1994 North Indian cyclone season
Apr–Jun · Oct–Dec · Season ended
The 1994 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 15, 65% of the average.
1994 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: 15.4, 65% of the 24 average.
- Named-storm days: 12.0, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Tropical Storm 1B, March 22.
- First storm at hurricane strength: Cyclone 2B, April 30.
- First major storm: Cyclone 2B, May 1.
- Last storm to dissipate: Tropical Storm 5A, November 20.
- All systems tracked: 5, every one of which reached 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 1994 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TD 1B | – | TS | — | — |
| TD 2B | – | C4 | 940 mb | Cox’s Bāzār, Bangladesh |
| TD 3A | – | TS | 980 mb | Maşīrah, Oman |
| TD 4B | – | TS | 988 mb | Meddappakkam, India |
| TD 5A | – | TS | 984 mb | Eyl, Somalia |
- TD 1B: This system formed in the North Indian in March 1994 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- TD 2B: This system formed in the North Indian in April 1994 and peaked as a Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (230 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 940 mb. It made landfall near Cox’s Bāzār, Bangladesh. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- TD 3A: This system formed in the North Indian in June 1994 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 980 mb. It made landfall near Maşīrah, Oman. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- TD 4B: This system formed in the North Indian in October 1994 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 988 mb. It made landfall near Meddappakkam, India. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- TD 5A: This system formed in the North Indian in November 1994 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 Eyl, Somalia. The system was tracked for 7 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 1994
Cyclone 2B was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 145 mph (230 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 940 mb, on May 2. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
11 North Indian storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 2 matched it. It produced 64% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 1994
4 of the season’s 5 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 1994 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 26th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 11 named storms, in 1998, and the highest ACE is 85, in 2019.
1994 storm names
No storm in the 1994 season was named.
5 systems were tracked without a name and are listed by number.
1994 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 1994?
The 1994 North Indian cyclone season had 5 named storms, 1 at hurricane strength and 1 major storm, from 5 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 5A.
What was the strongest storm of 1994?
Cyclone 2B. It peaked at 145 mph (230 km/h, 125 kt) with a lowest pressure of 940 mb on May 2. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 11 North Indian storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 64% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 1994 season end?
The North Indian Ocean has no official season, so the 1994 season is the calendar year: every storm that formed by December 31 counts. The last system, Tropical Storm 5A, dissipated on November 20. Since 1980, 31 North Indian storms reached tropical-storm strength in December.