2010 North Indian cyclone season
Apr–Jun · Oct–Dec · Season ended
The 2010 North Indian cyclone season produced 5 named storms, 3 at hurricane strength and 2 major storms, against a 1991–2020 average of 6.3, 2.0 and 1.0. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 29, 123% of the average.
2010 season at a glance
- Named storms: 5 (1991–2020 average 6.3).
- Hurricane strength (64 kt+): 3 (average 2.0).
- Major, 96 kt+: 2 (average 1.0).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 29.0, 123% of the 24 average.
- Named-storm days: 16.8, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Laila, May 17.
- First storm at hurricane strength: Laila, May 19.
- First major storm: Phet, June 2.
- Last storm to dissipate: Tropical Depression Unnamed, December 8.
- All systems tracked: 7, including 2 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 2010 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bandu | – | TS | 982 mb | — |
| Laila | – | C1 | 974 mb | Bāpatla, India |
| Phet | – | C4 | 929 mb | Maşīrah, Oman |
| Unnamed | – | TD | 996 mb | Canning, India |
| Unnamed | – | TS | 995 mb | Sompeta, India |
| Giri | – | C4 | 922 mb | Sittwe, Myanmar |
| Unnamed | – | TD | 1000 mb | Chilakalūrupet, India |
- Bandu: Bandu formed in the North Indian in May 2010 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 982 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Laila: Laila formed in the North Indian in May 2010 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 974 mb. It made landfall near Bāpatla, India. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Phet: Phet formed in the North Indian in May 2010 and peaked as a Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (230 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 929 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near Maşīrah, Oman and last near Karachi, Pakistan. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in October 2010 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 996 mb. It made landfall near Canning, India. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in October 2010 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 995 mb. It made landfall near Sompeta, India. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Giri: Giri formed in the North Indian in October 2010 and peaked as a Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 155 mph (250 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 922 mb. It made landfall near Sittwe, Myanmar. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in December 2010 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 landfall near Chilakalūrupet, India. The system was tracked for 1 day.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 2010
Cyclone Giri was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 155 mph (250 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 922 mb, on October 22. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
8 North Indian storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 1 matched it. It produced 24% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 2010
6 of the season’s 7 systems made landfall, 2 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
- May 20: Laila near Bāpatla, India, 65 mph (tropical storm)
- June 4: Phet near Maşīrah, Oman, 105 mph (Category 2)
- June 6: Phet near Karachi, Pakistan, 35 mph (tropical depression)
- October 8: Unnamed near Canning, India, 35 mph (tropical depression)
- October 15: Unnamed near Sompeta, India, 40 mph (tropical storm)
- October 22: Giri near Sittwe, Myanmar, 125 mph (Category 3)
- December 8: Unnamed near Chilakalūrupet, India, 30 mph (tropical depression)
How 2010 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 29th 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 11th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 11 named storms, in 1998, and the highest ACE is 85, in 2019.
2010 storm names
The 2010 season used 4 names: Bandu, Laila, Phet, Giri.
3 systems were tracked without a name and are listed by number.
2010 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 2010?
The 2010 North Indian cyclone season had 5 named storms, 3 at hurricane strength and 2 major storms, from 7 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 Laila and the last was Giri.
What was the strongest storm of 2010?
Cyclone Giri. It peaked at 155 mph (250 km/h, 135 kt) with a lowest pressure of 922 mb on October 22. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 8 North Indian storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 24% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 2010 season end?
The North Indian Ocean has no official season, so the 2010 season is the calendar year: every storm that formed by December 31 counts. The last system, Tropical Depression Unnamed, dissipated on December 8. Since 1980, 31 North Indian storms reached tropical-storm strength in December.