2001 Gujarat cyclone

North Indian cyclone in 2001 September 2026 ARB 01 2001-05-23 Terra.jpg The cyclone shortly before peak intensity on 23 May 21 May 2001 29 May 2001 115 932 110 927 2001 120–900 dead or missing Minimal Western India 2001 North Indian Ocean cyclone season The 2001 Gujarat cyclone was the third strongest tropical cyclone, in terms of barometric pressure, to form in the Arabian Sea on record; only Cyclones Gonu in 2007 and Kyarr in 2019 were stronger. The storm originated from a tropical disturbance that formed east of Somalia on 18 May. Over the following few days, the system gradually organized into a tropical depression. Tracking eastward, towards the coastline of southwestern India, the storm slowly intensified. Shortly before reaching shore, the system turned north and later west, away from land. After taking this turn, the storm intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm, attaining its peak intensity on 24 May with winds of 215 km/h (130 mph 3-minute winds) and a barometric pressure of 932 mbar (hPa). At the time, this ranked the cyclone as the strongest known storm in the Arabian Sea. After stalling several hundred kilometres offshore, the storm weakened over cooler waters that it had upwelled. By 27 May, the system weakened to a cyclonic storm and by this time was approaching the northwestern coastline of India, near Gujarat. The following day, the storm made landfall in the Saurashtra region as a deep depression with winds of 55 km/h (35 mph 3-minute winds). The depression quickly weakened after moving inland and dissipated early on 29 May. Although a powerful cyclone over water, the storm had relatively little impact over land. In the Valsad district, two coastal communities lost a combined 200 homes due to large swells produced by the storm. However, the losses were more extensive offshore. Between 120 and 900 fishermen were listed as missing after contact was lost with their vessels during the storm. Meteorological history Cyclone 01A 2001 track.png The origins of the 2001 Gujarat cyclone can be traced to a tropical disturbance over the Arabian Sea on 18 May. The following day, the system was determined to be relatively stationary near the island of Socotra. Although deep convection was associated with the disturbance, there was no evidence of a low-level circulation. By 20 May, the disturbance slowly moved towards the southeast in response to an upper-level trough over India. The overall structure gradually improved as good outflow developed. A mid-level circulation finally developed late on 21 May, prompting the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) to issue a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert. Several hours later, they began monitoring the system as a tropical depression with the identifier 01A;Joint Typhoon Warning Center Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command 2002 3 June 2010 Cyclone 01A Best Track http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/best_tracks/2001/2001s-bio/bio012001.txt 6 June 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110606213545/http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/best_tracks/2001/2001s-bio/bio012001.txt dead however, operational advisories were not issued until the cyclone was estimated to have attained tropical storm intensity. By the morning of 22 May, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) also took notice of the system.Gary Padgett Typhoon2000 10 July 2001 13 December 2009 Monthly Tropical Weather Summary for May 2001 http://www.typhoon2000.ph/garyp_mgtcs/may01.txt Situated in a region favoring tropical cyclone development about 650 km mi on southwest of Mumbai, India, the storm rapidly developed. By the afternoon of 22 May, the JTWC estimated that 01A attained winds of 120 km/h mph on 5, equivalent to a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane scale. Additionally, a 22 km mi on-wide eye developed within the center of circulation during this intensification phase. Throughout most of 22 May, the strengthening slowed considerably as it paralleled the southwestern coast of India. Initially, it was feared that the storm would move inland as a powerful cyclone; however, a ridge over the northern Arabian Sea caused the storm to turn westward, back over open water. Once further away from land, the cyclone resumed intensification, becoming a rare, Category 3 equivalent storm by the morning of 24 