2014 North Indian cyclone season
Apr–Jun · Oct–Dec · Season ended
The 2014 North Indian cyclone season produced 6 named storms, 2 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 31, 130% of the average.
2014 season at a glance
- Named storms: 6 (1991–2020 average 6.3).
- Hurricane strength (64 kt+): 2 (average 2.0).
- Major, 96 kt+: 2 (average 1.0).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 30.7, 130% of the 24 average.
- Named-storm days: 18.0, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Tropical Storm 1B, January 4.
- First storm at hurricane strength: Hudhud, October 10.
- First major storm: Hudhud, October 11.
- Last storm to dissipate: Tropical Storm 5B, November 9.
- All systems tracked: 8, 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 2014 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TD 1B | – | TS | 993 mb | Mullaittivu, Sri Lanka |
| Unnamed | – | TD | 1000 mb | — |
| Nanauk | – | TS | 982 mb | — |
| Unnamed | – | TD | 988 mb | — |
| Unnamed | – | TS | 990 mb | — |
| Hudhud | – | C4 | 937 mb | Visakhapatnam, India |
| Nilofar | – | C4 | 937 mb | — |
| TD 5B | – | TS | 996 mb | — |
- TD 1B: This system formed in the North Indian in January 2014 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 993 mb. It made landfall near Mullaittivu, Sri Lanka. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in May 2014 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1000 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Nanauk: Nanauk formed in the North Indian in June 2014 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 6 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in July 2014 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 30 mph (45 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 988 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in August 2014 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 990 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Hudhud: Hudhud formed in the North Indian in October 2014 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 Visakhapatnam, India. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Nilofar: Nilofar formed in the North Indian in October 2014 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 did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- TD 5B: This system formed in the North Indian in November 2014 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 996 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 2014
Cyclone Hudhud was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 130 mph (215 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 937 mb, on October 11. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
18 North Indian storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 4 matched it. It produced 45% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 2014
2 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.
How 2014 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 19th of 47 North Indian seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 9 other seasons), 12th for hurricane strength (tied with 10 other seasons) and 10th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 11 named storms, in 1998, and the highest ACE is 85, in 2019.
2014 storm names
The 2014 season used 3 names: Nanauk, Hudhud, Nilofar.
5 systems were tracked without a name and are listed by number.
2014 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 2014?
The 2014 North Indian cyclone season had 6 named storms, 2 at hurricane strength and 2 major storms, 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 Tropical Storm 1B and the last was Tropical Storm 5B.
What was the strongest storm of 2014?
Cyclone Hudhud. It peaked at 130 mph (215 km/h, 115 kt) with a lowest pressure of 937 mb on October 11. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 18 North Indian storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 45% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 2014 season end?
The North Indian Ocean has no official season, so the 2014 season is the calendar year: every storm that formed by December 31 counts. The last system, Tropical Storm 5B, dissipated on November 9. Since 1980, 31 North Indian storms reached tropical-storm strength in December.