List of Bangladesh tropical cyclones

Present day Bangladesh, due to its unique geographic location, suffers from devastating tropical cyclones frequently. The funnel-shaped northern portion of the Bay of Bengal causes tidal bores when cyclones make landfall due to which thousands of people living in the coastal areas are affected. Some of the most devastating natural disasters in recorded history with high casualties were tropical cyclones that hit the region now forming Bangladesh. Among them, the 1970 Bhola cyclone alone claimed more than 500,000 lives.

Storm preparedness

Bangladesh lacks any satellites of its own. The three satellite ground stations, in Betbunia, Talibabad, and Mohakhali, are used to receive feeds from other satellites. Bangladesh Space Research and Remote Sensing Organisation (SPARRSO), a government agency under the Ministry of Defence[1] provides storm predictions and early warnings using feeds from NASA and NOAA's satellites. The warnings are usually given in a scale of 10, with 10 being used for the deadliest storms.

A detailed program for storm prevention was outlined by the government following the cyclone of 1991. A Comprehensive Cyclone Preparedness Programme (CPP) is jointly planned, operated, and managed by the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief and the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society; a volunteer force of more than 32,000 are trained to help in warning and evacuation in the coastal areas.[2] Around 2,500 cyclone shelters have been constructed in the coastal regions. The shelters are built on elevated platforms and serve the dual role of schools or community centers during normal weather. In Patenga, Chittagong, the coast has been heavily protected with concrete levees. Also, afforestation has been initiated in the coastal regions to create a green belt.

Cyclones are a product of heat and moisture, which can last up to 24 hours. Low pressure is the main weather associated with cyclones. Cyclones can cause devastating damage and are known to knock out electric and water supplies. It is recommended people have a supply kit ready in case a cyclone hits their area.

Storms

Historical records

SL. No. Date/Year Type of Disturbance Relevant Information Reference/Source of Information
1. 1582 AD (Date and month N/A) Severe Cyclonic Storm with a core of hurricane winds Coast: The cyclone crossed the coast of Backerganj (Sarkar Bala).

Loss and damage: People killed = 200,000.

The destruction was reported to have been caused by a storm wave.

According to Banglapedia, a five-hour hurricane and thunderstorm destroyed houses and boats in the coast near Bakerganj (presently in Barisal and Patuakhali).[2] Only Hindu temples with a strong foundation were spared.

  • Ain-i-Akbari
  • Riyaz-Us-Salatin
  • Bengal District Gazetteer, 24 Parganas-by L.S.S. O'Malley, ICS, 1914, published- by the Bengal SOC Dept.
2. 1585 (Date and month N/A) N/A A tropical storm hit the eastern side of Bakerganj (now Barisal) near the mouth of the Meghna River estuary, causing devastation of crops.

Casualty: unknown.

  • Banglapedia[2]
3. 1699 (Date and month N/A) Severe Cyclonic Storm Coast: The cyclone crossed the Sundarbans coast

Loss and damage: People killed = 1.

Other information are not available.

  • Daily Ittefaq, May 5, 1991.
4. 1760 (Date and month N/A) Severe Cyclonic Storm Coast: The cyclone crossed the Sundarbans coast

Loss and damage: N/A. The whole area was almost damaged. Other information are not available.

  • Daily Ittefaq, May 5, 1991.
5. 1765 (Date and month N/A) Severe Cyclonic Storm Coast: The cyclone crossed Chittagong coast

Loss and damage: N/A. The whole area was destroyed. Other information are not available.

  • Daily Ittefaq, May 5, 1991.
6. 1767 (Date and month N/A) Severe Cyclonic Storm Coast: The cyclone crossed Backerganj (Barisal) coast.

Surge height: 13.03 m (43 ft)

Loss and damage:

People killed: 30,000. Other information are not available.

  • Daily Ittefaq, May 5, 1991.
7. May–June, 1797 (Actual date N/A) Severe Cyclonic Storm with a core of hurricane winds Coast: The cyclone crossed Chittagong coast

Loss and damage: Every house in the area was destroyed. Two ships were sunk in Chittagong Port. Other information are not available.

  • Bangladesh Meteorological Department
  • Banglapedia[2]
8. June, 1822 (Actual date N/A) Severe Cyclonic Storm with a core of hurricane winds Coast: The cyclone crossed the coast of Backerganj (Barisal), Sarkar Bala.

