2018 North Indian cyclone season
Apr–Jun · Oct–Dec · Season ended
The 2018 North Indian cyclone season produced 10 named storms, 5 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 37, 158% of the average.
2018 season at a glance
- Named storms: 10 (1991–2020 average 6.3).
- Hurricane strength (64 kt+): 5 (average 2.0).
- Major, 96 kt+: 2 (average 1.0).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 37.2, 158% of the 24 average.
- Named-storm days: 29.8, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Sagar, May 16.
- First storm at hurricane strength: Sagar, May 18.
- First major storm: Mekunu, May 25.
- Last storm to dissipate: Phethai, December 17.
- All systems tracked: 14, 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 2018 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed | – | TD | 1006 mb | — |
| Sagar | – | C1 | 974 mb | Agabar, Somalia |
| Mekunu | – | C3 | 948 mb | Şalālah, Oman |
| TD 3B | – | TS | 989 mb | Kyaukpyu, Myanmar |
| Unnamed | – | TD | 988 mb | — |
| Unnamed | – | TS | 988 mb | Jaleshwar, India |
| Unnamed | – | TD | 992 mb | Balasore, India |
| Unnamed | – | TD | 993 mb | — |
| Unnamed | – | TS | 990 mb | Contai, India |
| Daye | – | TS | 995 mb | Mohana, India |
| Luban | – | C2 | 959 mb | Al Ghayz̧ah, Yemen |
| Titli | – | C3 | 944 mb | Palāsa, India |
| Gaja | – | C1 | 963 mb | Thiruthuraipoondi, India |
| Phethai | – | TS | 989 mb | Payakaraopeta, India |
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in March 2018 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1006 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Sagar: Sagar formed in the North Indian in May 2018 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 974 mb. It made landfall near Agabar, Somalia. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Mekunu: Mekunu formed in the North Indian in May 2018 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 Şalālah, Oman. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- TD 3B: This system formed in the North Indian in May 2018 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 Kyaukpyu, Myanmar. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in June 2018 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 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 2018 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 Jaleshwar, India. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in August 2018 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 992 mb. It made landfall near Balasore, India. The system was tracked for 1 day.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in August 2018 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 2 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in September 2018 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 990 mb. It made landfall near Contai, India. The system was tracked for 1 day.
- Daye: Daye formed in the North Indian in September 2018 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 995 mb. It made landfall near Mohana, India. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Luban: Luban formed in the North Indian in October 2018 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 Al Ghayz̧ah, Yemen. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Titli: Titli formed in the North Indian in October 2018 and peaked as a Category 3 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 944 mb. It made landfall near Palāsa, India. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Gaja: Gaja formed in the North Indian in November 2018 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 Thiruthuraipoondi, India. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Phethai: Phethai formed in the North Indian in December 2018 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 989 mb. It made landfall near Payakaraopeta, India. The system was tracked for 5 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 2018
Cyclone Titli was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 120 mph (195 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 944 mb, on October 10. That is Category 3 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
27 North Indian storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 5 matched it. It produced 17% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 2018
11 of the season’s 14 systems made landfall, 3 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
- May 19: Sagar near Agabar, Somalia, 60 mph (tropical storm)
- May 25: Mekunu near Şalālah, Oman, 105 mph (Category 2)
- May 29: TD 3B near Kyaukpyu, Myanmar, 45 mph (tropical storm)
- July 21: Unnamed near Jaleshwar, India, 40 mph (tropical storm)
- August 7: Unnamed near Balasore, India, 35 mph (tropical depression)
- September 6: Unnamed near Contai, India, 40 mph (tropical storm)
- September 20: Daye near Mohana, India, 40 mph (tropical storm)
- October 11: Titli near Palāsa, India, 115 mph (Category 3)
- October 14: Luban near Al Ghayz̧ah, Yemen, 40 mph (tropical storm)
- November 15: Gaja near Thiruthuraipoondi, India, 85 mph (Category 1)
- December 17: Phethai near Payakaraopeta, India, 30 mph (tropical depression)
How 2018 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 2nd of 47 North Indian seasons since 1980 for named storms, 1st for hurricane strength (tied with 2 other seasons) and 7th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 11 named storms, in 1998, and the highest ACE is 85, in 2019.
2018 storm names
The 2018 season used 7 names: Sagar, Mekunu, Daye, Luban, Titli, Gaja, Phethai.
7 systems were tracked without a name and are listed by number.
2018 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 2018?
The 2018 North Indian cyclone season had 10 named storms, 5 at hurricane strength and 2 major storms, from 14 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 Sagar and the last was Phethai.
What was the strongest storm of 2018?
Cyclone Titli. It peaked at 120 mph (195 km/h, 105 kt) with a lowest pressure of 944 mb on October 10. That is Category 3 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 27 North Indian storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 17% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 2018 season end?
The North Indian Ocean has no official season, so the 2018 season is the calendar year: every storm that formed by December 31 counts. The last system, Phethai, dissipated on December 17. Since 1980, 31 North Indian storms reached tropical-storm strength in December.