May. Later that morning, 01A attained its peak intensity with winds of 205 km/h mph on 5, according to the JTWC. However, the IMD considered the storm to be slightly stronger, estimating that it attained winds of 215 km/h mph on 5 by three-minute sustained winds along with a barometric pressure of 932 mbar (hPa; 932 mbar inHg on 4 out). At the time of peak intensity, the cyclone displayed a well-defined eye and excellent outflow. Although a powerful storm, it quickly weakened as conditions became hostile for tropical cyclone development. Strong wind shear tore convection away from the cyclone and caused it to become disorganized. Within 48 hours, the system had degraded to a tropical storm and was situated roughly 555 km mi on west-southwest of Mumbai. The weakening trend lessened shortly thereafter but still continued. Operationally, the JTWC issued their final advisory on the cyclone on 28 May as it weakened to a tropical depression over open waters. The once powerful cyclone, now devoid of all convection, tracked towards the northwestern coast of India. During the afternoon of 29 May, the cyclone rapidly regenerated as it made landfall in Gujarat. The JTWC estimated that it crossed the coastline with winds of 100 km/h mph on 5. Not long after moving overland, the system rapidly weakened and dissipated over India within several hours. Preparations and impact Ahead of the storm, all ports in Gujarat, including Kandla, one of the largest in the country, were closed as a precautionary measure.Reuters CNN 26 May 2001 13 December 2009 India cyclone weakening but still 'a threat' http://edition.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/asiapcf/south/05/26/india.cyclone.gujarat/index.html On 25 May, over 10,000 people were evacuated from coastal areas in the threatened region.Reuters CNN 25 May 2001 13 December 2009 Cyclone threatens India, Pakistan http://edition.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/asiapcf/south/05/25/india.cyclone.ports/index.html Throughout India, a total of 118,800 people were evacuated and 100,000 more were evacuated in Pakistan.Agence France-Presse ReliefWeb 29 May 2001 13 December 2009 100,000 Pakistanis who fled storm to return home http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/ACOS-64CAKF?OpenDocument&rc=3&emid=ST-2001-0729-INDMay 2022 InternetArchiveBot yes The Indian military was placed on standby to undertake search-and-rescue missions immediately after the storms' passage. Fourteen districts of Gujarat were placed on red alert, the highest level of preparedness. Seven emergency control centers were set up across the country and officials alerted hospitals and fire crews about the approaching storm.Vikram Vakil Rediff 24 May 2001 13 December 2009 Gujarat govt geared up to face cyclone http://www.rediff.com/news/2001/may/24surat.htm Several relief agencies were already positioned in the region in response to a magnitude 7.7 earthquake in January of that year that killed over 20,000 people.ANSS M 7.7 - 17 km NW of Bhach?u, India https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/usp000a8ds/executive earthquake.usgs.gov U.S. Geological Survey 29 August 2021 26 January 2001Associated Press ReliefWeb 27 May 2001 13 December 2009 India's quake-hit Gujarat braces as giant cyclone gathers strength http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/ACOS-64BNE2?OpenDocument&rc=3&emid=ST-2001-0729-IND https://archive.today/20120805120738/http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/ACOS-64BNE2?OpenDocument&rc=3&emid=ST-2001-0729-IND dead 5 August 2012 Additional disaster relief teams were deployed to the region to further prepare residents for the cyclone. Food, water and other necessities were stored and ready to be provided to victims of the storm.International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies ReliefWeb 25 May 2001 13 December 2009 India: Cyclone Information Bulletin No. 1 http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/ACOS-64CAKF?OpenDocument&rc=3&emid=ST-2001-0729-INDMay 2022 InternetArchiveBot yes Large swells produced by the storm affected a large portion of the western Indian coastline, especially in the city of Bombay.Staff Writer The Record 26 May 2001 13 December 2009 Cyclone Rips Into Bombay https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/432741601.html?dids=432741601:432741601&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=May+26%2C+2001&author=&pub=The+Record&desc=Caption+Only%3A+CYCLONE+RIPS+INTO+BOMBAY&pqatl=google