Pre-1890 North Indian Ocean cyclone seasons: Difference between revisions

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===1963 East Pakistan II cyclone===
===1963 East Pakistan II cyclone===
On May 28, a cyclone hit present-day Bangladesh (then known as East Pakistan province), causing 22,000 fatalities due to storm surge and flooding.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1985-05-28/news/mn-16292_1_20th-century-natural-disasters|title=20th-Century Natural Disasters|date=1985-05-28|accessdate=2010-04-15|publisher=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref>
On May 28, a cyclone hit present-day Bangladesh (then known as East Pakistan province), causing 22,000 fatalities due to storm surge and flooding.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1985-05-28/news/mn-16292_1_20th-century-natural-disasters|title=20th-Century Natural Disasters|date=1985-05-28|accessdate=2010-04-15|publisher=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref>

===1964 Indus valley cyclone===
It made landfall in [[Tharparkar]] and Hyderabad district in [[Sindh]] province in Pakistan on 12 June.<ref name="indianweatherman.blogspot.com"/><ref name="wxp.unisys.com">http://www.wxp.unisys.com/hurricane/n_indian/1964/index.html</ref> However it caused a great loss of life and property in the province.<ref name="indianweatherman.blogspot.com"/> It killed 450 people and left some 400,000 people homeless.<ref>http://www.ndma.gov.pk/Publications/livingwithdisasters.pdf</ref>


===1965 Bengal Cyclones===
===1965 Bengal Cyclones===

Revision as of 17:32, 28 December 2010

The years before 1980 featured the pre-1980 North Indian Ocean cyclone seasons. Each season was an ongoing event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. The North Indian tropical cyclone season has no bounds, but they tend to form between April and December, with peaks in May and November. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northern Indian Ocean.

Below are the most significant cyclones in the time period. Because the much of the North Indian coastline is near sea level and prone to flooding, these cyclones can easily kill many with storm surge and flooding. These cyclones are among the deadliest on earth in terms of numbers killed.

1700s

1737 Calcutta Cyclone

On 7 October 1737, a natural disaster struck the city of Calcutta (modern-day Kolkata) in India. For a long time this was believed in Europe to have been the result of an earthquake, but it is now believed to have been a tropical cyclone.[1][2] Thomas Joshua Moore, the duties collector for the British East India Company in Calcutta, wrote in his official report that a storm and flood had destroyed nearly all the thatched buildings and killed 3,000 of the city's inhabitants. Other reports from merchant ships indicated an earthquake and tidal surge were to blame, destroying 20,000 ships in the harbor and killing 300,000 people. It should be noted that the population of Calcutta at the time was around 3,000-20,000.[2][3].

Although there seems to be little evidence for the popular figure of 300,000 deaths [4] or for the existence of an earthquake at all, it is this number that shows up in popular literature.[3] At the same time, the figure of 3000 is only an estimation of the number of deaths inside the city itself.[5] This apparent incongruity in the data suggests a possible mix-up with the numbers for the 1839 Coringa cyclone mentioned in this article, which also suggest 20,000 sunk ships and 300,000 fatalities. Both of these figures may stem from the 300,000 figure in the 1737 super cyclone in the west Bengal region as neither one has similar numbers according to the National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project's site.

December 1789 Indian Cyclone

Strong storm surge from a cyclone that hit Coringa, India destroyed the port and killed 20,000.[6]

Early 1800s

1831 Orissa cyclone

An intense cyclone struck Orissa.[7]

November 1839 Coringa cyclone

A 40-foot storm surge from a huge cyclone that hit Coringa, India on November 25 destroyed 20,00  ships and killed approximately 300,000 people.[6]

Bengal cyclone of October 1847

This intense cyclone moved into Bengal state. A total of 75,000 people and 6000 cattle perished during the storm.[8]

Late 1800s

1864 Calcutta Cyclone

On October 5, a powerful cyclone hit near Calcutta, India, killing around 60,000 people.[9] The anemometer in the city was blown away during the cyclone. Over 100 brick homes and tens of thousands of tiled and straw huts were leveled. Most ships in the harbor (172 out of 195) were either damaged or destroyed.[10]

