2021 North Indian cyclone season
Apr–Jun · Oct–Dec · Season ended
The 2021 North Indian cyclone season produced 6 named storms, 3 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 23, 98% of the average.
2021 season at a glance
- Named storms: 6 (1991–2020 average 6.3).
- Hurricane strength (64 kt+): 3 (average 2.0).
- Major, 96 kt+: 1 (average 1.0).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 23.1, 98% 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: Tauktae, May 14.
- First storm at hurricane strength: Tauktae, May 15.
- First major storm: Tauktae, May 16.
- Last storm to dissipate: Jawad, December 6.
- 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 2021 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed | – | TD | 1000 mb | — |
| Tauktae | – | C4 | 931 mb | Una, India |
| Yaas | – | C1 | 974 mb | Balasore, India |
| Unnamed | – | TS | 990 mb | Dhamanagar, India |
| Gulab | – | C1 | 976 mb | Srikakulam, India |
| Unnamed | – | TD | 1002 mb | — |
| TD 4B | – | TS | 994 mb | Kavanur, India |
| Unnamed | – | TD | 1000 mb | Madurāntakam, India |
| Jawad | – | TS | 1000 mb | — |
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in April 2021 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 1 day.
- Tauktae: Tauktae formed in the North Indian in May 2021 and peaked as a Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (220 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 931 mb. It made landfall near Una, India. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Yaas: Yaas formed in the North Indian in May 2021 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 Balasore, India. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in September 2021 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 Dhamanagar, India. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Gulab: Gulab formed in the North Indian in September 2021 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 976 mb. It made 3 landfalls, first near Srikakulam, India and last near As Suwayq, Oman. The system was tracked for 11 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in October 2021 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.
- TD 4B: This system formed in the North Indian in November 2021 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 994 mb. It made landfall near Kavanur, India. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in November 2021 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1000 mb. It made landfall near Madurāntakam, India. The system was tracked for 1 day.
- Jawad: Jawad formed in the North Indian in November 2021 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 6 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 2021
Cyclone Tauktae was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 140 mph (220 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 931 mb, on May 17. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
14 North Indian storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 3 matched it. It produced 55% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 2021
6 of the season’s 9 systems made landfall, 1 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
- May 17: Tauktae near Una, India, 125 mph (Category 3)
- May 26: Yaas near Balasore, India, 65 mph (tropical storm)
- September 13: Unnamed near Dhamanagar, India, 40 mph (tropical storm)
- September 26: Gulab near Srikakulam, India, 45 mph (tropical storm)
- September 29: Gulab near Dhandhuka, India, 30 mph (tropical depression)
- October 3: Gulab near As Suwayq, Oman, 50 mph (tropical storm)
- November 11: TD 4B near Kavanur, India, 35 mph (tropical depression)
- November 19: Unnamed near Madurāntakam, India, 35 mph (tropical depression)
How 2021 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 19th of 47 North Indian seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 9 other seasons), 7th for hurricane strength (tied with 4 other seasons) and 13th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 11 named storms, in 1998, and the highest ACE is 85, in 2019.
2021 storm names
The 2021 season used 4 names: Tauktae, Yaas, Gulab, Jawad.
5 systems were tracked without a name and are listed by number.
2021 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 2021?
The 2021 North Indian cyclone season had 6 named storms, 3 at hurricane strength and 1 major storm, 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 Tauktae and the last was Jawad.
What was the strongest storm of 2021?
Cyclone Tauktae. It peaked at 140 mph (220 km/h, 120 kt) with a lowest pressure of 931 mb on May 17. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 14 North Indian storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 55% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 2021 season end?
The North Indian Ocean has no official season, so the 2021 season is the calendar year: every storm that formed by December 31 counts. The last system, Jawad, dissipated on December 6. Since 1980, 31 North Indian storms reached tropical-storm strength in December.