2002 North Indian cyclone season
Apr–Jun · Oct–Dec · Season ended
The 2002 North Indian cyclone season produced 5 named storms, 0 at hurricane strength and 0 major storms, against a 1991–2020 average of 6.3, 2.0 and 1.0. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 8, 32% of the average.
2002 season at a glance
- Named storms: 5 (1991–2020 average 6.3).
- Hurricane strength (64 kt+): 0 (average 2.0).
- Major, 96 kt+: 0 (average 1.0).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 7.6, 32% of the 24 average.
- Named-storm days: 12.8, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Tropical Storm 1A, May 7.
- First storm at hurricane strength: none.
- Last storm to dissipate: Tropical Storm 5A, December 25.
- All systems tracked: 6, including 1 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 2002 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TD 1A | – | TS | 991 mb | Şalālah, Oman |
| TD 2B | – | TS | 991 mb | Waw, Myanmar |
| Unnamed | – | TD | 1002 mb | — |
| TD 3B | – | TS | 984 mb | Baruipur, India |
| TD 4B | – | TS | 991 mb | — |
| TD 5A | – | TS | 997 mb | — |
- TD 1A: This system formed in the North Indian in May 2002 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 991 mb. It made landfall near Şalālah, Oman. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- TD 2B: This system formed in the North Indian in May 2002 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 991 mb. It made landfall near Waw, Myanmar. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in October 2002 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1002 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 1 day.
- TD 3B: This system formed in the North Indian in November 2002 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 Baruipur, India. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- TD 4B: This system formed in the North Indian in November 2002 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 991 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- TD 5A: This system formed in the North Indian in December 2002 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 997 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 2002
Tropical Storm 3B was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 65 mph (100 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 984 mb, on November 12. It stayed below hurricane strength (64 kt, 74 mph).
85 North Indian storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 23 matched it. It produced 9% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 2002
3 of the season’s 6 systems made landfall, none of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
How 2002 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 29th of 47 North Indian seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 9 other seasons), 39th for hurricane strength (tied with 8 other seasons) and 40th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 11 named storms, in 1998, and the highest ACE is 85, in 2019.
2002 storm names
No storm in the 2002 season was named.
6 systems were tracked without a name and are listed by number.
2002 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 2002?
The 2002 North Indian cyclone season had 5 named storms, 0 at hurricane strength and 0 major storms, from 6 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 1A and the last was Tropical Storm 5A.
What was the strongest storm of 2002?
Tropical Storm 3B. It peaked at 65 mph (100 km/h, 55 kt) with a lowest pressure of 984 mb on November 12. It stayed below hurricane strength (64 kt, 74 mph). 85 North Indian storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 9% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 2002 season end?
The North Indian Ocean has no official season, so the 2002 season is the calendar year: every storm that formed by December 31 counts. The last system, Tropical Storm 5A, dissipated on December 25. Since 1980, 31 North Indian storms reached tropical-storm strength in December.