Loss and damage: People killed = 50,000.

Cattle killed = 100,000.

Storm wave swept away the collectorate records. Other information are not available.

  • Journal of Asiatic SOC. of Bengal, Vol. 46, Part II, pp 332- by H.F. Blandford
  • Buist's 1st catalogue Trans. Bombay Geo. Soc. Vol. XII. Appendix A.
  • Sailors Horn Book for the law of storms. Appendix A. - by Henry Piddington.
9. June 2, 1823 Cyclonic Storm Coast: The cyclone crossed Chittagong coast

Other information are not available.

  • Disastrous storms in the Bay of Bengal, A Listing of Cyclonic Storms by Month Through 1979, Prepared for the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance Agency for International Development, Washington D.C. 20523 - by F. Henderson.
10. June 8, 1824 Heavy Storm (Severe Cyclonic Storm) Coast: The cyclone crossed Chittagong coast

Other information are not available.

  • Disastrous storms in the Bay of Bengal, A Listing of Cyclonic Storms by Month Through 1979, Prepared for the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance Agency for International Development, Washington D.C. 20523 - by F. Henderson.
11. October 31, 1831 Severe Cyclonic Storm Coast: The cyclone crossed Barisal coast (Grazed the Balasore-Orissa coast)

Surge height: 2.12-4.55 m (7–15 ft)

Loss and damage: People killed = 22,000 (along the coast of India and Bengal)

Cattle killed > 50,000

Other information are not available.

  • Bangladesh Meteorological Department.
  • Bengal District Gazetteer (Balasore)- by L.S.S. O'Malley, ICS
12. June 3–5, 1839 Cyclonic Storm Coast: Crossed Head Bay (Bengal coast)

Other information are not available.

  • Disastrous storms in the Bay of Bengal, A Listing of Cyclonic Storms by Month Through 1979, Prepared for the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance Agency for International Development, Washington D.C. 20523 - by F. Henderson.
13. September 19–21, 1839 Cyclonic Storm Coast: The storm passed north across Sundarbans coast between Calcutta and Barisal.

Other information are not available.

  • Disastrous storms in the Bay of Bengal, A Listing of Cyclonic Storms by Month Through 1979, Prepared for the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance Agency for International Development, Washington D.C. 20523 - by F. Henderson.
14. May 11, 1844 Cyclonic Storm (Gale) Coast: Crossed Noakhali and Chittagong coast.

Other information are not available.

  • Disastrous storms in the Bay of Bengal, A Listing of Cyclonic Storms by Month Through 1979, Prepared for the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance Agency for International Development, Washington D.C. 20523 - by F. Henderson.
15. May 12–13, 1849 Cyclonic Storm (Gale) Coast: The cyclone crossed Chittagong coast

Other information are not available.

  • Disastrous storms in the Bay of Bengal, A Listing of Cyclonic Storms by Month Through 1979, Prepared for the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance Agency for International Development, Washington D.C. 20523 - by F. Henderson.
16. April 23–28, 1850 Cyclonic Storm Formation: Formed over West Nicobars.

Coast: It moved north to Bengal from West Nicobars.

Other information are not available.

  • Disastrous storms in the Bay of Bengal, A Listing of Cyclonic Storms by Month Through 1979, Prepared for the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance Agency for International Development, Washington D.C. 20523 - by F. Henderson.
17. May 12–15, 1852 Cyclonic Storm Formation: Formed near 15°N.

Coast: It moved northward and crossed the Sundarbans coast; the center passed 39 miles (63 km) east of Calcutta

Other information are not available.

  • Disastrous storms in the Bay of Bengal, A Listing of Cyclonic Storms by Month Through 1979, Prepared for the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance Agency for International Development, Washington D.C. 20523 - by F. Henderson.
18. May 13–17, 1869 Cyclonic Storm The storm moved northwestward from Cape Negrais to Bengal and crossed the Bengal coast

Other information are not available.

  • Disastrous storms in the Bay of Bengal, A Listing of Cyclonic Storms by Month Through 1979, Prepared for the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance Agency for International Development, Washington D.C. 20523 - by F. Henderson.
19. June 5–10, 1869 Cyclonic Storm Coast: From the North Bay the cyclone passed over Bengal.

Other information are not available.

