2008 North Indian cyclone season
Apr–Jun · Oct–Dec · Season ended
The 2008 North Indian cyclone season produced 6 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 20, 83% of the average.
2008 season at a glance
- Named storms: 6 (1991–2020 average 6.3).
- Hurricane strength (64 kt+): 1 (average 2.0).
- Major, 96 kt+: 1 (average 1.0).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 19.7, 83% of the 24 average.
- Named-storm days: 14.5, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Nargis, April 27.
- First storm at hurricane strength: Nargis, April 28.
- First major storm: Nargis, May 1.
- Last storm to dissipate: Tropical Storm 7B, December 9.
- All systems tracked: 10, including 4 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 2008 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nargis | – | C4 | 937 mb | Labutta, Myanmar |
| Unnamed | – | TD | 994 mb | — |
| Unnamed | – | TD | 988 mb | Sarankhola, Bangladesh |
| Unnamed | – | TD | 988 mb | — |
| TD 2B | – | TS | 989 mb | Bhadrak, India |
| TD 3A | – | TD | 1000 mb | Hadibu, Yemen |
| Rashmi | – | TS | 989 mb | Natona, Bangladesh |
| Khai-Muk | – | TS | 989 mb | Kandukūr, India |
| Nisha | – | TS | 985 mb | Mullaittivu, Sri Lanka |
| TD 7B | – | TS | 996 mb | Eravur Town, Sri Lanka |
- Nargis: Nargis formed in the North Indian in April 2008 and peaked as a Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 937 mb. It made landfall near Labutta, Myanmar. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in June 2008 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.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in June 2008 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 Sarankhola, Bangladesh. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in August 2008 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 988 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 1 day.
- TD 2B: This system formed in the North Indian in September 2008 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 989 mb. It made landfall near Bhadrak, India. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- TD 3A: This system formed in the North Indian in October 2008 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1000 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near Hadibu, Yemen and last near Ghayl Bā Wazīr, Yemen. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Rashmi: Rashmi formed in the North Indian in October 2008 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 989 mb. It made landfall near Natona, Bangladesh. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Khai-Muk: Khai-Muk formed in the North Indian in November 2008 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 989 mb. It made landfall near Kandukūr, India. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Nisha: Nisha formed in the North Indian in November 2008 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 985 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near Mullaittivu, Sri Lanka and last near Kurinjippādi, India. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- TD 7B: This system formed in the North Indian in December 2008 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 996 mb. It made landfall near Eravur Town, Sri Lanka. The system was tracked for 7 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 2008
Cyclone Nargis was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 130 mph (215 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 937 mb, on May 2. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
18 North Indian storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 4 matched it. It produced 73% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 2008
8 of the season’s 10 systems made landfall, 1 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
- May 2: Nargis near Labutta, Myanmar, 130 mph (Category 4)
- June 16: Unnamed near Sarankhola, Bangladesh, 35 mph (tropical depression)
- September 16: TD 2B near Bhadrak, India, 50 mph (tropical storm)
- October 21: TD 3A near Hadibu, Yemen, 35 mph (tropical depression)
- October 23: TD 3A near Ghayl Bā Wazīr, Yemen, 30 mph (tropical depression)
- October 26: Rashmi near Natona, Bangladesh, 45 mph (tropical storm)
- November 16: Khai-Muk near Kandukūr, India, 40 mph (tropical storm)
- November 25: Nisha near Mullaittivu, Sri Lanka, 30 mph (tropical depression)
- November 27: Nisha near Kurinjippādi, India, 60 mph (tropical storm)
- December 7: TD 7B near Eravur Town, Sri Lanka, 30 mph (tropical depression)
How 2008 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 19th of 47 North Indian seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 9 other seasons), 23rd for hurricane strength (tied with 15 other seasons) and 18th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 11 named storms, in 1998, and the highest ACE is 85, in 2019.
2008 storm names
The 2008 season used 4 names: Nargis, Rashmi, Khai-Muk, Nisha.
6 systems were tracked without a name and are listed by number.
2008 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 2008?
The 2008 North Indian cyclone season had 6 named storms, 1 at hurricane strength and 1 major storm, from 10 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 Nargis and the last was Tropical Storm 7B.
What was the strongest storm of 2008?
Cyclone Nargis. It peaked at 130 mph (215 km/h, 115 kt) with a lowest pressure of 937 mb on May 2. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 18 North Indian storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 73% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 2008 season end?
The North Indian Ocean has no official season, so the 2008 season is the calendar year: every storm that formed by December 31 counts. The last system, Tropical Storm 7B, dissipated on December 9. Since 1980, 31 North Indian storms reached tropical-storm strength in December.