1997 North Indian Ocean cyclone season

1997 North Indian Ocean cyclone season
Season summary map
First system formed May 13, 1997
Last system dissipated November 14, 1997
Strongest storm 01B – 927 hPa (mbar), 215 km/h (130 mph) (1-minute sustained)
Depressions 9
Deep depressions 7
Cyclonic storms 3
Severe cyclonic storms 2
Very severe cyclonic storms 1
Total fatalities 117
Total damage Unknown
North Indian Ocean tropical cyclone seasons
1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999

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.

Season summary

Five tropical cyclones were observed, making 1997 an average season. However, 3 reached Cyclone strength.

Very Severe Tropical Cyclone BOB 01 (01B)

Very severe cyclonic storm (IMD)
Category 4 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration May 13 – May 20
Peak intensity 165 km/h (105 mph) (3-min)  964 mbar (hPa)

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.[1]

causing significant damage and 67 fatalities[2]

Deep Depression BOB 02

Deep depression (IMD)
Counterclockwise vortex
Duration June 26 – June 30
Peak intensity 55 km/h (35 mph) (3-min)  985 mbar (hPa)

Deep Depression BOB 03

Deep depression (IMD)
Counterclockwise vortex
Duration July 29 – August 2
Peak intensity 55 km/h (35 mph) (3-min)  1002 mbar (hPa)

Deep Depression BOB 04

Deep depression (IMD)
Counterclockwise vortex
Duration August 4 – August 7
Peak intensity 55 km/h (35 mph) (3-min)  988 mbar (hPa)

Deep Depression BOB 05

Deep depression (IMD)
Counterclockwise vortex
Duration August 20 – August 27
Peak intensity 55 km/h (35 mph) (3-min)  990 mbar (hPa)

Depression BOB 06

Depression (IMD)
Counterclockwise vortex
Duration August 28 – August 30
Peak intensity 45 km/h (30 mph) (3-min)  994 mbar (hPa)

Severe Tropical Cyclone 02B

Severe cyclonic storm (IMD)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration September 19 – September 27
Peak intensity 100 km/h (65 mph) (3-min)  994 mbar (hPa)

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.[3]

Deep Depression 04A

Deep depression (IMD)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Counterclockwise vortex
Duration November 2 – November 14
Peak intensity 55 km/h (35 mph) (3-min)  1005 mbar (hPa)

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.

Deep Depression 03A

Deep depression (IMD)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Counterclockwise vortex
Duration November 4 – November 10
Peak intensity 55 km/h (35 mph) (3-min) 

A broad trough of low pressure formed into a tropical depression on November 4 in the central Arabian Sea. It moved westward, slowly intensifying into a tropical storm on the 8th. Vertical shear weakened it to a depression later that day, but on the 9th, just before making landfall on eastern Somalia, it restrengthened to a tropical storm. Tropical Storm Three dissipated on the 10th without causing any reported damage.

Cyclonic Storm Linda

Cyclonic storm (IMD)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration November 3(entered basin) – November 9
Peak intensity 65 km/h (40 mph) (3-min)  1004 mbar (hPa)

Typhoon Linda killed 30 while crossing the Malay Peninsula, emerged into the Bay of Bengal on November 4. It continued westward, reaching cyclone strength again, but vertical shear caused it to dissipate on the 9th.

In southern Thailand, 30 people were killed and 102 others were listed as missing as a result of the storm.[4] Linda damaged at least 100 homes and sank 30 ships in the region.[5] An estimated 6,400,000 m2 of farmland were destroyed by Linda.[4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Joint Typhoon Warning Center (1998). "Tropical Cyclone 01B Preliminary Report" (PDF). World Meteorological Organization. Retrieved April 15, 2009.
  2. ↑ http://cidi.org/disaster/97a/0050.html
  3. ↑ http://cidi.org/disaster/97b/0051.html
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Suphat Vongvisessomjai (June 15, 2007). "Impacts of Typhoon Vae and Linda on wind waves in the Upper Gulf of Thailand and East Coast" (PDF). Songklanakarin J. Sci. Technol. Retrieved April 15, 2009.
  5. ↑ Ian Stewart (November 4, 1997). "5,000 Missing In Storm -- Typhoon Hit Vietnam Coastal Province Like A `Howling Animal'". The Seattle Times. Retrieved April 15, 2009.

External links