1979 North Indian Ocean cyclone season

The 1979 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]

1979 North Indian Ocean cyclone season
Season summary map
Seasonal boundaries
First system formed	May 6, 1979
Last system dissipated	November 25, 1979
Strongest storm
Name	One
• Maximum winds	185 km/h (115 mph) (3-minute sustained)
• Lowest pressure	936 hPa (mbar)
Seasonal statistics
Depressions	11
Cyclonic storms	5
Severe cyclonic storms	4
Total fatalities	≥700
Total damage	Unknown
Related articles
1979 Atlantic hurricane season 1979 Pacific hurricane season 1979 Pacific typhoon season
North Indian Ocean tropical cyclone seasons 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981

Summary

Systems

Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm One (1B)

Extremely severe cyclonic storm (IMD)
Category 2 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration	May 6 – May 13
Peak intensity	185 km/h (115 mph) (3-min); 936 hPa (mbar)

The system formed on 6 May close to the coast of Sri Lanka. It moved towards northwest in its existence after making a small loop. On 13 May, the cyclone made landfall near Ongole in Andhra Pradesh and dissipated rapidly by the same day. The storm killed 700 people and 300,000 cattle.^[3] Nellore reported wind gusts up to 155 km/h (95 mph). In Peddaganjam and Kovuur, storm surges were up to 12 ft, which led to coastal flooding in those areas. Together, 4 million people were affected by the storm and nearly 700,000 houses were damaged.

Tropical Storm Two (2A)

Cyclonic storm (IMD)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	June 18 – June 20
Peak intensity	75 km/h (45 mph) (3-min);

Tropical Storm Three (3B) (Hope)

Main article: Typhoon Hope (1979)

Severe cyclonic storm (IMD)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	August 5 – August 8
Peak intensity	100 km/h (65 mph) (3-min);

Tropical Storm Four (4B/4A)

Severe cyclonic storm (IMD)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	September 21 – September 23
Peak intensity	110 km/h (70 mph) (3-min);

Tropical Depression Five (5B)

Depression (IMD)
Tropical depression (SSHWS)
Duration	September 21 – September 25
Peak intensity	45 km/h (30 mph) (3-min);

Tropical Storm Six (6B)

Depression (IMD)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	October 29 – November 1
Peak intensity	45 km/h (30 mph) (3-min);

Tropical Storm Seven (7A)

Cyclonic storm (IMD)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	November 16 – November 17
Peak intensity	65 km/h (40 mph) (3-min);

Tropical Depression Eight (8B)

Deep depression (IMD)
Tropical depression (SSHWS)
Duration	November 23 – November 25
Peak intensity	55 km/h (35 mph) (3-min);

See also

• Tropical cyclones portal

• North Indian Ocean tropical cyclone
• 1979 Atlantic hurricane season
• 1979 Pacific hurricane season
• 1979 Pacific typhoon season
• Australian cyclone seasons: 1978–79, 1979–80
• South Pacific cyclone seasons: 1978–79, 1979–80
• South-West Indian Ocean cyclone seasons: 1978–79, 1979–80