1991 North Indian cyclone season
Apr–Jun · Oct–Dec · Season ended
The 1991 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 22, 91% of the average.
1991 season at a glance
- Named storms: 5 (1991–2020 average 6.3).
- Hurricane strength (64 kt+): 1 (average 2.0).
- Major, 96 kt+: 1, including 1 at Category 5 strength (average 1.0).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 21.6, 91% of the 24 average.
- Named-storm days: 13.5, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Tropical Storm 1B, January 17.
- First storm at hurricane strength: Cyclone 2B, April 27.
- First major storm: Cyclone 2B, April 28.
- Last storm to dissipate: Tropical Storm 4B, November 16.
- All systems tracked: 9, including 4 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 1991 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TD 1B | – | TS | — | — |
| TD 2B | – | C5 | 918 mb | Rangamati, Bangladesh |
| TD 3B | – | TS | 990 mb | Lebachhara, India |
| Unnamed | – | TS | 984 mb | — |
| Unnamed | – | TD | 992 mb | — |
| Unnamed | – | TD | 1000 mb | Bhimavaram, India |
| Unnamed | – | TD | 998 mb | Natona, Bangladesh |
| Unnamed | – | TD | 998 mb | — |
| TD 4B | – | TS | 998 mb | Tirumullaivāsal, India |
- TD 1B: This system formed in the North Indian in January 1991 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.
- TD 2B: This system formed in the North Indian in April 1991 and peaked as a Category 5 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph (260 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 918 mb. It made landfall near Rangamati, Bangladesh. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- TD 3B: This system formed in the North Indian in May 1991 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 Lebachhara, India. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in July 1991 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 984 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in August 1991 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 992 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in September 1991 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1000 mb. It made landfall near Bhimavaram, India. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in October 1991 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 998 mb. It made landfall near Natona, Bangladesh. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in October 1991 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 998 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- TD 4B: This system formed in the North Indian in November 1991 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 998 mb. It made landfall near Tirumullaivāsal, India. The system was tracked for 7 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 1991
Cyclone 2B was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 160 mph (260 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 918 mb, on April 29. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
4 North Indian storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 3 matched it. It produced 81% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 1991
5 of the season’s 9 systems made landfall, 1 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
- April 29: TD 2B near Rangamati, Bangladesh, 140 mph (Category 4)
- June 2: TD 3B near Lebachhara, India, 55 mph (tropical storm)
- September 21: Unnamed near Bhimavaram, India, 35 mph (tropical depression)
- October 14: Unnamed near Natona, Bangladesh, 35 mph (tropical depression)
- November 14: TD 4B near Tirumullaivāsal, India, 45 mph (tropical storm)
How 1991 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 14th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 11 named storms, in 1998, and the highest ACE is 85, in 2019.
1991 storm names
No storm in the 1991 season was named.
9 systems were tracked without a name and are listed by number.
1991 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 1991?
The 1991 North Indian cyclone season had 5 named storms, 1 at hurricane strength and 1 major storm, from 9 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 4B.
What was the strongest storm of 1991?
Cyclone 2B. It peaked at 160 mph (260 km/h, 140 kt) with a lowest pressure of 918 mb on April 29. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 4 North Indian storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 81% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 1991 season end?
The North Indian Ocean has no official season, so the 1991 season is the calendar year: every storm that formed by December 31 counts. The last system, Tropical Storm 4B, dissipated on November 16. Since 1980, 31 North Indian storms reached tropical-storm strength in December.