1998 North Indian cyclone season
Apr–Jun · Oct–Dec · Season ended
The 1998 North Indian cyclone season produced 11 named storms, 4 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 27, 116% of the average.
1998 season at a glance
- Named storms: 11 (1991–2020 average 6.3).
- Hurricane strength (64 kt+): 4 (average 2.0).
- Major, 96 kt+: 1 (average 1.0).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 27.4, 116% of the 24 average.
- Named-storm days: 24.8, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Cyclone 1B, May 18.
- First storm at hurricane strength: Cyclone 1B, May 20.
- First major storm: Cyclone 3A, June 8.
- Last storm to dissipate: Cyclone 8A, December 17.
- All systems tracked: 11, 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 1998 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TD 1B | – | C1 | 972 mb | Sātkania, Bangladesh |
| TD 2A | – | TS | — | — |
| TD 3A | – | C3 | 958 mb | Khambhāliya, India |
| Unnamed | – | TS | 992 mb | Elamanchili, India |
| TD 4A | – | TS | — | — |
| Unnamed | – | TS | 998 mb | — |
| TD 5A | – | TS | 994 mb | Bāntva, India |
| Unnamed | – | TS | 998 mb | — |
| Unnamed | – | TS | 1002 mb | — |
| TD 6B | – | C2 | 982 mb | Anakapalle, India |
| TD 8A | – | C1 | 993 mb | Yes |
- TD 1B: This system formed in the North Indian in May 1998 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 972 mb. It made landfall near Sātkania, Bangladesh. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- TD 2A: This system formed in the North Indian in May 1998 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 2 days.
- TD 3A: This system formed in the North Indian in June 1998 and peaked as a Category 3 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 958 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near Khambhāliya, India and last near Gāndhīdhām, India. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in June 1998 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 992 mb. It made landfall near Elamanchili, India. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- TD 4A: This system formed in the North Indian in September 1998 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 2 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in October 1998 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 998 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- TD 5A: This system formed in the North Indian in October 1998 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 994 mb. It made landfall near Bāntva, India. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in October 1998 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 998 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in October 1998 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 3 days.
- TD 6B: This system formed in the North Indian in November 1998 and peaked as a Category 2 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph (155 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 982 mb. It made landfall near Anakapalle, India. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- TD 8A: This system formed in the North Indian in December 1998 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 993 mb. The system was tracked for 6 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 1998
Cyclone 3A was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 120 mph (195 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 958 mb, on June 9. That is Category 3 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
27 North Indian storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 5 matched it. It produced 43% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 1998
6 of the season’s 11 systems made landfall, 3 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
- May 20: TD 1B near Sātkania, Bangladesh, 75 mph (Category 1)
- June 9: TD 3A near Khambhāliya, India, 105 mph (Category 2)
- June 9: TD 3A near Gāndhīdhām, India, 80 mph (Category 1)
- June 14: Unnamed near Elamanchili, India, 40 mph (tropical storm)
- October 17: TD 5A near Bāntva, India, 30 mph (tropical depression)
- November 15: TD 6B near Anakapalle, India, 100 mph (Category 2)
- December 17: TD 8A, 40 mph (tropical depression)
How 1998 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 1st of 47 North Indian seasons since 1980 for named storms, 4th for hurricane strength (tied with 2 other seasons) and 12th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 11 named storms, in 1998, and the highest ACE is 85, in 2019.
1998 storm names
No storm in the 1998 season was named.
11 systems were tracked without a name and are listed by number.
1998 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 1998?
The 1998 North Indian cyclone season had 11 named storms, 4 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 1B and the last was Cyclone 8A.
What was the strongest storm of 1998?
Cyclone 3A. It peaked at 120 mph (195 km/h, 105 kt) with a lowest pressure of 958 mb on June 9. That is Category 3 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 27 North Indian storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 43% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 1998 season end?
The North Indian Ocean has no official season, so the 1998 season is the calendar year: every storm that formed by December 31 counts. The last system, Cyclone 8A, dissipated on December 17. Since 1980, 31 North Indian storms reached tropical-storm strength in December.