November 1867 Great Calcutta cyclone

The anemometer in the city was blown away during the cyclone. A lack of storm surge minimized the overall damage from this system.[10]

October 1874 Bengal cyclone

This severe cyclone killed 80,000 people and caused significant damage.[8]

October 1876 Backergunge cyclone

On October 31, a cyclone hit the Meghna River Delta area of India. The storm surge killed 100,000, and the disease after the storm killed another 100,000.[6]

June 1885 Aden cyclone

A cyclone had formed near the Laccadive Islands on May 24, 555 kilometres (345 mi) west of southern India. The SS Mergui encountered the cyclone off the Horn of Africa, 400 kilometres (250 mi) east of Socotra on June 1 and reported it stronger than the tropical cyclone which struck Calcutta in 1864. Just before midnight on the night of June 1, the Diomed reported winds of hurricane force and a pressure of 984 millibars (29.1 inHg). The ship Peshawar reported a westerly hurricane at the east end of the Gulf of Aden towards midnight on the night of June 2. At noon on June 3, the Tantallon reported a pressure of 943 millibars (27.8 inHg) near 12.5N 45.5E. On June 3, the German corvette Augusta, the French dispatch boat Renard, and the British ship SS Speke Hall were lost in the storm in the Gulf of Aden. The system continued westward and shrank in scale as it moved into the entrance of the Red Sea, crossing the coast of Djibouti.[11]

1885 Orissa cyclone

An intense cyclone struck Orissa.[7]

June 1890 Muscat cyclone

This system formed off the west coast of India during the first week of June and moved northwest towards the Arabian peninsula. Approaching the Gulf of Oman, strong winds and heavy rains affected Sur during the afternoon on June 4. Rain spread west that evening towards Muscat, where winds increased to hurricane-force from the north-northeast early on June 5. The eye of the storm made landfall at Sohar at dusk on June 5, eventually dissipating well inland. Heavy rains fell at the hospital in Muscat, where 11.24 inches (285 mm) were recorded. This led to flooding which took several hundred lives. Several thousand date trees were uprooted by the storm's winds and carried away by its floods. Several homes were leveled in Muscat and Mutrah. Fifty perished from downing near the coast or being buried by debris. Overall, 727 people lost their lives.[11]

1895 Orissa cyclone

An intense cyclone struck Orissa.[7]

1895 Balochistan cyclone

In 1895, a cyclonic storm hit the Makran coast in Balochistan province in modern day Pakistan.[12]

Early 1900s

May 1902 Karachi cyclone

In May 1902, a cyclonic storm struck the coast in the vicinity of Karachi.[13]

June 1907 Karachi cyclone

In June 1907, a tropical storm struck the coast near Karachi.[14]

October 1942 Bengal cyclone

On October 16, a cyclone hit near the India/Bangladesh border, resulting in around 40,000 fatalities.[6] A wind gust of 225 km/h (140 mph) was recorded.

November 1946 Andhra coast cyclone

This significant storm killed 750 people and led to a loss of 30,000 cattle.[8]

1948 Balochistan cyclone

In 1948, a tropical storm made landfall along the Makran coast in Balochistan province in Pakistan.[15][16]==

1950s

May 1959 Salalah cyclone

This system first became a low-pressure area near the Laccadive Islands on May 19, tracking northwest towards the Arabian peninsula. The system made landfall at Raysut on May 24. At Salalah, skies clouded over on May 23 as the pressure fell significantly. Winds turned northerly before midnight that night. At 1 a.m. on May 24 the peak of the storm's winds arrived. Maximum sustained winds were estimated at 70 knots (130 km/h) and the pressure at Salalaha fell to 968 millibars (28.6 inHg). Many vessels offshore, including two large passenger ships, went to pieces. Five buildings collapsed and several roofs were blown away by the cyclone. Salalah recorded 82 millimetres (3.2 in) of rain at their airport. A total of 141 lives from the ship Samha were taken during this tempest.[11]

1960s

1960 East Pakistan I cyclone

6,000 deaths can be attributed to a cyclone that hit the eastern portion of Pakistan what was known then as East Bengal state on October 10.

