2006 North Indian cyclone season
Apr–Jun · Oct–Dec · Season ended
The 2006 North Indian cyclone season produced 7 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 17, 71% of the average.
2006 season at a glance
- Named storms: 7 (1991–2020 average 6.3).
- Hurricane strength (64 kt+): 1 (average 2.0).
- Major, 96 kt+: 1 (average 1.0).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 16.7, 71% of the 24 average.
- Named-storm days: 13.5, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Tropical Storm 1B, January 13.
- First storm at hurricane strength: Mala, April 27.
- First major storm: Mala, April 28.
- Last storm to dissipate: Tropical Storm 6B, October 30.
- All systems tracked: 12, including 5 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 2006 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TD 1B | – | TS | 991 mb | — |
| Mala | – | C4 | 922 mb | Kyeintali, Myanmar |
| TD 3B | – | TS | 982 mb | Parādīp Garh, India |
| Unnamed | – | TS | 986 mb | Nimāparha, India |
| Unnamed | – | TD | 992 mb | Baripāda, India |
| Unnamed | – | TD | 988 mb | Kendrāparha, India |
| Unnamed | – | TD | 990 mb | Kendrāparha, India |
| Unnamed | – | TD | 992 mb | Bhadrak, India |
| Mukda | – | TS | 984 mb | — |
| Unnamed | – | TD | 996 mb | — |
| TD 5B | – | TS | 997 mb | Pātrapur, India |
| TD 6B | – | TS | 984 mb | Vetapālem, India |
- TD 1B: This system formed in the North Indian in January 2006 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 7 days.
- Mala: Mala formed in the North Indian in April 2006 and peaked as a Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (220 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 922 mb. It made landfall near Kyeintali, Myanmar. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- TD 3B: This system formed in the North Indian in June 2006 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 982 mb. It made landfall near Parādīp Garh, India. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in August 2006 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 986 mb. It made landfall near Nimāparha, India. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in August 2006 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 992 mb. It made landfall near Baripāda, India. The system was tracked for 1 day.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in August 2006 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 988 mb. It made landfall near Kendrāparha, India. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in August 2006 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 Kendrāparha, India. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in September 2006 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 992 mb. It made landfall near Bhadrak, India. The system was tracked for 1 day.
- Mukda: Mukda formed in the North Indian in September 2006 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 984 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in September 2006 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 996 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- TD 5B: This system formed in the North Indian in September 2006 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 997 mb. It made landfall near Pātrapur, India. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- TD 6B: This system formed in the North Indian in October 2006 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 Vetapālem, India. The system was tracked for 3 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 2006
Cyclone Mala was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 140 mph (220 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 922 mb, on April 28. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
14 North Indian storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 3 matched it. It produced 64% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 2006
9 of the season’s 12 systems made landfall, 1 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
- April 29: Mala near Kyeintali, Myanmar, 90 mph (Category 1)
- July 2: TD 3B near Parādīp Garh, India, 40 mph (tropical depression)
- August 2: Unnamed near Nimāparha, India, 40 mph (tropical storm)
- August 12: Unnamed near Baripāda, India, 35 mph (tropical depression)
- August 16: Unnamed near Kendrāparha, India, 35 mph (tropical depression)
- August 29: Unnamed near Kendrāparha, India, 35 mph (tropical depression)
- September 4: Unnamed near Bhadrak, India, 35 mph (tropical depression)
- September 29: TD 5B near Pātrapur, India, 35 mph (tropical depression)
- October 30: TD 6B near Vetapālem, India, 50 mph (tropical storm)
How 2006 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 12th of 47 North Indian seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 6 other seasons), 23rd for hurricane strength (tied with 15 other seasons) and 23rd for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 11 named storms, in 1998, and the highest ACE is 85, in 2019.
2006 storm names
The 2006 season used 2 names: Mala, Mukda.
10 systems were tracked without a name and are listed by number.
2006 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 2006?
The 2006 North Indian cyclone season had 7 named storms, 1 at hurricane strength and 1 major storm, from 12 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 6B.
What was the strongest storm of 2006?
Cyclone Mala. It peaked at 140 mph (220 km/h, 120 kt) with a lowest pressure of 922 mb on April 28. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 14 North Indian storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 64% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 2006 season end?
The North Indian Ocean has no official season, so the 2006 season is the calendar year: every storm that formed by December 31 counts. The last system, Tropical Storm 6B, dissipated on October 30. Since 1980, 31 North Indian storms reached tropical-storm strength in December.