2016 North Indian cyclone season
Apr–Jun · Oct–Dec · Season ended
The 2016 North Indian cyclone season produced 6 named storms, 1 at hurricane strength and 0 major storms, against a 1991–2020 average of 6.3, 2.0 and 1.0. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 15, 64% of the average.
2016 season at a glance
- Named storms: 6 (1991–2020 average 6.3).
- Hurricane strength (64 kt+): 1 (average 2.0).
- Major, 96 kt+: 0 (average 1.0).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 15.0, 64% of the 24 average.
- Named-storm days: 15.8, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Roanu, May 17.
- First storm at hurricane strength: Vardah, December 10.
- Last storm to dissipate: Vardah, December 19.
- 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 2016 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roanu | – | TS | 978 mb | Khagrachhari, Bangladesh |
| TD 2A | – | TS | 993 mb | — |
| Unnamed | – | TS | 994 mb | — |
| Unnamed | – | TD | 994 mb | — |
| Kyant | – | TS | 993 mb | — |
| Unnamed | – | TD | 1000 mb | — |
| Nada | – | TS | 989 mb | — |
| Vardah | – | C1 | 959 mb | Tiruvallur, India |
- Roanu: Roanu formed in the North Indian in May 2016 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 978 mb. It made landfall near Khagrachhari, Bangladesh. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- TD 2A: This system formed in the North Indian in June 2016 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 993 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in August 2016 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 2016 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 4 days.
- Kyant: Kyant formed in the North Indian in October 2016 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 993 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in November 2016 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 4 days.
- Nada: Nada formed in the North Indian in November 2016 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 989 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Vardah: Vardah formed in the North Indian in December 2016 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 959 mb. It made landfall near Tiruvallur, India. The system was tracked for 13 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 2016
Cyclone Vardah was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 90 mph (150 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 959 mb, on December 11. That is Category 1 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
46 North Indian storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 4 matched it. It produced 56% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 2016
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 2016 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 28th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 11 named storms, in 1998, and the highest ACE is 85, in 2019.
2016 storm names
The 2016 season used 4 names: Roanu, Kyant, Nada, Vardah.
4 systems were tracked without a name and are listed by number.
2016 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 2016?
The 2016 North Indian cyclone season had 6 named storms, 1 at hurricane strength and 0 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 Roanu and the last was Vardah.
What was the strongest storm of 2016?
Cyclone Vardah. It peaked at 90 mph (150 km/h, 80 kt) with a lowest pressure of 959 mb on December 11. That is Category 1 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 46 North Indian storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 56% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 2016 season end?
The North Indian Ocean has no official season, so the 2016 season is the calendar year: every storm that formed by December 31 counts. The last system, Vardah, dissipated on December 19. Since 1980, 31 North Indian storms reached tropical-storm strength in December.