2003 North Indian Ocean cyclone season
| 2003 North Indian Ocean cyclone season | |
|---|---|
Season summary map
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| Seasonal boundaries | |
| First system formed | May 10, 2003 |
| Last system dissipated | December 16, 2003 |
| Strongest storm | |
| Name | ARB 06 |
| • Maximum winds | 115 km/h (75 mph) (1-minute sustained) |
| • Lowest pressure | 980 hPa (mbar) |
| Seasonal statistics | |
| Depressions | 7 |
| Deep depressions | 5 |
| Severe cyclonic storms | 3 |
| Very severe cyclonic storms | 1 |
| Total fatalities | 358 |
| Total damage | $163 million (2003 USD) |
| Related articles | |
| Very severe cyclonic storm (IMD) | |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
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| Duration | May 10 – May 20 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 140 km/h (85 mph) (3-min) 980 hPa (mbar) |
| Depression (IMD) | |
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| Duration | October 6 – October 10 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 45 km/h (30 mph) (1-min) |
| Deep depression (IMD) | |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
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| Duration | October 26 (entered basin) – October 29 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 55 km/h (35 mph) (3-min) 997 hPa (mbar) |
| Severe cyclonic storm (IMD) | |
| Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
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| Duration | November 12 – November 16 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 100 km/h (65 mph) (3-min) 977 hPa (mbar) |
| Severe cyclonic storm (IMD) | |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
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| Duration | December 11 – December 16 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 100 km/h (65 mph) (3-min) 992 hPa (mbar) |
The 2003 North Indian Ocean cyclone season was mostly focused in the Bay of Bengal, where six of the seven depressions developed. The remaining system was a tropical cyclone that developed in the Arabian Sea in November, which was also the only system that did not affect land. There were three cyclonic storms, which is below the average of 5.4. Only one storm formed before the start of the monsoon season in June, although it was also the most notable. On May 10, a depression formed in the central Bay of Bengal, and within a few days became a very severe cyclonic storm. After it stalled, it drew moisture from the southwest to produce severe flooding across Sri Lanka, killing 254 people and becoming the worst floods there since 1947. Damage on the island totaled $135 million (2003 USD). The storm eventually made landfall in Myanmar on May 19. It is possible that the storm contributed to a deadly heat wave in India due to shifting air currents.
In late July, a monsoon depression moved across much of India, and another monsoon disturbance persisted off the coast of Pakistan. The interaction between the two systems resulted in heavy rainfall across the region, flooding dozens of villages. Monsoonal rainfall killed 285 people between Pakistan and India in the summer of 2003. In late August, another monsoon depression moved across northeastern India. A depression that struck Andhra Pradesh in India killed 21 people in early October. Later that month, a tropical depression crossed Thailand from the western Pacific Ocean, contributing to ongoing flooding that killed 19. Once in the Indian Ocean, this system struck southeastern India without causing much damage. The last system of the year was a cyclonic storm that struck southeastern India in December, killing 81 people and causing $28 million in damage (2003 USD).
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