2017 North Indian cyclone season
Apr–Jun · Oct–Dec · Season ended
The 2017 North Indian cyclone season produced 6 named storms, 2 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 18, 76% of the average.
2017 season at a glance
- Named storms: 6 (1991–2020 average 6.3).
- Hurricane strength (64 kt+): 2 (average 2.0).
- Major, 96 kt+: 1 (average 1.0).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 17.9, 76% of the 24 average.
- Named-storm days: 13.8, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Maarutha, April 15.
- First storm at hurricane strength: Mora, May 29.
- First major storm: Ockhi, December 2.
- Last storm to dissipate: Tropical Storm 4B, December 10.
- All systems tracked: 10, including 4 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 2017 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maarutha | – | TS | 985 mb | Taungup, Myanmar |
| Mora | – | C1 | 963 mb | Sātkania, Bangladesh |
| Unnamed | – | TS | 988 mb | — |
| Unnamed | – | TD | 992 mb | — |
| Unnamed | – | TD | 993 mb | — |
| Unnamed | – | TS | 996 mb | — |
| Unnamed | – | TD | 998 mb | — |
| Unnamed | – | TD | 1001 mb | — |
| Ockhi | – | C3 | 948 mb | Beliatta, Sri Lanka |
| TD 4B | – | TS | 989 mb | — |
- Maarutha: Maarutha formed in the North Indian in April 2017 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 985 mb. It made landfall near Taungup, Myanmar. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Mora: Mora formed in the North Indian in May 2017 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 963 mb. It made landfall near Sātkania, Bangladesh. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in June 2017 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 988 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 1 day.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in July 2017 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 992 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 1 day.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in July 2017 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 993 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 1 day.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in October 2017 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 1 day.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in October 2017 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 November 2017 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1001 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Ockhi: Ockhi formed in the North Indian in November 2017 and peaked as a Category 3 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 948 mb. It made landfall near Beliatta, Sri Lanka. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- TD 4B: This system formed in the North Indian in December 2017 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 4 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 2017
Cyclone Ockhi was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 115 mph (185 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 948 mb, on December 2. That is Category 3 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
33 North Indian storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 3 matched it. It produced 65% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 2017
3 of the season’s 10 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 2017 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 21st for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 11 named storms, in 1998, and the highest ACE is 85, in 2019.
2017 storm names
The 2017 season used 3 names: Maarutha, Mora, Ockhi.
7 systems were tracked without a name and are listed by number.
2017 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 2017?
The 2017 North Indian cyclone season had 6 named storms, 2 at hurricane strength and 1 major storm, from 10 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 Maarutha and the last was Tropical Storm 4B.
What was the strongest storm of 2017?
Cyclone Ockhi. It peaked at 115 mph (185 km/h, 100 kt) with a lowest pressure of 948 mb on December 2. That is Category 3 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 33 North Indian storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 65% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 2017 season end?
The North Indian Ocean has no official season, so the 2017 season is the calendar year: every storm that formed by December 31 counts. The last system, Tropical Storm 4B, dissipated on December 10. Since 1980, 31 North Indian storms reached tropical-storm strength in December.