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1990 Andhra Pradesh cyclone

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Super Cyclonic Storm BOB 01
Super cyclonic storm (IMD scale)
Category 4 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Super Cyclonic Storm BOB 01
FormedMay 5, 1990
DissipatedMay 10, 1990
Highest winds3-minute sustained: 230 km/h (145 mph)
1-minute sustained: 230 km/h (145 mph)
Lowest pressure920 hPa (mbar); 27.17 inHg
Fatalities967 total
Damage$600 million (1990 USD)
Areas affectedIndia
Part of the 1990 North Indian Ocean cyclone season

The 1990 Andhra Pradesh cyclone (IMD Designation: BOB01, JTWC Designation: 02B) was the worst disaster to affect Southern India since the 1977 Andhra Pradesh cyclone. The cyclone formed as a tropical disturbance early on May 4, 1990 while moving towards the northwest. During the next day the depression intensified into a cyclonic storm and started to intensify rapidly, becoming a super cyclonic storm early on May 8. The cyclone weakened slightly before it made landfall on India about 300 km (190 mi) to the north of Madras in the Andhra Pradesh state as a very severe cyclonic storm with winds of 165 km/h (105 mph). While over land the cyclone gradually dissipated. The cyclone had a severe impact on India, with over 967 people reported to have been killed. Over 100,000 animals also died in the cyclone with the total cost of damages to crops estimated at over $600 million (1990 USD).

Meteorological history

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

Early on May 3, 1990, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) reported that a tropical disturbance had formed in the Bay of Bengal about 800 km (500 mi) to the east of Sri Lanka.[1] The disturbance was then designated as Depression BOB 01 early the next day by the India Meteorological Department. A tropical cyclone formation alert was issued by the JTWC while the cyclone was moving towards the northwest under the influence of a subtropical ridge.[2][3] The depression was then upgraded to a cyclonic storm early on May 5 before being designated as Tropical Cyclone 02B later that day with winds equivalent to that of a weak tropical storm.[2][3]

Although the cyclone had a good outflow, the JTWC expected the system to make landfall in Tamil Nadu within 72 hours and intensify only marginally. However, as the cyclone turned towards the northwest, a weakness in the subtropical ridge allowed the system to turn to more to the north than initially anticipated. As a result, the cyclone stayed offshore longer and rapidly strengthened; it became a very severe cyclonic storm early on May 6 as it had winds equivalent to a hurricane.[2][3]

Over the next couple of days the cyclone intensified further, becoming a super cyclonic storm on May 8 with both 3-minute and 1-minute peak wind speeds of 240 km/h (150 mph). These winds correspond to Category 4 status on the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale. After reaching peak intensity, the storm weakened later that day into a very severe cyclonic storm as it moved closer to land. At 1200 UTC on May 9, the cyclone made landfall about 300 km (190 mi) to the north of Madras, in the vicinity of Machilipatnam, in Andhra Pradesh state as a very severe cyclonic storm with winds of 165 km/h (105 mph). While over land, the cyclone gradually weakened into a depression, and the IMD reported that it had dissipated early on May 10.[2][3]

Impact and aftermath

As a result of timely warnings issued by the IMD, the Indian government was able to launch an evacuation campaign and order that all fisherman return to shore.[4][5][6][7] This led to more than 150,000 people being evacuated to relief camps which had been set up on higher ground.[8] Due to the thorough preparations, there was fewer deaths than in the 1977 Andhra Pradesh cyclone.[3][4]

On Edurumandi Island over 7,000 people were left stranded after they refused to evacuate.[5] The island itself was reported to have experienced the full brunt of the system.[3][5] However, all of the residents reportedly sought protection within a shelter provided by the government.[5] The cyclone had a significant effect on India, with storm surge tides as high as 4.9 meters (16 ft) above normal. Consequently, over 100 villages were submerged in water and destroyed.[3] At least 967 people were killed by the cyclone; most of the deaths occurred when houses made mostly out of mud and straw collapsed. Other people were killed when electrical wires were knocked down and while some people were carried away by flooded rivers.[9][10] The storm left at least 3 million people homeless, while over 100,000 farm animals were killed. At least 435,000 acres (1,760 km2) of rice paddies were destroyed along with huge tracts of mango and banana trees. The total damage to crops and property was estimated at over $600 million (1990 USD).[3][10] The cyclone was described as the worst disaster in southern India since the 1977 storm.[4] Sea water contaminated fresh drinking wells, prompting warnings about outbreaks of Cholera and Typhoid as many people were drinking and cooking with water from the drains which was causing stomach disorders.[8][11]

On May 11, two days after the cyclone had hit, the Indian Government launched a massive relief and rescue operation. The Indian Army and Naval helicopters took surveys of areas affected by the cyclone, and also dropped food packets.[4] Although the Indian Government did not request international assistance, the Red Cross provided food, oil, medicines and water tanks for the affected families; the wcc/cicarws issued an appeal for $262,000 (1990 USD) so they could provide immediate needs with World Vision providing $160,000 (1990 USD) for food blankets and utensils.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ "JTWC Best Track Cyclone 01B". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 2002-12-17. Retrieved 2009-08-06.
  2. ^ a b c d "IMD Best track data 1990-2008". India Meteorological Department. 2009. Retrieved 2009-08-06.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Lieutenant Commander Lester E Carr III USN (1991). "JTWC Annual Tropical Cyclone Report 1990: Tropical Cyclone 02B" (PDF). Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Retrieved 2009-08-06.
  4. ^ a b c d e "India Cyclone May 1990 UNDRO Information Reports 1 - 3". United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs (DHA). ReliefWeb. 1990-05-14. Retrieved 2009-11-14.
  5. ^ a b c d Newman, Steve (1990-05-13). "Earthweek: A diary of the planet". Toronto Star. The star.com. Retrieved 2009-11-14.
  6. ^ "150,000 flee cyclone on Indian coast". San Jose Mercury News. 1990-05-09. Retrieved 2009-11-18.
  7. ^ "Cyclone claims 65 in India". The Bulletin. 1990-05-10. Retrieved 2009-11-18.
  8. ^ a b Hazarika, Sanjoy (1990-05-13). "Furious Cyclone has India reeling". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-11-16.
  9. ^ "Hazards disasters and your community: A Primer for Parliamentarians" (PDF). Government of India. 2005-01-18. Retrieved 2009-11-14.
  10. ^ a b "Cyclone Kills 450 Along Indian Coast; Damage to Crops Estimated at $588 Million". The Washington Post. 1990-05-14. Retrieved 2009-11-18.
  11. ^ "India Stunned after Cyclone". news-record.com. 1990-05-15. Retrieved 2009-11-18.
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