1999 North Indian cyclone season
Apr–Jun · Oct–Dec · Season ended
The 1999 North Indian cyclone season produced 6 named storms, 3 at hurricane strength and 3 major storms, against a 1991–2020 average of 6.3, 2.0 and 1.0. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 45, 189% of the average.
1999 season at a glance
- Named storms: 6 (1991–2020 average 6.3).
- Hurricane strength (64 kt+): 3 (average 2.0).
- Major, 96 kt+: 3, including 1 at Category 5 strength (average 1.0).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 44.7, 189% of the 24 average.
- Named-storm days: 18.0, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Tropical Storm 1B, February 2.
- First storm at hurricane strength: Cyclone 2A, May 17.
- First major storm: Cyclone 2A, May 18.
- Last storm to dissipate: Tropical Depression Unnamed, December 10.
- All systems tracked: 9, including 3 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 1999 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TD 1B | – | TS | 998 mb | — |
| TD 2A | – | C3 | 946 mb | Dayapar, India |
| TD 3B | – | TS | — | Kharagpur, India |
| Unnamed | – | TS | 986 mb | — |
| Unnamed | – | TD | 990 mb | Jaynagar Majilpur, India |
| Unnamed | – | TD | 992 mb | — |
| TD 4B | – | C4 | 968 mb | Brahmapur, India |
| TD 5B | – | C5 | 912 mb | Jagatsinghapur, India |
| Unnamed | – | TD | 998 mb | — |
- TD 1B: This system formed in the North Indian in January 1999 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 5 days.
- TD 2A: This system formed in the North Indian in May 1999 and peaked as a Category 3 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph (205 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 946 mb. It made landfall near Dayapar, India. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- TD 3B: This system formed in the North Indian in June 1999 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h). It made landfall near Kharagpur, India. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in June 1999 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 986 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 1 day.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in July 1999 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 990 mb. It made landfall near Jaynagar Majilpur, India. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in August 1999 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 30 mph (45 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 992 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- TD 4B: This system formed in the North Indian in October 1999 and peaked as a Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (220 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 968 mb. It made landfall near Brahmapur, India. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- TD 5B: This system formed in the North Indian in October 1999 and peaked as a Category 5 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph (260 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 912 mb. It made landfall near Jagatsinghapur, India. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in December 1999 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 2 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 1999
Cyclone 5B was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 160 mph (260 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 912 mb, on October 28. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
4 North Indian storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 3 matched it. It produced 39% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 1999
5 of the season’s 9 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 2A near Dayapar, India, 125 mph (Category 3)
- June 10: TD 3B near Kharagpur, India, 40 mph (tropical storm)
- July 27: Unnamed near Jaynagar Majilpur, India, 35 mph (tropical depression)
- October 17: TD 4B near Brahmapur, India, 105 mph (Category 2)
- October 29: TD 5B near Jagatsinghapur, India, 155 mph (Category 4)
How 1999 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 19th of 47 North Indian seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 9 other seasons), 7th for hurricane strength (tied with 4 other seasons) and 4th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 11 named storms, in 1998, and the highest ACE is 85, in 2019.
1999 storm names
No storm in the 1999 season was named.
9 systems were tracked without a name and are listed by number.
1999 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 1999?
The 1999 North Indian cyclone season had 6 named storms, 3 at hurricane strength and 3 major storms, 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 Cyclone 5B.
What was the strongest storm of 1999?
Cyclone 5B. It peaked at 160 mph (260 km/h, 140 kt) with a lowest pressure of 912 mb on October 28. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 4 North Indian storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 39% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 1999 season end?
The North Indian Ocean has no official season, so the 1999 season is the calendar year: every storm that formed by December 31 counts. The last system, Tropical Depression Unnamed, dissipated on December 10. Since 1980, 31 North Indian storms reached tropical-storm strength in December.