1990 North Indian cyclone season
Apr–Jun · Oct–Dec · Season ended
The 1990 North Indian cyclone season produced 5 named storms, 1 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 19, 81% of the average.
1990 season at a glance
- Named storms: 5 (1991–2020 average 6.3).
- Hurricane strength (64 kt+): 1 (average 2.0).
- Major, 96 kt+: 1 (average 1.0).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 19.1, 81% of the 24 average.
- Named-storm days: 10.3, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Cyclone 2B, May 5.
- First storm at hurricane strength: Cyclone 2B, May 7.
- First major storm: Cyclone 2B, May 7.
- Last storm to dissipate: Tropical Storm 4B, December 19.
- All systems tracked: 11, including 6 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 1990 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TD 1B | – | TD | — | — |
| TD 2B | – | C4 | 920 mb | Avanigadda, India |
| Unnamed | – | TS | 990 mb | — |
| Unnamed | – | TD | 993 mb | Rambha, India |
| Unnamed | – | TD | 986 mb | — |
| Unnamed | – | TD | 995 mb | — |
| Unnamed | – | TS | 998 mb | — |
| TD 3B | – | TD | 1001 mb | — |
| Unnamed | – | TD | 1008 mb | Nellore, India |
| Unnamed | – | TS | 1007 mb | — |
| TD 4B | – | TS | — | Buthidaung Town, Myanmar |
- TD 1B: This system formed in the North Indian in April 1990 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 30 mph (45 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 1 day.
- TD 2B: This system formed in the North Indian in May 1990 and peaked as a Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (230 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 920 mb. It made landfall near Avanigadda, India. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in June 1990 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 990 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in August 1990 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 993 mb. It made landfall near Rambha, India. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in August 1990 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 986 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in September 1990 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 995 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in October 1990 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 998 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- TD 3B: This system formed in the North Indian in October 1990 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1001 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in November 1990 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1008 mb. It made landfall near Nellore, India. The system was tracked for 1 day.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in November 1990 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1007 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- TD 4B: This system formed in the North Indian in December 1990 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h). It made landfall near Buthidaung Town, Myanmar. The system was tracked for 5 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 1990
Cyclone 2B was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 145 mph (230 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 920 mb, on May 8. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
11 North Indian storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 2 matched it. It produced 85% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 1990
4 of the season’s 11 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 1990 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 19th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 11 named storms, in 1998, and the highest ACE is 85, in 2019.
1990 storm names
No storm in the 1990 season was named.
11 systems were tracked without a name and are listed by number.
1990 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 1990?
The 1990 North Indian cyclone season had 5 named storms, 1 at hurricane strength and 1 major storm, 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 Cyclone 2B and the last was Tropical Storm 4B.
What was the strongest storm of 1990?
Cyclone 2B. It peaked at 145 mph (230 km/h, 125 kt) with a lowest pressure of 920 mb on May 8. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 11 North Indian storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 85% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 1990 season end?
The North Indian Ocean has no official season, so the 1990 season is the calendar year: every storm that formed by December 31 counts. The last system, Tropical Storm 4B, dissipated on December 19. Since 1980, 31 North Indian storms reached tropical-storm strength in December.