2013 North Indian cyclone season
Apr–Jun · Oct–Dec · Season ended
The 2013 North Indian cyclone season produced 5 named storms, 3 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 39, 163% of the average.
2013 season at a glance
- Named storms: 5 (1991–2020 average 6.3).
- Hurricane strength (64 kt+): 3 (average 2.0).
- Major, 96 kt+: 1, including 1 at Category 5 strength (average 1.0).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 38.5, 163% of the 24 average.
- Named-storm days: 23.8, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Mahasen, May 10.
- First storm at hurricane strength: Phailin, October 10.
- First major storm: Phailin, October 10.
- Last storm to dissipate: Madi, December 12.
- All systems tracked: 8, 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 2013 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mahasen | – | TS | 989 mb | Lebachhara, India |
| Unnamed | – | TD | 990 mb | Jaynagar Majilpur, India |
| Unnamed | – | TD | 990 mb | — |
| Unnamed | – | TD | 990 mb | — |
| Phailin | – | C5 | 918 mb | Purushottampur, India |
| TD 3A | – | TS | 989 mb | Eyl, Somalia |
| Helen | – | C1 | 970 mb | Machilīpatnam, India |
| Madi | – | C2 | 959 mb | Kāraikkudi, India |
- Mahasen: Mahasen formed in the North Indian in May 2013 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 Lebachhara, India. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in May 2013 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 July 2013 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 990 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in August 2013 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 990 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Phailin: Phailin formed in the North Indian in October 2013 and peaked as a Category 5 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph (260 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 918 mb. It made landfall near Purushottampur, India. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- TD 3A: This system formed in the North Indian in November 2013 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 Eyl, Somalia. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Helen: Helen formed in the North Indian in November 2013 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 970 mb. It made landfall near Machilīpatnam, India. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Madi: Madi formed in the North Indian in December 2013 and peaked as a Category 2 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph (155 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 959 mb. It made landfall near Kāraikkudi, India. The system was tracked for 8 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 2013
Cyclone Phailin was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 160 mph (260 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 918 mb, on October 11. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
4 North Indian storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 3 matched it. It produced 52% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 2013
6 of the season’s 8 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 16: Mahasen near Lebachhara, India, 45 mph (tropical storm)
- May 29: Unnamed near Jaynagar Majilpur, India, 35 mph (tropical depression)
- October 12: Phailin near Purushottampur, India, 115 mph (Category 3)
- November 11: TD 3A near Eyl, Somalia, 40 mph (tropical storm)
- November 22: Helen near Machilīpatnam, India, 50 mph (tropical storm)
- December 12: Madi near Kāraikkudi, India, 30 mph (tropical depression)
How 2013 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 6th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 11 named storms, in 1998, and the highest ACE is 85, in 2019.
2013 storm names
The 2013 season used 4 names: Mahasen, Phailin, Helen, Madi.
4 systems were tracked without a name and are listed by number.
2013 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 2013?
The 2013 North Indian cyclone season had 5 named storms, 3 at hurricane strength and 1 major storm, from 8 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 Mahasen and the last was Madi.
What was the strongest storm of 2013?
Cyclone Phailin. It peaked at 160 mph (260 km/h, 140 kt) with a lowest pressure of 918 mb on October 11. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 4 North Indian storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 52% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 2013 season end?
The North Indian Ocean has no official season, so the 2013 season is the calendar year: every storm that formed by December 31 counts. The last system, Madi, dissipated on December 12. Since 1980, 31 North Indian storms reached tropical-storm strength in December.