2019 North Indian cyclone season
Apr–Jun · Oct–Dec · Season ended
The 2019 North Indian cyclone season produced 9 named storms, 5 at hurricane strength and 4 major storms, against a 1991–2020 average of 6.3, 2.0 and 1.0. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 85, 360% of the average.
2019 season at a glance
- Named storms: 9 (1991–2020 average 6.3).
- Hurricane strength (64 kt+): 5 (average 2.0).
- Major, 96 kt+: 4, including 1 at Category 5 strength (average 1.0).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 85.0, 360% of the 24 average.
- Named-storm days: 38.0, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Fani, April 27.
- First storm at hurricane strength: Fani, April 29.
- First major storm: Fani, April 30.
- Last storm to dissipate: Tropical Storm Unnamed, December 10.
- All systems tracked: 10, including 1 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 2019 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fani | – | C5 | 900 mb | Pratapsasan, India |
| Vayu | – | C3 | 948 mb | — |
| Unnamed | – | TS | 988 mb | — |
| Hikaa | – | C2 | 969 mb | Yes |
| Unnamed | – | TD | 1002 mb | — |
| Kyaar | – | C4 | 924 mb | — |
| Maha | – | C3 | 959 mb | — |
| Pawan | – | TS | 997 mb | Eyl, Somalia |
| TD 7A | – | TS | 993 mb | — |
| Unnamed | – | TS | 1000 mb | — |
- Fani: Fani formed in the North Indian in April 2019 and peaked as a Category 5 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 175 mph (280 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 900 mb. It made landfall near Pratapsasan, India. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Vayu: Vayu formed in the North Indian in June 2019 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 did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in August 2019 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 3 days.
- Hikaa: Hikaa formed in the North Indian in September 2019 and peaked as a Category 2 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 969 mb. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in September 2019 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1002 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Kyaar: Kyaar formed in the North Indian in October 2019 and peaked as a Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 155 mph (250 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 924 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 12 days.
- Maha: Maha formed in the North Indian in October 2019 and peaked as a Category 3 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 959 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 14 days.
- Pawan: Pawan formed in the North Indian in November 2019 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 997 mb. It made landfall near Eyl, Somalia. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- TD 7A: This system formed in the North Indian in December 2019 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 993 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in December 2019 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1000 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 2019
Cyclone Fani was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 175 mph (280 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 900 mb, on May 2. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
No North Indian storm since 1980 has peaked higher. It produced 26% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 2019
3 of the season’s 10 systems made landfall, 2 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
How 2019 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 3rd of 47 North Indian seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 3 other seasons), 1st for hurricane strength (tied with 2 other seasons) and 1st for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 11 named storms, in 1998, and the highest ACE is 85, in 2019.
2019 storm names
The 2019 season used 6 names: Fani, Vayu, Hikaa, Kyaar, Maha, Pawan.
4 systems were tracked without a name and are listed by number.
2019 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 2019?
The 2019 North Indian cyclone season had 9 named storms, 5 at hurricane strength and 4 major storms, 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 Fani and the last was Tropical Storm Unnamed.
What was the strongest storm of 2019?
Cyclone Fani. It peaked at 175 mph (280 km/h, 150 kt) with a lowest pressure of 900 mb on May 2. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. No North Indian storm since 1980 has peaked higher. It produced 26% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 2019 season end?
The North Indian Ocean has no official season, so the 2019 season is the calendar year: every storm that formed by December 31 counts. The last system, Tropical Storm Unnamed, dissipated on December 10. Since 1980, 31 North Indian storms reached tropical-storm strength in December.