1961 North Indian Ocean cyclone season
Season summary map
Seasonal boundaries
First system formedJanuary 9, 1961
Last system dissipatedOctober 25, 1961
Strongest storm
NameThree
 • Maximum winds95 km/h (60 mph)
 • Lowest pressure980 hPa (mbar)
Seasonal statistics
Depressions18
Deep depressions8
Cyclonic storms5
Very severe cyclonic storms2
Total fatalities11,525 total
Total damageUnknown
Related articles
North Indian Ocean tropical cyclone seasons
1950s, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963

The 1961 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. There are two main seas in the North Indian Ocean—the Bay of Bengal to the east of the Indian subcontinent and the Arabian Sea to the west of India. The official Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre in this basin is the India Meteorological Department (IMD), while the Joint Typhoon Warning Center releases unofficial advisories. An average of four to six storms form in the North Indian Ocean every season with peaks in May and November.[1] Cyclones occurring between the meridians 45°E and 100°E are included in the season by the IMD.[2]

Systems

Depression One

Depression (IMD)
 
DurationJanuary 9 – January 11
Peak intensity55 km/h (35 mph) (3-min);
1006 hPa (mbar)

A depression developed on January 9. It cut across northern Ceylon and southern India before dissipating on January 11.[3]

Deep Depression Two

Deep depression (IMD)
 
DurationFebruary 18 – February 21
Peak intensity55 km/h (35 mph) (3-min);
1006 hPa (mbar)

A deep depression developed in the Bay of Bengal on February 18. It moved generally northward and dissipated on February 21.[4]

Severe Cyclonic Storm Three (Winnie)

Severe cyclonic storm (IMD)
Category 2 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
 
DurationMay 5 – May 9
Peak intensity95 km/h (60 mph) (3-min);
980 hPa (mbar)

From May 6–9, the JTWC tracked this system as Tropical Storm Winnie.[5][6] The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) estimated that the storm attained peak one-minute winds of 155 km/h (95 mph).[7]

In East Pakistan, 11,468 people were killed.[8]

Severe Cyclonic Storm Four

Very severe cyclonic storm (IMD)
 
DurationMay 23 – May 25
Peak intensity120 km/h (75 mph) (3-min);
984 hPa (mbar)

It caused considerable damage in southwestern India.[9]

Severe Cyclonic Storm Five

Very severe cyclonic storm (IMD)
 
DurationMay 27 – May 30
Peak intensity120 km/h (75 mph) (3-min);
983 hPa (mbar)

Caused considerable damage in East Pakistan, where wind gusts reached 155 km/h (95 mph).[10] A storm surge of 6.4 m (21 ft) was measured in Chittagong. Due advanced warnings, put out an unprecedented 36 hours before the storm, relatively few casualties took place.[7]

Depression Six

Depression (IMD)
 
DurationJune 8 – June 13
Peak intensity55 km/h (35 mph) (3-min);
994 hPa (mbar)

Produced torrential rain over northeastern India, with Cherrapunji recording 1,340 mm (53 in) of precipitation over a four-day span.[11]

Severe Cyclonic Storm Seven

Severe cyclonic storm (IMD)
 
DurationJune 21 – June 26
Peak intensity100 km/h (65 mph) (3-min);

A severe cyclonic storm developed in the Arabian Sea on June 21. The system struck western India before dissipating on June 26.[12]

Depression Eight

Depression (IMD)
 
DurationJune 27 – June 28
Peak intensity35 km/h (25 mph) (3-min);

A depression developed in the Bay of Bengal on June 27. The system struck the state of West Bengal in India and promptly dissipated.[13]

Depression Nine

Depression (IMD)
 
DurationJuly 1 – July 2
Peak intensityWinds not specified;

The ninth depression of the season existed inland over eastern India. It developed on July 1 and dissipated the following day.[14]

Land Depression Ten

Depression (IMD)
 
DurationJune 27 – June 28
Peak intensity35 km/h (25 mph) (3-min);

The depression remained around the Gujarat Peninsula for several days, resulting in prolonged rains that amounted to 680 mm (27 in) in Junagadh.[15]

Land Depression Eleven

Depression (IMD)
 
DurationJuly 18 – July 19
Peak intensity75 km/h (45 mph) (3-min);

Another land depression briefly existed over western India from July 18 to July 19.[16]

Depression Twelve

Depression (IMD)
 
DurationAugust 27 – August 28
Peak intensity55 km/h (35 mph) (3-min);
995 hPa (mbar)

The twelfth depression of the season existed from August 27 to August 28.[17]

Deep Depression Thirteen

Deep depression (IMD)
 
DurationSeptember 6 – September 16
Peak intensity55 km/h (35 mph) (3-min);
992 hPa (mbar)

Deep depression produced heavy rains over a large swath of northern India, with several areas reporting daily totals in excess of 300 mm (12 in).[18]

Cyclonic Storm Fourteen

Cyclonic storm (IMD)
 
DurationSeptember 11 – September 17
Peak intensity75 km/h (45 mph) (3-min);
987 hPa (mbar)

Heavy rains from the storm caused significant flooding in Vidarbha and Madhya Pradeshes.[19]

Depression Fifteen

Depression (IMD)
 
DurationSeptember 22 – September 23
Peak intensityWinds not specified;

The fifteenth depression of the season developed in the northern Bay of Bengal on September 22. It then struck West Bengal before dissipating on September 23.[20]