  • Disastrous storms in the Bay of Bengal, A Listing of Cyclonic Storms by Month Through 1979, Prepared for the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance Agency for International Development, Washington D.C. 20523 - by F. Henderson.
20. October 1872 (Date was not available) Cyclonic Storm Coast: The cyclone hit the coast of Cox's Bazar

Other information are not available.

  • Disastrous storms in the Bay of Bengal, A Listing of Cyclonic Storms by Month Through 1979, Prepared for the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance Agency for International Development, Washington D.C. 20523 - by F. Henderson.
  • Banglapedia[2]
21. October 29-November 1, 1876

(The Great Backerganj Cyclone of 1876)

Severe Cyclonic Storm with a core of hurricane winds. Coast: The cyclone crossed the coast of Backerganj (present Barisal) near Meghna estuary.

Maximum wind: 220 km/h (119 knots)

Surge height: 3-13.6 m (10–45 ft)

According to Banglapedia, a cyclone with a storm-surge of 12.2 metres (40 ft) hit Meghna River estuary near Chittagong, Barisal, and Noakhali.[2] Casualty: about 200,000. The storm also caused epidemic and famine, and vast property damage.

  • Disastrous storms in the Bay of Bengal, A Listing of Cyclonic Storms by Month Through 1979, Prepared for the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance Agency for International Development, Washington D.C. 20523 - by F. Henderson.
  • BMD
  • Hurricane Storms and tornadoes- by D.V. Nalivkin, 1982, pp. 68.
  • Journal of Asiatic Soc. Vol. XL VI- by H.F. Blanford pp. 338.
  • Tracks of Storms and Depressions in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea, 1877–1970, IMD, 1979.
  • Banglapedia[2]
22. 24 October 1897 Cyclonic Storm Coast:Kutubdia island near Chittagong.

Casualty: 14,000. The resulting epidemic of Cholera killed another 18,000

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23. May 1898 (Date N/A) Tropical cyclone with storm surge Coast:Teknaf

Casualty: unknown

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24. November 1904 (Date N/A) Cyclonic storm Coast:Sonadia

143 killed and fishing fleet wrecked.

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25. 16 October 1909 Cyclonic Storm Coast:Khulna

Casualty: 698 people and 70,654 cattle.

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26. October 1913 (Actual Date N/A) Cyclonic Storm Coast:Muktagachha upazila (Mymensingh District)

A tropical cyclone, having moved inland destroyed villages. Casualty: 500 people.

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27. 24 September 1917 Cyclonic Storm Coast:Khulna

Casualty: 432 people and 28,029 cattle.

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28. May 1941 (Date N/A) Cyclonic Storm Coast:Eastern Meghna River estuary

Casualty: unknown.

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29. October, 1942 (Date N/A) Cyclonic Storm Coast:The Sundarbans

Casualty: unknown.

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30. 17–19 May 1948 Cyclonic Storm Coast:Deltan between Chittagong and Noakhali

Casualty: approximately 1,200 people and 20,000 cattle.

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31. 16–19 May 1958 Cyclonic Storm Coast:East and West Meghna River estuary, east of Barisal and Noakhali

Casualty: 870 people and 14,500. Also standing crops were destroyed.

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32. 21–24 October 1958 Cyclonic Storm Coast:Chittagong

Casualty:Approx. 100,000 families were rendered homeless.

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33. 9–10 October 1960 Severe Cyclonic Storm Coast:Eastern Meghna River estuary near Noakhali, Bakerganj, Faridpur and Patuakhali.

Maximum Wind:201 km/hour

Maximum Surge:3.05 metres

Casualty: 3,000 people. Other effects: 62,725 houses destroyed. Crops on 94,000 acres (380 km²) of land were destroyed

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34. 30–31 October 1960 Severe Cyclonic Storm Coast:Chittagong, Noakhali, Bakerganj, Faridpur, Patuakhali and eastern Meghna estuary

Maximum Wind:210 km/h

Surge:4.5-6.1 m

Casualty: about 10,000 people, 27,793 cattle . Losses: 568,161 houses destroyed (including 70% houses in Hatiya). Also, two large ocean-going ships ran aground in the shore, and 5-7 vessels capsized in Karnaphuli River.

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35. 9 May 1961 Severe Cyclonic Storm Coast:Bagerhat and Khulna

Maximum Wind:161 km/h

Surge height:2.44-3.05 m

Casualty: 11,468 people (mostly in Char Alexander), 25,000 cattle. Damages: The railway tracks between Noakhali and Harinarayanpur were damaged.

