October 1996 India cyclone


The October 1996 India cyclone had an unusual and protracted path that spanned much of the northern Indian Ocean. It originated in a weather disturbance that formed on October 14 in the southern Bay of Bengal, off India's east coast. Moving westward, it struck Andhra Pradesh on October 17 as a well-defined low pressure area. It crossed southern India and reorganized in the Arabian Sea off the western coast of India. The system developed into a depression on October 22 and quickly intensified while moving northward. By October 24, the cyclone approached hurricane intensity as it developed an eye, reaching peak winds of at least 110 km/h. On October 25, the storm abruptly stalled and weakened off Gujarat, and progressed southwestward as a minimal storm. It was no longer classifiable as a tropical cyclone by October 28, although its remnants persisted until November 2 when they dissipated east of Somalia.
In southern India, the storm dropped heavy rainfall that caused severe flooding in Andhra Pradesh. At least 112 reservoirs and dams were breached, killing 200 people in Prakasam district. The floodwaters ruined about of crops and damaged around 53,000 houses, leaving thousands homeless. The floods killed 388 people in southern India and caused US$388 million in damage. The storm later brushed the west coast of India, stranding 50 boats. The Indian military helped with relief and rescue efforts. Another cyclone struck Andhra Pradesh in November, causing additional damage and deaths.

Meteorological history

The long-tracked storm originated from the monsoon trough, which spawned an area of convection, or thunderstorms, in the southern Bay of Bengal on October 14. It moved to the west-northwest and later to the west without much development. The India Meteorological Department classified the system as a well-marked low pressure area before the system moved over the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh on October 17. The system slowly crossed southern India, emerging into the Arabian Sea on October 21. That day, the convection organized into a circular cluster as the circulation became more defined. The system slowed and turned to the north around the periphery of a ridge to the east. The system organized into a depression on October 22, the same day that the Joint Typhoon Warning Center classified it as Tropical Cyclone 05A.
As the storm moved slowly northward, it quickly intensified, and the IMD upgraded the system's status from a depression on October 22 to severe cyclonic storm status late on October 23. Around that time, the storm developed an eye, and the JTWC estimated 1 minute peak winds of 120 km/h at 18:00 UTC that day, equivalent to a minimal hurricane. On October 24, the IMD estimated peak 3 minute winds of 110 km/h, although estimates derived from the Dvorak technique suggested winds of 120 km/h.
On October 25, the storm stalled about 95 km south of the Gujarat coast, as steering currents from the retreating ridge of high pressure diminished. Strengthening wind shear, cooler waters, and dry air rapidly weakened the storm. By late on October 25, the JTWC had discontinued warnings, and the IMD downgraded the storm to depression status. The system began moving to the southwest away from the wind shear. The IMD downgraded the system further to a remnant low on October 28, although the JTWC began issuing advisories again after a nearby ship reported winds of 65 km/h. Accelerating to the west, the storm again weakened on October 31, prompting the JTWC to discontinue advisories while the system was about 110 km northeast of Socotra. The remnants turned to the southwest, dissipating near the east coast of Somalia on November 2.
The JTWC remarked that the storm "had one of the most unusual tracks in North Indian Ocean cyclone history" and was also one of the longest tracked cyclones in the basin. According to the IMD, most storms approaching Gujarat strike the coast or weaken and move westward. The agency stated that "there is no parallel of this system in ."

Impact and aftermath

The precursor to the storm brought heavy rainfall to southern India, mainly in Andhra Pradesh, as well as in Tamil Nadu to the south, Karnataka to the west, and Kerala to the southwest. Daily totals reached in portions of Andhra Pradesh, where damage was heaviest. The rains flooded rivers and cities, with thousands of residents in Hyderabad stranded in their houses. About 40 villages were isolated in Kadapa district. Throughout the region, the storm damaged 53,000 houses. About 86,000 people sought shelter after the storm, and thousands were left homeless. Highways and railroads were inundated, with many bridges washed away. At least 112 reservoirs and dams were breached. The floods also damaged about 1,600,000 ha of crop fields - 450,000 ha of rice and 1,150,000 ha of ground nuts - and killed about 45,000 head of cattle. At least 200 people were killed in the Prakasam district after reservoirs were damaged. In Tamil Nadu, south of Andhra Pradesh, at least 10 people were killed, all in Chennai. Overall, 388 people died in southern India due to the floods, including at least 326 in Andhra Pradesh. Damage was estimated at US$128.5 million, of which US$120 million was in Andhra Pradesh.
After the floods, helicopters airlifted relief supplies like food and water to isolated villages, and to residents riding out the floods on their roofs. However, relief coordination was disrupted by damaged communication lines and ongoing rainfall. Rescue boats were used to rescue stranded residents. India's Prime Minister H. D. Deve Gowda provided 500 million rupees to help Andhra Pradesh with flood recovery. Conditions returned to normal within 12 days of the onslaught of the rains, with the exception of minor delays to trains. However, another cyclone struck Andhra Pradesh about three weeks after the flood event, killing over 1,000 people.
Upon forming and moving parallel to India's west coastline, the storm dropped rainfall in the Konkan region of Maharashtra and neighboring Goa. The threat of the storm prompted schools to be closed around Mumbai. Later, it brushed Gujarat with heavy rainfall and gusty winds. About 50 boats were stranded amid high seas, and 11 other boats were left missing from the Veraval port. During the height of the storm, 320 fishermen were unaccounted for, spurring the Indian navy to launch search and rescue missions.