Deep Depression Sixteen

Deep depression (IMD)
 
DurationSeptember 27 – October 2
Peak intensity55 km/h (35 mph) (3-min);

A deep depression developed in the Bay of Bengal on September 27. The system then moved inland over West Bengal. It meandered inland until dissipating on October 2.[21]

Land Depression Seventeen

Depression (IMD)
 
DurationOctober 9 – October 13
Peak intensityWinds not specified;

Significant flooding resulted from the depression's heavy rains, with 57 fatalities occurring in Uttar Pradesh.[22]

Depression Eighteen

Depression (IMD)
 
DurationOctober 24 – October 25
Peak intensity45 km/h (30 mph) (3-min);
1009 hPa (mbar)

The final depression of the season developed in the Bay of Bengal on October 24. It soon struck the province of East Pakistan in Pakistan and dissipated on the following day.[23]

See also

References

  1. ^ "IMD Cyclone Warning Services: Tropical Cyclones". India Meteorological Department. Archived from the original on 4 November 2008. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  2. ^ "Report on Cyclonic Disturbances Over the North Indian During 2008". India Meteorological Department. January 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 29, 2009. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  3. ^ India Meteorological Department (1961). "Annual Summary — Storms & Depressions: Depression in the Bay of Bengal" (PDF). India Weather Review. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: 1–3. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  4. ^ India Meteorological Department (1961). "Annual Summary — Storms & Depressions: Deep depression in the Bay of Bengal" (PDF). India Weather Review. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: 3–5. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  5. ^ India Meteorological Department (1961). "Annual Summary — Storms & Depressions: Severe cyclonic storm in the Bay of Bengal" (PDF). India Weather Review. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: 5–7. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  6. ^ Annual Typhoon Report 1961 (PDF) (Report). Joint Typhoon Warning Center. April 11, 1962. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 24, 2016. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
  7. ^ a b Gordon E. Dunn, United States Weather Bureau (March 1962). "The Tropical Cyclone Problem In East Pakistan" (PDF). Monthly Weather Review. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 90 (3): 83–86. Bibcode:1962MWRv...90...83D. doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1962)090<0083:TTCPIE>2.0.CO;2. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  8. ^ Neil L.; Frank S. A. Husain; National Hurricane Center, Pakistan Meteorological Department (June 1971). "The Deadliest Tropical Cyclone in History?". Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. American Meteorological Society. 52 (6): 438–444. Bibcode:1971BAMS...52..438F. doi:10.1175/1520-0477(1971)052<0438:TDTCIH>2.0.CO;2.
  9. ^ India Meteorological Department (1961). "Annual Summary — Storms & Depressions: Severe cyclonic storm in the Arabian Sea" (PDF). India Weather Review. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: 7–9. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  10. ^ India Meteorological Department (1961). "Annual Summary — Storms & Depressions: Severe cyclonic storm in the Bay of Bengal" (PDF). India Weather Review. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: 9–10. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  11. ^ India Meteorological Department (1961). "Annual Summary — Storms & Depressions: Depression in the Bay of Bengal" (PDF). India Weather Review. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: 10–11. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  12. ^ India Meteorological Department (1961). "Annual Summary — Storms & Depressions: Severe cyclonic storm in the Arabian Sea" (PDF). India Weather Review. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: 11–12. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  13. ^ India Meteorological Department (1961). "Annual Summary — Storms & Depressions: Depression in the Bay of Bengal" (PDF). India Weather Review. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: 12–13. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  14. ^ India Meteorological Department (1961). "Annual Summary — Storms & Depressions: Depression in the Bay of Bengal" (PDF). India Weather Review. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: 13. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  15. ^ India Meteorological Department (1961). "Annual Summary — Storms & Depressions: Land depression over Saurashtra-Kutch" (PDF). India Weather Review. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: 14. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  16. ^ India Meteorological Department (1961). "Annual Summary — Storms & Depressions: Land depression over lower Sindh" (PDF). India Weather Review. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: 14–15. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  17. ^ India Meteorological Department (1961). "Annual Summary — Storms & Depressions: Depression in the Arabian Sea" (PDF). India Weather Review. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: 15. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  18. ^ India Meteorological Department (1961). "Annual Summary — Storms & Depressions: Deep depression in the Bay of Bengal" (PDF). India Weather Review. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: 15–16. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  19. ^ India Meteorological Department (1961). "Annual Summary — Storms & Depressions: Cyclonic storm in the Bay" (PDF). India Weather Review. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: 17–18. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  20. ^ India Meteorological Department (1961). "Annual Summary — Storms & Depressions: Depression in the Bay of Bengal" (PDF). India Weather Review. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: 18–19. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  21. ^ India Meteorological Department (1961). "Annual Summary — Storms & Depressions: Depression in the Bay of Bengal" (PDF). India Weather Review. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: 19–20. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  22. ^ India Meteorological Department (1961). "Annual Summary — Storms & Depressions: Land depression over central parts of the country" (PDF). India Weather Review. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: 20–21. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  23. ^ India Meteorological Department (1961). "Annual Summary — Storms & Depressions: Depression in the Bay of Bengal" (PDF). India Weather Review. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: 21. Retrieved May 10, 2013.

External links

1960–1969 North Indian Ocean cyclone seasons
Tropical cyclones in 1961
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