1997 North Indian cyclone season
Apr–Jun · Oct–Dec · Season ended
The 1997 North Indian cyclone season produced 7 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 21, 88% of the average.
1997 season at a glance
- Named storms: 7 (1991–2020 average 6.3).
- Hurricane strength (64 kt+): 2 (average 2.0).
- Major, 96 kt+: 1 (average 1.0).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 20.8, 88% of the 24 average.
- Named-storm days: 14.8, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Cyclone 1B, May 14.
- First storm at hurricane strength: Cyclone 1B, May 17.
- First major storm: Cyclone 1B, May 18.
- Last storm to dissipate: Tropical Storm 4B, November 14.
- All systems tracked: 9, 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 1997 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TD 1B | – | C4 | 964 mb | Hāthazāri, Bangladesh |
| Unnamed | – | TS | 985 mb | — |
| Unnamed | – | TS | 1002 mb | — |
| Unnamed | – | TD | 986 mb | Haldia, India |
| Unnamed | – | TS | 990 mb | — |
| Unnamed | – | TD | 994 mb | — |
| TD 2B | – | C1 | 984 mb | Feni, Bangladesh |
| TD 4B | – | TS | 1005 mb | — |
| TD 3A | – | TS | — | Bargaal, Somalia |
- TD 1B: This system formed in the North Indian in May 1997 and peaked as a Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 964 mb. It made landfall near Hāthazāri, Bangladesh. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in June 1997 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 985 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in July 1997 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1002 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in August 1997 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 986 mb. It made landfall near Haldia, India. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in August 1997 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 990 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in August 1997 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 994 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- TD 2B: This system formed in the North Indian in September 1997 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 984 mb. It made landfall near Feni, Bangladesh. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- TD 4B: This system formed in the North Indian in November 1997 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1005 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 12 days.
- TD 3A: This system formed in the North Indian in November 1997 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h). It made landfall near Bargaal, Somalia. The system was tracked for 6 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 1997
Cyclone 1B was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 130 mph (215 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 964 mb, on May 19. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
18 North Indian storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 4 matched it. It produced 64% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 1997
4 of the season’s 9 systems made landfall, 2 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
How 1997 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 12th of 47 North Indian seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 6 other seasons), 12th for hurricane strength (tied with 10 other seasons) and 16th for accumulated cyclone energy (tied with 1 other season).
The record since 1980 is 11 named storms, in 1998, and the highest ACE is 85, in 2019.
1997 storm names
No storm in the 1997 season was named.
9 systems were tracked without a name and are listed by number.
1997 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 1997?
The 1997 North Indian cyclone season had 7 named storms, 2 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 Cyclone 1B and the last was Tropical Storm 4B.
What was the strongest storm of 1997?
Cyclone 1B. It peaked at 130 mph (215 km/h, 115 kt) with a lowest pressure of 964 mb on May 19. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 18 North Indian storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 64% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 1997 season end?
The North Indian Ocean has no official season, so the 1997 season is the calendar year: every storm that formed by December 31 counts. The last system, Tropical Storm 4B, dissipated on November 14. Since 1980, 31 North Indian storms reached tropical-storm strength in December.