1989 North Indian cyclone season
Apr–Jun · Oct–Dec · Season ended
The 1989 North Indian cyclone season produced 4 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 4, 16% of the average.
1989 season at a glance
- Named storms: 4 (1991–2020 average 6.3).
- Hurricane strength (64 kt+): 0 (average 2.0).
- Major, 96 kt+: 0 (average 1.0).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 3.7, 16% of the 24 average.
- Named-storm days: 5.3, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Tropical Storm 1B, May 24.
- First storm at hurricane strength: none.
- Last storm to dissipate: Tropical Storm Unnamed, November 20.
- All systems tracked: 7, 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 1989 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TD 1B | – | TS | — | Jaleshwar, India |
| TD 2A | – | TS | — | — |
| Unnamed | – | TD | — | — |
| Unnamed | – | TS | — | — |
| Unnamed | – | TD | — | — |
| Unnamed | – | TD | — | — |
| Unnamed | – | TS | — | — |
- TD 1B: This system formed in the North Indian in May 1989 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h). It made landfall near Jaleshwar, India. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- TD 2A: This system formed in the North Indian in June 1989 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.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in June 1989 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.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in July 1989 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 3 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in August 1989 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 1989 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 November 1989 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 4 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 1989
Tropical Storm 1B was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 65 mph (100 km/h), on May 26. It stayed below hurricane strength (64 kt, 74 mph).
85 North Indian storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 23 matched it. It produced 65% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 1989
1 of the season’s 7 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 26: TD 1B near Jaleshwar, India, 60 mph (tropical storm)
How 1989 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 39th of 47 North Indian seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 3 other seasons), 39th for hurricane strength (tied with 8 other seasons) and 44th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 11 named storms, in 1998, and the highest ACE is 85, in 2019.
1989 storm names
No storm in the 1989 season was named.
7 systems were tracked without a name and are listed by number.
1989 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 1989?
The 1989 North Indian cyclone season had 4 named storms, 0 at hurricane strength and 0 major storms, from 7 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 Unnamed.
What was the strongest storm of 1989?
Tropical Storm 1B. It peaked at 65 mph (100 km/h, 55 kt) on May 26. It stayed below hurricane strength (64 kt, 74 mph). 85 North Indian storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 65% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 1989 season end?
The North Indian Ocean has no official season, so the 1989 season is the calendar year: every storm that formed by December 31 counts. The last system, Tropical Storm Unnamed, dissipated on November 20. Since 1980, 31 North Indian storms reached tropical-storm strength in December.