2023 North Indian cyclone season
Apr–Jun · Oct–Dec · Season ended
The 2023 North Indian cyclone season produced 8 named storms, 5 at hurricane strength and 3 major storms, against a 1991–2020 average of 6.3, 2.0 and 1.0. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 58, 246% of the average.
2023 season at a glance
- Named storms: 8 (1991–2020 average 6.3).
- Hurricane strength (64 kt+): 5 (average 2.0).
- Major, 96 kt+: 3, including 1 at Category 5 strength (average 1.0).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 58.1, 246% of the 24 average.
- Named-storm days: 26.8, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Mocha, May 11.
- First storm at hurricane strength: Mocha, May 12.
- First major storm: Mocha, May 12.
- Last storm to dissipate: Michaung, December 6.
- All systems tracked: 10, including 2 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 2023 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed | – | TD | 1004 mb | Eravur Town, Sri Lanka |
| Mocha | – | C5 | 908 mb | Sittwe, Myanmar |
| Biparjoy | – | C3 | 944 mb | Naliya, India |
| TD 3B | – | TS | 982 mb | — |
| TD 4B | – | TS | 981 mb | Burirchar, Bangladesh |
| Unnamed | – | TD | 1002 mb | — |
| Tej | – | C3 | 958 mb | Al Ghayz̧ah, Yemen |
| Hamoon | – | C2 | 970 mb | Bāndarban, Bangladesh |
| Midhili | – | TS | 995 mb | Burirchar, Bangladesh |
| Michaung | – | C1 | 985 mb | Nellore, India |
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in January 2023 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1004 mb. It made landfall near Eravur Town, Sri Lanka. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Mocha: Mocha formed in the North Indian in May 2023 and peaked as a Category 5 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 165 mph (270 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 908 mb. It made landfall near Sittwe, Myanmar. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Biparjoy: Biparjoy formed in the North Indian in June 2023 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 Naliya, India. The system was tracked for 14 days.
- TD 3B: This system formed in the North Indian in June 2023 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 982 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- TD 4B: This system formed in the North Indian in July 2023 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 981 mb. It made landfall near Burirchar, Bangladesh. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in September 2023 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 1 day.
- Tej: Tej formed in the North Indian in October 2023 and peaked as a Category 3 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 958 mb. It made landfall near Al Ghayz̧ah, Yemen. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Hamoon: Hamoon formed in the North Indian in October 2023 and peaked as a Category 2 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 970 mb. It made landfall near Bāndarban, Bangladesh. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Midhili: Midhili formed in the North Indian in November 2023 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 995 mb. It made landfall near Burirchar, Bangladesh. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Michaung: Michaung formed in the North Indian in November 2023 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 985 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near Nellore, India and last near Ongole, India. The system was tracked for 6 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 2023
Cyclone Mocha was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 165 mph (270 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 908 mb, on May 14. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
1 North Indian storm since 1980 peaked higher, and 2 matched it. It produced 27% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 2023
8 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.
- February 2: Unnamed near Eravur Town, Sri Lanka, 35 mph (tropical depression)
- May 14: Mocha near Sittwe, Myanmar, 130 mph (Category 4)
- June 15: Biparjoy near Naliya, India, 55 mph (tropical storm)
- August 1: TD 4B near Burirchar, Bangladesh, 40 mph (tropical depression)
- October 24: Tej near Al Ghayz̧ah, Yemen, 45 mph (tropical storm)
- October 25: Hamoon near Bāndarban, Bangladesh, 40 mph (tropical storm)
- November 17: Midhili near Burirchar, Bangladesh, 40 mph (tropical storm)
- December 4: Michaung near Nellore, India, 70 mph (tropical storm)
- December 5: Michaung near Ongole, India, 65 mph (tropical storm)
How 2023 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 7th of 47 North Indian seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 4 other seasons), 1st for hurricane strength (tied with 2 other seasons) and 2nd for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 11 named storms, in 1998, and the highest ACE is 85, in 2019.
2023 storm names
The 2023 season used 6 names: Mocha, Biparjoy, Tej, Hamoon, Midhili, Michaung.
4 systems were tracked without a name and are listed by number.
2023 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 2023?
The 2023 North Indian cyclone season had 8 named storms, 5 at hurricane strength and 3 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 Mocha and the last was Michaung.
What was the strongest storm of 2023?
Cyclone Mocha. It peaked at 165 mph (270 km/h, 145 kt) with a lowest pressure of 908 mb on May 14. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 1 North Indian storm since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 27% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 2023 season end?
The North Indian Ocean has no official season, so the 2023 season is the calendar year: every storm that formed by December 31 counts. The last system, Michaung, dissipated on December 6. Since 1980, 31 North Indian storms reached tropical-storm strength in December.