May 1963 Salalah cyclone

On May 19, a tropical disturbance formed over the Laccadive Islands, before tracking northwest towards the Arabian peninsula. The system achieved cyclone intensity on May 22. A United States Weather Bureau research flight flew into the 12 nanometres (1.2×10−11 km)-wide eye of the hurricane-strength system, and found a central pressure of 947 millibars (28.0 inHg). A ship 111 kilometres (69 mi) west of the system reported winds of 68 knots (126 km/h). At Salalah, a strong northerly wind set in during the morning of May 25. Later in the day, winds increased to gale force and a sandstorm reduced visibility to 400 metres (1,300 ft). Later in the day of May 26 winds again increased to gale force and another sandstorm reduced visibility to 500 metres (1,600 ft). As winds increased to 60 knots (110 km/h) the sandstorm became more severe, with visibility restricted to 50 metres (160 ft). Late on the night of the 26th, winds shifted to northeast and heavy rains fell across the region through the morning hours. Skies remained cloudy with periods of rain into May 28. A total of 230 millimetres (9.1 in) was recorded at Salalah.[11]

1963 East Pakistan II cyclone

On May 28, a cyclone hit present-day Bangladesh (then known as East Pakistan province), causing 22,000 fatalities due to storm surge and flooding.[17]

1964 Indus valley cyclone

It made landfall in Tharparkar and Hyderabad district in Sindh province in Pakistan on 12 June.[18][19] However it caused a great loss of life and property in the province.[18] It killed 450 people and left some 400,000 people homeless.[20]

1965 Bengal Cyclones

Two cyclones that hit on May 11 and June 1 killed a total of 47,000 people.

December 1965 Karachi cyclone

A cyclone hit near Karachi, Pakistan on December 15, causing about 10,000 casualties.[6]

October 1967 Orissa cyclone

On October 12, an intense cyclone struck the state of Orissa and left complete devastation along its path.[6]

1970s

1970 season

See also: 1970 North Indian Ocean cyclone season
Main article: 1970 Bhola cyclone
Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

The 1970 Bhola cyclone was a devastating tropical cyclone that struck East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and India's West Bengal on November 12, 1970. It was the deadliest tropical cyclone ever recorded, and one of the deadliest natural disasters in modern times.[21] Up to 500,000 people lost their lives in the storm, primarily as a result of the storm surge that flooded much of the low-lying islands of the Ganges Delta. This cyclone was the sixth cyclonic storm of the 1970 North Indian Ocean cyclone season, and also the season's strongest, reaching a strength equivalent to a Category 3 hurricane.

The cyclone formed over the central Bay of Bengal on November 8 and travelled north, intensifying as it did so. It reached its peak with winds of 185 km/h (115 mph) on November 12, and made landfall on the coast of East Pakistan that night. The storm surge devastated many of the offshore islands, wiping out villages and destroying crops throughout the region. In the most severely affected Thana, Tazumuddin, over 45% of the population of 167,000 was killed by the storm.

The Pakistani government was severely criticized for its handling of the relief operations following the storm, both by local political leaders in East Pakistan and in the international media. The opposition Awami League gained a landslide victory in the province, and continuing unrest between East Pakistan and the central government triggered the Bangladesh Liberation War, which concluded with the creation of the country of Bangladesh.

1971 Orissa Cyclone

Track map of the 1971 Orissa cyclone.

On October 27 a tropical depression formed in the Bay of Bengal. It tracked northward, steadily strengthening until reaching a peak of 115 mph winds. The cyclone struck Cuttack, a city in Orissa, India, on October 29, and dissipated 2 days later. The storm surge and flooding from the system caused 10,800 fatalities.[22]

December 1972 Tamil Nadu cyclone

Photograph of the Earth from Apollo 17 on December 7. The cyclone can be seen in the top right portion of the planet.

This system killed 80 people and 150 cattle.[8] Remarkably, it is also seen on Apollo 17.

September 1976 Bengal cyclone

This system killed 10 people and 40,000 cattle.[8]

June 1977 Masirah cyclone

Main article: 1977 Oman cyclone

It is the second strongest cyclone ever to hit the Arabian peninsula after Cyclone Gonu.

1977 Andhra Pradesh cyclone

Main article: 1977 Andhra Pradesh cyclone
Track map of the 1977 Andhra Pradesh cyclone.