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36. 26–30 October 1962 Severe Cyclonic Storm Coast:Feni

Maximum Wind:161 km/h

Surge height:2.5-3.0 m

Casualty: about 1,000 people, many domestic cattle.

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37. 28–29 May 1963 Severe Cyclonic Storm Coast:Chittagong, Noakhali, Cox's Bazar and coastal islands of Sandwip, Kutubdia, Hatiya and Maheshkhali.

Maximum Wind:203 km/h (164 km/h at Cox's Bazar)

Surge height:4.3-5.2 m

Casualty: 11,520 people, 32,617 cattle. Damages: 376,332 houses, 4,787 boats, and standing crops.

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38. 11–12 May 1965 Cyclonic Storm Coast:Barisal and Bakerganj

Maximum Wind:162 km/h

Surge height:3.7 m

Casualty:19,279 people (out of that, 16,456 in Barisal).

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39. 14–15 December 1965 Cyclonic Storm Coast: near Cox's Bazar and Patuakhali

Maximum Windspeed:210 km/h at Cox's Bazar

Surge height:4.7-6.1 m

Casualty 873 people. Damage: 40,000 salt beds destroyed

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40. 1 October 1966 Cyclonic Storm Coast:Sandwip, Bakerganj, Khulna, Chittagong, Noakhali and Comilla

Surge height:4.7-9.1 m

Maximum Wind:146 km/h

Total people affected: 1.5 million people. Casualty: 850 people, 65,000 cattle.

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41. 7 November-13 November: The 1970 Bhola cyclone Severe Cyclonic Storm Coast:entire coast of Bangladesh (then East Pakistan)

Most affected were Chittagong, Barguna, Khepupara, Patuakhali, north of Char Burhanuddin, Char Tazumuddin and south of Maijdi, Haringhata.

The official death toll was 500,000 but the number is likely to be higher. Damages include destruction of approximately 20,000 fishing boats, and also property and crops. Total loss of cattle reached more than one million. More than 400,000 houses and 3,500 educational institutions were destroyed. Maximum Wind:222 km/h

Maximum Surge:10.6 m.

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42. 5–6 November 1971 Cyclonic Storm Coast:Coastal areas of Chittagong

Casualty:unknown

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43. 28–30 November 1971 Cyclonic Storm Coast:near the Sundarbans

Wind Speed:97–113 km/h

Surge height:1 m

Effect:Low lying areas of Khulna town inundated

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44. 6–9 December 1973 Cyclonic Storm Coast:near the Sundarbans

Coastal areas near Patuakhali and nearby islands were submerged under the tidal bore.

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45. 13–15 August 1974 Cyclonic Storm Coast:Khulna

Maximum Wind:80.5 km/h

Casualty:600 people.

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46. 24–28 November 1974 Cyclonic Storm Coast:near Cox's Bazar and Chittagong

Maximum Wind:161 km/h

Surge height:2.8-5.2 m

Casualty: 200 people, 1000 cattle. Damages: 2,300 houses destroyed.

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This is a partial list of the tropical cyclones in Bangladesh or the historical region of Bengal of pre-partitioned India in general. Some of the years and dates may be slightly incorrect. Most of the figures have been taken from Banglapedia.[2]

See also

References

  1. Chowdhury, Masud Hasan. "SPARRSO", Banglapedia. Retrieved 2010-06-05.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Chowdhury, Masud Hasan. "Cyclone", Banglapedia. Retrieved 2010-06-05.
  3. "4. Post Monsoon Season (October — December) Cyclonic Disturbances". Report on Cyclonic Disturbances (Depressions and Tropical Cyclones) over North Indian Ocean in 1990 (PDF) (Report). India Meteorological Department. January 1992. p. 25. Archived from the original on January 15, 2014. Retrieved January 15, 2014.
  4. Carr, Lester E. "3.3 North Indian Ocean Tropical Cyclones". 1990 Annual Tropical Cyclone Report (PDF). Joint Typhoon Warning Center (Report) (United States Navy, United States Airforce). Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  5. "Cyclone death toll mounts to 2388 in Bangladesh (2nd Roundup)". Monsters & Critics. 2007-11-17. Retrieved 2007-11-17.