D.21 24 October 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121024083725/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/432741601.html?dids=432741601:432741601&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=May+26,+2001&author=&pub=The+Record&desc=Caption+Only:+CYCLONE+RIPS+INTO+BOMBAY&pqatl=google dead In the Valsad district, two coastal communities lost a combined 200 homes due to large swells produced by the storm. Offshore, between 1,500 and 2,000 fishing vessels had lost contact with the mainland. Later reports indicated that between 120 and 900 fishermen had gone missing as a result of the cyclone. Records Operationally, the cyclone was considered to be a Category 4 equivalent storm by the JTWC, with peak winds of 215 km/h mph on 5.Gary Padgett Typhoon2000 11 June 2001 13 December 2009 Monthly Tropical Cyclone Tracks for May 2001 http://www.typhoon2000.ph/garyp_mgtcs/may01tks.txt This would have made the system the first recorded storm of that intensity on record in the Arabian Sea.Joint Typhoon Warning Center Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command 2009 13 December 2009 JTWC North Indian Ocean Best Tracks 1945–2008 http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/best_tracks/ioindex.html https://web.archive.org/web/20100301155353/http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/best_tracks/ioindex.html 1 March 2010 dead However, in post-storm analysis, it was discovered that 1-minute winds did not exceed 205 km/h mph on 5.Joint Typhoon Warning Center Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command 2002 13 December 2009 2001 Annual Tropical Cyclone Report http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/atcr/2001atcr/pdf/2001atcr.pdf PDF https://web.archive.org/web/20110606232055/http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/atcr/2001atcr/pdf/2001atcr.pdf 6 June 2011 dead The next storm to reach this intensity was Cyclone Gonu in 2007 North Indian Ocean cyclone season, which became the first known super cyclonic storm in the region.India Meteorological Department 2009 13 December 2009 IMD Best Tracks Data ( 1990–2008 ) http://www.imd.gov.in/section/nhac/dynamic/bestpara.xls dead https://web.archive.org/web/20091116093857/http://www.imd.gov.in/section/nhac/dynamic/bestpara.xls 16 November 2009 Joint Typhoon Warning Center Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command 2008 13 December 2009 JTWC Best Track for Tropical Cyclone 02A (Gonu) http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/best_tracks/2007/2007s-bio/bio022007.txt 9 October 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121009221646/http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/best_tracks/2007/2007s-bio/bio022007.txt dead Upon attaining its peak intensity, the storm attained a barometric pressure of 932 mbar (hPa), the lowest in the region at the time. The cyclone was ranked as the strongest in the Arabian Sea for six years until it was surpassed by Gonu in 2007, which attained a minimum pressure of 920 mbar (hPa). In 2010, Cyclone Phet surpassed the 2001 cyclone as the second-strongest storm in the region, attaining winds of 230 km/h mph on 5, according to the JTWC. Again it was surpassed to sixth place as Cyclone Kyarr, Cyclone Chapala, Cyclone Tauktae and Cyclone Nilofar surpassed its windspeed intensity as they become category 4 tropical cyclones in later years. Now this cyclone is tied with Cyclone Megh for sixth strongest cyclone in Arabian Sea based on windspeed of one minute mean.Joint Typhoon Warning Center Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command 2 June 2010 3 June 2010 Cyclone Phet (03A) Advisory Number Eight http://weather.noaa.gov/pub/data/raw/wt/wtio31.pgtw..txt dead https://web.archive.org/web/20100807232013/http://weather.noaa.gov/pub/data/raw/wt/wtio31.pgtw..txt 7 August 2010 See also Tropical cyclones 2001 North Indian Ocean cyclone season List of Gujarat tropical cyclones Cyclone Gonu Cyclone Biparjoy List of the most intense tropical cyclones References 2 External links India Meteorological Department Joint Typhoon Warning Center https://web.archive.org/web/20100301105349/http://www.usno.navy.mil/JTWC 1 March 2010 Category:Extremely severe cyclonic storms India Cyclone, 2001 Category:Tropical cyclones in India Category:Tropical cyclones in Pakistan Category:Tropical cyclones in 2001