The monsoon trough spawned a tropical depression on November 14. It tracked westward, becoming a tropical storm on the November 15 and a cyclone on November 16. A break in the subtropical ridge pulled the cyclone northward, where it slowly strengthened to a peak of 130 mph winds. It hit the Andhra Pradesh coastline on November 19 at that intensity, and dissipated the next day. Strong winds, heavy flooding, and storm surge of 5 meters high killed 10,000 people,[22] left hundreds of thousands homeless, killed 40,000 cattle.[8] and destroyed 40% of India's food grains.

May 1979 Tamil Nadu cyclone

Tropical cyclone east of Sri Lanka on May 8, 1979

This system killed 700 people and 300,000 cattle.[8]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Earthquakes with 50,000 or More Deaths". USGS. March 29, 2010. Retrieved 6 June 2010.
    See footnote. Date given: 11 October 1737.
  2. ^ a b [1] Bilham, The 1737 Calcutta Earthquake and Cyclone Evaluated, Bull. Seism. Soc. Amer. 84(5), 1650-1657, 1994.
  3. ^ a b Quake sleuth 'saves' 300,000 lives.
  4. ^ colorado.edu, Background to the 1737 "event"
  5. ^ Cyclone Related Disasters
  6. ^ a b c d e f Emergency Disaster Management, Inc. (2003-07-02). "Cyclone". Retrieved 2010-04-15.
  7. ^ a b c P. Chittibabu, S. K. Dube, J. B. Macnabb, T. S. Murty, A. D. Rao, U. C. Mohanty and P. C. Sinha (February 2004). "Mitigation of Flooding and Cyclone Hazard in Orissa, India". Natural Hazards. 31 (2): 455–485. doi:10.1023/B:NHAZ.0000023362.26409.22. ISSN 0921-030X. {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Text "http://www.springerlink.com/content/p3v1780383k467t7/" ignored (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ a b c d e f g Dipankar C. Patnaik and Dr. N. Sivagnanam (November 2007). "DISASTER VULNERABILITY OF COASTAL STATES: A Short Case Study of Orissa, India" (PDF). Social Science Research Network. p. 4. Retrieved 2010-04-15.
  9. ^ Gastrell, J. E. (1866). Report On The Calcutta Cyclone Of The 5th October 1864. Calcutta: Government Of Bengal. Retrieved 2009-08-15. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  10. ^ a b "Calcutta". 1902 Encyclopedia. 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-15.
  11. ^ a b c d David Membery (July 2002). "Monsoon Tropical Cyclones: Part 2". Weather. 57 (7). Royal Meteorological Society: 247–255.
  12. ^ http://indianweatherman.blogspot.com/2010/06/cyclone-history-for-karachi.html
  13. ^ http://indianweatherman.blogspot.com/2010/06/cyclone-history-for-karachi.html
  14. ^ http://indianweatherman.blogspot.com/2010/06/cyclone-history-for-karachi.html
  15. ^ http://indianweatherman.blogspot.com/2010/06/cyclone-history-for-karachi.html
  16. ^ http://www.wxp.unisys.com/hurricane/n_indian/1948/index.html
  17. ^ "20th-Century Natural Disasters". Los Angeles Times. 1985-05-28. Retrieved 2010-04-15.
  18. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference indianweatherman.blogspot.com was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  19. ^ http://www.wxp.unisys.com/hurricane/n_indian/1964/index.html
  20. ^ http://www.ndma.gov.pk/Publications/livingwithdisasters.pdf
  21. ^ "Disaster; East Pakistan: Cyclone May Be The Worst Catastrophe of Century" (pay article), The New York Times, November 22, 1970, p. 169.
  22. ^ a b "Natural catastrophes and man-made disasters in 2008: North America and Asia suffer heavy losses" (PDF). Swiss Reinsurance Company Ltd. 21 January 2009. p. 38. Retrieved 18 January 2010. [dead link]

General references

  • "Cyclone, Hurricane, White squall, Typhoon.". The Cyclopaedia of Indian And Of Eastern And Southern Asia: Commercial, Industrial, and Scientific, 3rd Edition. Vol. I. London: Bernard Quaritch. 1885. pp. 866–868. Retrieved 2009-08-15.

External links

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