2020 North Indian cyclone season
Apr–Jun · Oct–Dec · Season ended
The 2020 North Indian cyclone season produced 6 named storms, 4 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 32, 134% of the average.
2020 season at a glance
- Named storms: 6 (1991–2020 average 6.3).
- Hurricane strength (64 kt+): 4 (average 2.0).
- Major, 96 kt+: 2, including 1 at Category 5 strength (average 1.0).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 31.7, 134% of the 24 average.
- Named-storm days: 16.8, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Amphan, May 16.
- First storm at hurricane strength: Amphan, May 17.
- First major storm: Amphan, May 17.
- Last storm to dissipate: Burevi, December 5.
- All systems tracked: 9, 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 2020 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amphan | – | C5 | 901 mb | Jaynagar Majilpur, India |
| Unnamed | – | TD | 1000 mb | — |
| Nisarga | – | C2 | 968 mb | Pāli, India |
| Unnamed | – | TS | 996 mb | Peddāpuram, India |
| Unnamed | – | TD | 1003 mb | — |
| Unnamed | – | TD | 998 mb | Kakdwip, India |
| Gati | – | C3 | 967 mb | Iskushuban, Somalia |
| Nivar | – | C1 | 982 mb | Madurāntakam, India |
| Burevi | – | TS | 999 mb | Mullaittivu, Sri Lanka |
- Amphan: Amphan formed in the North Indian in May 2020 and peaked as a Category 5 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 165 mph (270 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 901 mb. It made landfall near Jaynagar Majilpur, India. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in May 2020 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 2 days.
- Nisarga: Nisarga formed in the North Indian in May 2020 and peaked as a Category 2 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph (155 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 968 mb. It made landfall near Pāli, India. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in October 2020 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 996 mb. It made landfall near Peddāpuram, India. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in October 2020 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1003 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in October 2020 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 998 mb. It made landfall near Kakdwip, India. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Gati: Gati formed in the North Indian in November 2020 and peaked as a Category 3 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 967 mb. It made landfall near Iskushuban, Somalia. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Nivar: Nivar formed in the North Indian in November 2020 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 982 mb. It made landfall near Madurāntakam, India. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Burevi: Burevi formed in the North Indian in November 2020 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 999 mb. It made landfall near Mullaittivu, Sri Lanka. The system was tracked for 6 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 2020
Cyclone Amphan was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 165 mph (270 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 901 mb, on May 18. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
1 North Indian storm since 1980 peaked higher, and 2 matched it. It produced 63% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 2020
7 of the season’s 9 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 20: Amphan near Jaynagar Majilpur, India, 110 mph (Category 2)
- June 3: Nisarga near Pāli, India, 90 mph (Category 1)
- October 13: Unnamed near Peddāpuram, India, 40 mph (tropical storm)
- October 23: Unnamed near Kakdwip, India, 35 mph (tropical depression)
- November 22: Gati near Iskushuban, Somalia, 90 mph (Category 1)
- November 26: Nivar near Madurāntakam, India, 60 mph (tropical storm)
- December 2: Burevi near Mullaittivu, Sri Lanka, 45 mph (tropical storm)
How 2020 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 19th of 47 North Indian seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 9 other seasons), 4th for hurricane strength (tied with 2 other seasons) and 9th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 11 named storms, in 1998, and the highest ACE is 85, in 2019.
2020 storm names
The 2020 season used 5 names: Amphan, Nisarga, Gati, Nivar, Burevi.
4 systems were tracked without a name and are listed by number.
2020 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 2020?
The 2020 North Indian cyclone season had 6 named storms, 4 at hurricane strength and 2 major storms, from 9 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 Amphan and the last was Burevi.
What was the strongest storm of 2020?
Cyclone Amphan. It peaked at 165 mph (270 km/h, 145 kt) with a lowest pressure of 901 mb on May 18. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 1 North Indian storm since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 63% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 2020 season end?
The North Indian Ocean has no official season, so the 2020 season is the calendar year: every storm that formed by December 31 counts. The last system, Burevi, dissipated on December 5. Since 1980, 31 North Indian storms reached tropical-storm strength in December.