1997 North Indian Ocean cyclone season
| 1997 North Indian Ocean cyclone season | |
|---|---|
Season summary map
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| Seasonal boundaries | |
| First system formed | May 14, 1997 |
| Last system dissipated | November 13, 1997 |
| Strongest storm | |
| Name | 01B |
| • Maximum winds | 215 km/h (130 mph) (1-minute sustained) |
| • Lowest pressure | 964 hPa (mbar) |
| Seasonal statistics | |
| Depressions | 9 |
| Deep depressions | 7 |
| Cyclonic storms | 3 |
| Severe cyclonic storms | 2 |
| Very severe cyclonic storms | 1 |
| Total fatalities | 117 |
| Total damage | Unknown |
| Related articles | |
| Extremely severe cyclonic storm (IMD) | |
| Category 4 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
  |
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| Duration | May 14 – May 20 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 165 km/h (105 mph) (3-min) 964 hPa (mbar) |
| Deep depression (IMD) | |
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|
| Duration | June 26 – June 30 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 55 km/h (35 mph) (3-min) 985 hPa (mbar) |
| Deep depression (IMD) | |
 |
|
| Duration | July 29 – August 2 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 55 km/h (35 mph) (3-min) 1002 hPa (mbar) |
| Deep depression (IMD) | |
 |
|
| Duration | August 4 – August 7 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 55 km/h (35 mph) (3-min) 988 hPa (mbar) |
| Deep depression (IMD) | |
 |
|
| Duration | August 20 – August 27 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 55 km/h (35 mph) (3-min) 990 hPa (mbar) |
| Depression (IMD) | |
 |
|
| Duration | August 28 – August 30 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 45 km/h (30 mph) (3-min) 994 hPa (mbar) |
| Severe cyclonic storm (IMD) | |
| Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
  |
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| Duration | September 19 – September 27 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 100 km/h (65 mph) (3-min) 994 hPa (mbar) |
| Deep depression (IMD) | |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
 |
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| Duration | November 2 – November 14 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 55 km/h (35 mph) (3-min) 1005 hPa (mbar) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
 |
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| Duration | November 4 – November 10 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 65 km/h (40 mph) (1-min) |
The 1997 North Indian Ocean cyclone season had no bounds, but cyclones 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.
Five tropical cyclones were observed, making 1997 an average season. However, 3 reached Cyclone strength.
On May 13, a near-equatorial trough developed. The poorly organized system slowly tracked towards the north-northwest. The following day, deep convection consolidated around the center of circulation and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) classified the system as Tropical Cyclone 01B. Favorable upper-level conditions and good outflow allowed the storm to intensify. Shortly after, the cyclone attained tropical storm-force winds and turned towards the northeast. While gradually increasing in forward motion, the storm continued to strengthen. On May 17, the cyclone attained winds of 120 km/h (75 km/h), equivalent to a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. By May 18 an eye developed and the storm reached its peak intensity with winds of 215 km/h (135 mph) before making landfall near Chittagong. After landfall, the storm rapidly tracked northeastward inland and dissipated early on May 20.
causing significant damage and 67 fatalities
On September 19, a tropical depression formed from an area of disturbed weather in the western Bay of Bengal. It drifted northwestward towards the Indian coastline, but a mid-latitude trough pulled it northeastward, The depression strengthened to a tropical storm on the 24th, and it reached cyclone strength while paralleling the Indian coastline on 26th. It made landfall in Bangladesh on the 27th, and dissipated shortly thereafter. Tropical Cyclone 2B was responsible for 51 fatalities and left an additional 137 people missing.
On November 2 a tropical depression developed into a tropical depression over Sri Lanka. It drifted southward, northward, then westward over India. On the 10th, it was upgraded to a tropical storm over the Arabian Sea, and it reached its peak of 65 mph (105 km/h) winds the next day. Wind shear caused the storm to dissipate over the open waters on the 14th.
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Wikipedia