6.3).
- Hurricane strength (64 kt+): 2 (average 2.0).
- Major, 96 kt+: 1 (average 1.0).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 18.1, 77% of the 24 average.
- Named-storm days: 12.8, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Tropical Storm 1A, June 9.
- First storm at hurricane strength: Cyclone Unnamed, November 16.
- First major storm: Cyclone 4B, November 29.
- Last storm to dissipate: Tropical Storm 5B, December 8.
- All systems tracked: 8, including 2 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 1988 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TD 1A | – | TS | — | — |
| Unnamed | – | TD | — | — |
| Unnamed | – | TD | — | — |
| TD 2B | – | TS | — | Taluker Char Doani, Bangladesh |
| TD 3B | – | TS | — | Ann, Myanmar |
| Unnamed | – | C1 | — | — |
| TD 4B | – | C3 | — | Canning, India |
| TD 5B | – | TS | — | — |
- TD 1A: This system formed in the North Indian in June 1988 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 5 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in July 1988 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 1988 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.
- TD 2B: This system formed in the North Indian in October 1988 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h). It made landfall near Taluker Char Doani, Bangladesh. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- TD 3B: This system formed in the North Indian in November 1988 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h). It made landfall near Ann, Myanmar. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in November 1988 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 3 days.
- TD 4B: This system formed in the North Indian in November 1988 and peaked as a Category 3 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph (205 km/h). It made landfall near Canning, India. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- TD 5B: This system formed in the North Indian in December 1988 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 1988
Cyclone 4B was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 125 mph (205 km/h), on November 29. That is Category 3 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
23 North Indian storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 3 matched it. It produced 78% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 1988
3 of the season’s 8 systems made landfall, 1 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
How 1988 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 19th of 47 North Indian seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 9 other seasons), 12th for hurricane strength (tied with 10 other seasons) and 20th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 11 named storms, in 1998, and the highest ACE is 85, in 2019.
1988 storm names
No storm in the 1988 season was named.
8 systems were tracked without a name and are listed by number.
1988 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 1988?
The 1988 North Indian cyclone season had 6 named storms, 2 at hurricane strength and 1 major storm, 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 1A and the last was Tropical Storm 5B.
What was the strongest storm of 1988?
Cyclone 4B. It peaked at 125 mph (205 km/h, 110 kt) on November 29. That is Category 3 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 23 North Indian storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 78% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 1988 season end?
The North Indian Ocean has no official season, so the 1988 season is the calendar year: every storm that formed by December 31 counts. The last system, Tropical Storm 5B, dissipated on December 8. Since 1980, 31 North Indian storms reached tropical-storm strength in December.