Arabian Sea sees 4 cyclones in a year, first time after 1902

New Delhi: The Arabian Sea saw the formation of four cyclones in 2019, a phenomenon recorded after 117 years, according to meteorologists.

This year, the sea that touches the Indian subcontinent, West Asia and West Africa, has seen formation of Vayu, Hikka, Kyarr and Maha cyclones.

The first one to develop into a cyclonic storm in the Arabian Sea was 'Vayu' that skirted the Gujarat coast in June, followed by Hikka in September.

October saw formation of two cyclones Kyarr, which intensified into a super cyclonic storm, and Maha. Both brought unseasonal rains to Karnataka, Maharashtra and Gujarat resulting in damage to life and property.

Maha fizzled on Friday and has deintensified into a low pressure area.

"It is rare for the Arabian Sea to see formation of four cyclones. Such development was last recorded in 1902," said India Meteorological Department Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra.

Mahesh Palawat, the vice president (meteorology and climate change) of private weather forecaster Skymet, also termed this as an "exception".

Mohapatra, who specialises in predicting cyclones, said during 1891-2018, the maximum number of six cyclonic disturbances developed in 1998. Of these, three turned into cyclonic storms.

Formation of cyclonic storms in the Arabian Sea is normal but it is rare if it develops in October-November. Usually, the Bay of Bengal witnesses cyclonic storms during this period.

Explaining the origins of formation of cyclonic storms in the Bay of Bengal, Mohapatra said they are usually the remnants of the typhoons of North Pacific which fizzle out, travel down to the South China Sea and cross Vietnam and Thailand.

"Once it enters the North Andaman Sea, its warm waters helps in formation of low pressure areas," Mohapatra said.

A low pressure area is the first step towards formation of a cyclone. A cyclonic storm also fizzles out into a low pressure area.

Cyclones also form in situ in Bay of Bengal -- this year saw Foni and Bulbul. However, in the eastern sea of India, this phenomenon is more prevalent.

So, why is the Arabian Sea witnessing four cyclones this year?     The Arabian sea usually does not see cyclones forming due to any remnant of cyclonic circulation.

Palawat said this year, the Indian Ocean has recorded the strongest ever dipole, a phenomenon associated with the warming of waters.

"A positive IOD (Indian Ocean Dipole) means warming of the west Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea. The positive IOD also negated the effect of the El Nino" Palwat said. El Nino is associated with warming of eastern Pacific waters, a phenomenon several meteorologists consider bad for the Indian monsoon.

A positive IOD means the waters near Somalia are warmer than Indonesia. This helps formation of a low pressure area.

Mohapatra said this year, the sea surface temperature was nearly 27 to 29 degrees Celsius, more than normal, which helped in formation of cyclones in situ.

The cross equatorial also aided the formation of cyclones, he added.