1971 North Indian Ocean cyclone season

The 1971 North Indian Ocean cyclone season was part of the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. The season has no official bounds but cyclones tend to form between April and December. 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 (JTWC) releases unofficial advisories. An average of five tropical cyclones 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]

1971 North Indian Ocean cyclone season
Season summary map
Seasonal boundaries
First system formed	May 3, 1971
Last system dissipated	December 21, 1971
Seasonal statistics
Deep depressions	15
Cyclonic storms	7
Severe cyclonic storms	5
Total fatalities	>10,860
Total damage	Unknown
Related articles
1971 Atlantic hurricane season 1971 Pacific hurricane season 1971 Pacific typhoon season
North Indian Ocean tropical cyclone seasons 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973

Seasonal summary

Systems

Depression One (01B)

Depression (IMD)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	May 3 – May 8
Peak intensity	45 km/h (30 mph) (3-min);

Deep Depression Two

Cyclonic Storm Three (03B)

Cyclonic storm (IMD)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	June 3 – June 8
Peak intensity	85 km/h (50 mph) (3-min);

Deep Depression Four

Deep Depression Five

Deep Depression Six

Deep Depression Seven

Deep Depression Eight

Deep Depression Nine

Severe Cyclonic Storm Ten (10B)

Severe cyclonic storm (IMD)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration	September 27 – October 1
Peak intensity	95 km/h (60 mph) (3-min);

This cyclone was formed on September 27 and peaked as a Category-1 equivalent storm. On September 30, the storm made landfall over Sunderbans and dissipated over the state of Bihar by the next day. 60 people were killed due to the storm.

Deep Depression Eleven

Extremely Cyclonic Storm Twelve (12B)

Main article: 1971 Odisha cyclone

Extremely severe cyclonic storm (IMD)
Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration	October 27 – November 1
Peak intensity	165 km/h (105 mph) (3-min); 966 hPa (mbar)

On October 27 a tropical depression formed in the Bay of Bengal. It tracked northward, rapidly strengthened until reached a peak of 115 mph winds. The cyclone struck Paradip in Odisha, India, on October 29, and dissipated by the same day. The storm surge and flooding from the system caused 10,800 fatalities.^[3]

Severe Cyclonic Storm Thirteen (13A)

Severe cyclonic storm (IMD)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration	October 27 – November 1
Peak intensity	110 km/h (70 mph) (3-min);

A tropical cyclone moved through the Arabian Sea near the end of October.

Severe Cyclonic Storm Fourteen (14B)

Severe cyclonic storm (IMD)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration	November 3 – November 6
Peak intensity	100 km/h (65 mph) (3-min);

Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Fifteen (15A)

Very severe cyclonic storm (IMD)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration	December 14 – December 21
Peak intensity	130 km/h (80 mph) (3-min);

This was a rare cyclone which threatened the Arabian Peninsula in the month of December.

See also

• Tropical cyclones portal

• North Indian Ocean tropical cyclone
• 1971 Atlantic hurricane season
• 1971 Pacific hurricane season
• 1971 Pacific typhoon season
• Australian cyclone seasons: 1970–71, 1971–72
• South Pacific cyclone seasons: 1970–71, 1971–72
• South-West Indian Ocean cyclone seasons: 1970–71, 1971–72