| 1989 North Indian Ocean cyclone season | |
|---|---|
 Season summary map | |
| Seasonal boundaries | |
| First system formed | May 23, 1989 |
| Last system dissipated | November 10, 1989 |
| Strongest storm | |
| Name | Gay |
| • Maximum winds | 230 km/h (145 mph) (3-minute sustained) |
| • Lowest pressure | 930 hPa (mbar) |
| Seasonal statistics | |
| Depressions | 10 |
| Cyclonic storms | 3 |
| Severe cyclonic storms | 2 |
| Very severe cyclonic storms | 1 |
| Super cyclonic storms | 1 |
| Total fatalities | 1,785 total |
| Total damage | $25.27 million (1989 USD) |
| Related articles | |
The 1989 North Indian Ocean cyclone season was a below-average season in annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. Despite this, the season had the second highest Accumulated Cyclone Energy in the basin on record behind only 2019 and 2023.[1][2] 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.[3] Cyclones occurring between the meridians 45°E and 100°E are included in the season by the IMD.[4]
Throughout the season, the IMD monitored ten depressions, three of which became cyclonic storms.[5] The strongest storm of the year was Super Cyclonic Storm Gay. Crossing the Malay Peninsula into the Bay of Bengal on November 4, Gay became one of the most powerful systems on record in the basin, attaining an estimated pressure of 930 mbar (hPa; 27.46 inHg). Collectively, the storms were responsible for at least 1,785 fatalities, 1,445 of which were due to the disastrous flooding triggered by the July Cyclonic Storm, and more than $25 million in damage.
- ^ Mohapatra, M.; Vijay Kumar, V. (2016-05-06). "Interannual variation of tropical cyclone energy metrics over North Indian Ocean". Climate Dynamics. 48 (5–6): 1431–1445. doi:10.1007/s00382-016-3150-3. ISSN 0930-7575.
- ^ Kotal, S.D.; Bhattacharya, S.K. (March 2020). "Improvement of wind field forecasts for tropical cyclones over the North Indian Ocean". Tropical Cyclone Research and Review. 9 (1): 53–66. doi:10.1016/j.tcrr.2020.03.004. ISSN 2225-6032.
- ^ "Frequently Asked Questions: What is the annual frequency of Cyclones over the Indian Seas? What is its intra-annual variation?". India Meteorological Department. 2012. Archived from the original on May 21, 2015. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
- ^ "Bulletins Issued by Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre (RSMC) – Tropical Cyclones, New Delhi" (PDF). India Meteorological Department. May 25, 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-04-12. Retrieved July 16, 2012.
- ^ "Annual frequency of cyclonic disturbances (Maximum sustained windspeeds of 17 knots or more), Cyclones (34 knots or more) and Severe Cyclones (48 knots or more) over the Bay of Bengal (BOB), Arabian Sea (AS) and land surface of India" (PDF). India Meteorological Department. August 31, 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 5, 2011. Retrieved March 25, 2012.