The 1971 North Indian Ocean cyclone season was part of the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. The season has no official bounds but cyclones tend to form between April and December. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northern Indian Ocean. There are two main seas in the North Indian Ocean—the Bay of Bengal to the east of the Indian subcontinent and the Arabian Sea to the west of India. The official Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre in this basin is the India Meteorological Department (IMD), while the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) releases unofficial advisories. An average of five tropical cyclones form in the North Indian Ocean every season with peaks in May and November.[1] Cyclones occurring between the meridians 45°E and 100°E are included in the season by the IMD.[2]
Seasonal summary
Systems
Tropical Storm One (01B)
Depression (IMD)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration
May 3 – May 8
Peak intensity
45 km/h (30 mph) (3-min);
Tropical Storm Three (03B)
Cyclonic storm (IMD)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration
June 3 – June 8
Peak intensity
85 km/h (50 mph) (3-min);
Cyclone Ten (10B)
Severe cyclonic storm (IMD)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration
September 27 – October 1
Peak intensity
95 km/h (60 mph) (3-min);
This cyclone was formed on September 27 and peaked as a Category-1 equivalent storm. On September 30, the storm made landfall over Sunderbans and dissipated over the state of Bihar by the next day. 60 people were killed due to the storm.
On October 27 a tropical depression formed in the Bay of Bengal. It tracked northward, rapidly strengthened until reached a peak of 115 mph winds. The cyclone struck Paradip in Odisha, India, on October 29, and dissipated by the same day. The storm surge and flooding from the system caused 10,800 fatalities.[3]
Cyclone Thirteen (13A)
Severe cyclonic storm (IMD)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration
October 27 – November 1
Peak intensity
110 km/h (70 mph) (3-min);
A tropical cyclone moved through the Arabian Sea near the end of October.
Cyclone Fourteen (14B)
Severe cyclonic storm (IMD)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration
November 3 – November 6
Peak intensity
100 km/h (65 mph) (3-min);
Cyclone Fifteen (15A)
Very severe cyclonic storm (IMD)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration
December 14 – December 21
Peak intensity
130 km/h (80 mph) (3-min);
This was a rare cyclone which threatened the Arabian Peninsula in the month of December.
