2015 North Indian cyclone season
Apr–Jun · Oct–Dec · Season ended
The 2015 North Indian cyclone season produced 9 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 40, 169% of the average.
2015 season at a glance
- Named storms: 9 (1991–2020 average 6.3).
- Hurricane strength (64 kt+): 2 (average 2.0).
- Major, 96 kt+: 2 (average 1.0).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 39.8, 169% of the 24 average.
- Named-storm days: 23.3, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Ashobaa, June 7.
- First storm at hurricane strength: Chapala, October 29.
- First major storm: Chapala, October 30.
- Last storm to dissipate: Megh, November 10.
- All systems tracked: 12, 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 2015 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashobaa | – | TS | 982 mb | — |
| Unnamed | – | TD | 990 mb | Kodala, India |
| Unnamed | – | TS | 988 mb | Una, India |
| Unnamed | – | TD | 994 mb | — |
| Komen | – | TS | 989 mb | Maijdi, Bangladesh |
| Unnamed | – | TS | 994 mb | — |
| Unnamed | – | TD | 998 mb | — |
| Unnamed | – | TS | 996 mb | — |
| TD 3A | – | TS | 996 mb | — |
| Chapala | – | C4 | 926 mb | Mukalla, Yemen |
| Megh | – | C3 | 941 mb | — |
| Unnamed | – | TS | 996 mb | — |
- Ashobaa: Ashobaa formed in the North Indian in June 2015 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 June 2015 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 Kodala, India. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in June 2015 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 988 mb. It made landfall near Una, India. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in July 2015 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.
- Komen: Komen formed in the North Indian in July 2015 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 Maijdi, Bangladesh. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in July 2015 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 994 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in August 2015 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 998 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 1 day.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in September 2015 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 3 days.
- TD 3A: This system formed in the North Indian in October 2015 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 5 days.
- Chapala: Chapala formed in the North Indian in October 2015 and peaked as a Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph (240 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 926 mb. It made landfall near Mukalla, Yemen. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Megh: Megh formed in the North Indian in November 2015 and peaked as a Category 3 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph (205 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 941 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in November 2015 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 2 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 2015
Cyclone Chapala was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 150 mph (240 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 926 mb, on October 30. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
10 North Indian storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 59% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 2015
4 of the season’s 12 systems made landfall, none of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
How 2015 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 3rd of 47 North Indian seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 3 other seasons), 12th for hurricane strength (tied with 10 other seasons) and 5th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 11 named storms, in 1998, and the highest ACE is 85, in 2019.
2015 storm names
The 2015 season used 4 names: Ashobaa, Komen, Chapala, Megh.
8 systems were tracked without a name and are listed by number.
2015 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 2015?
The 2015 North Indian cyclone season had 9 named storms, 2 at hurricane strength and 2 major storms, 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 Ashobaa and the last was Tropical Storm Unnamed.
What was the strongest storm of 2015?
Cyclone Chapala. It peaked at 150 mph (240 km/h, 130 kt) with a lowest pressure of 926 mb on October 30. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 10 North Indian storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 59% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 2015 season end?
The North Indian Ocean has no official season, so the 2015 season is the calendar year: every storm that formed by December 31 counts. The last system, Megh, dissipated on November 10. Since 1980, 31 North Indian storms reached tropical-storm strength in December.