The 1990 Andhra Pradesh cyclone was the worst disaster to affect Southern India since the 1977 Andhra Pradesh cyclone. The system was first noted as a depression on 4 May 1990, while it was located over the Bay of Bengal about 600 km (375 mi) to the southeast of Chennai, India. During the next day the depression intensified into a cyclonic storm and started to intensify rapidly, becoming a super cyclonic storm early on 8 May. The cyclone weakened slightly before it made landfall on India about 300 km (190 mi) to the north of Madras in the Andhra Pradesh state as a very severe cyclonic storm with winds of 165 km/h (105 mph). While over land the cyclone gradually dissipated. The cyclone had a severe impact on India, with over 967 people reported to have been killed. Over 100,000 animals also died in the cyclone with the total cost of damages to crops estimated at over $600 million (1990 USD).
On 4 May 1990, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that a depression had developed over the Bay of Bengal about 600 km (375 mi) to the southeast of Chennai, India.[1] During that day the system gradually developed further and became the subject of a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert, by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center as it moved westwards under the influence of the subtropical ridge of high pressure.[1][2] The depression subsequently intensified into a cyclonic storm early the next day, before the JTWC initiated advisories on the system and designated it as Tropical Cyclone 02B later that day.[1][2] At this stage the JTWC only expected the cyclone to intensify marginally before it weakened as it made landfall in Southern India within 72 hours.[2] During 6 May, the system started to move more towards the north-west because of a weakness in the subtropical ridge, as it continued to intensify and became a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm.[1][3] This turn towards the northwest turned out to be more northerly than had been expected, which as a result allowed the system to stay offshore for longer than had been expected by the JTWC.[2]
Over the next couple of days the system rapidly intensified before the JTWC reported early on 8 May, that the system had peaked with 1-minute sustained windspeeds of 230 km/h (145 mph), which made the system equivalent to a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale.[2] At around the same time the IMD also reported that the cyclone had peaked as a Super Cyclonic Storm, with 3-minute sustained wind speeds of 235 km/h (145 mph) and an estimated central pressure of 920 hPa (27.17 inHg).[1] By this time the system was located about 150 km (95 mi) to the northeast of Madras and was moving northwards slowly.[1] Later that day as the ship Visvamohini moved through the systems eye region, it measured a central pressure of 912 hPa (26.93 inHg), which the IMD reported would be one of the lowest central pressures ever measured in the Bay of Bengal if it was correct.[1] The system subsequently weakened and had become a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm by the time it made landfall during 9 May, near the mouth of the Krishna River in southern Andhra Pradesh.[1][2][3] The system subsequently moved north-westwards and gradually weakened further, before it was last noted during 11 May, by both the IMD and JTWC.[1][2]
Preparations and impactedit
Preparationsedit
As a result of timely warnings issued by the IMD, the Indian government was able to launch an evacuation campaign and order that all fisherman return to shore.[4][5][6][7] This led to more than 150,000 people being evacuated to relief camps which had been set up on higher ground.[8] Due to the thorough preparations, there was fewer deaths than in the 1977 Andhra Pradesh cyclone.[2][4]
Impactedit
On Edurumondi Island over 7,000 people were left stranded after they refused to evacuate.[5] The island itself was reported to have experienced the full brunt of the system.[2][5] However, all of the residents reportedly sought protection within a shelter provided by the government.[5] The cyclone had a significant effect on India, with storm surge tides as high as 4.9 meters (16 ft) above normal. Consequently, over 100 villages were submerged in water and destroyed.[2] At least 967 people were killed by the cyclone; most of the deaths occurred when houses made mostly out of mud and straw collapsed. Other people were killed when electrical wires were knocked down and while some people were carried away by flooded rivers.[9][10] The storm left at least 3 million people homeless, while over 100,000 farm animals were killed. At least 435,000 acres (1,760 km2) of rice paddies were destroyed along with huge tracts of mango and banana trees. The total damage to crops and property was estimated at over $600 million (1990 USD).[2][10] The cyclone was described as the worst disaster in southern India since the 1977 storm.[4] Sea water contaminated fresh drinking wells, prompting warnings about outbreaks of Cholera and Typhoid as many people were drinking and cooking with water from the drains which was causing stomach disorders.[8][11]
Tamil Naduedit
Overall the cyclone only caused minor damage to Tamil Nadu with the worst affected area being the district of Chengalpattu, where one of the old shrines of Kasiviswanathar Temple collapsed as high waves hit the coast.[1] A large number of huts were also washed away by the waves, while six deaths were reported in the state.[1]
Aftermathedit
On 11 May, two days after the cyclone had hit, the Indian Government launched a massive relief and rescue operation. The Indian Army and Naval helicopters took surveys of areas affected by the cyclone, and also dropped food packets.[4] Although the Indian Government did not request international assistance, the Red Cross provided food, oil, medicines and water tanks for the affected families; the Commission on Inter-Church Aid, Refugee and World Service (CICARWS) at the World Council of Churches issued an appeal for $262,000 (1990 USD) so they could provide immediate needs with World Vision providing $160,000 (1990 USD) for food blankets and utensils.[4]
^ abcdefghijk"2. Pre Monsoon Season Cyclonic Disturbances" (PDF). Report on Cyclonic Disturbances (Depressions and Tropical Cyclones) over North Indian Ocean in 1990. India Meteorological Department. January 1991. pp. 3–18. (PDF) from the original on 15 January 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
^ abcdefghijkCarr, Lester E (1991). "Tropical Cyclone 02B" (PDF). 1990 Annual Tropical Cyclone Report. United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. (PDF) from the original on 23 January 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
^ ab"IMD Best track data 1982-2022" (xls). India Meteorological Department. A guide on how to read the database is available here.
^ abcde. United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs (DHA). ReliefWeb. 14 May 1990. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 14 November 2009.
^ abcdNewman, Steve (13 May 1990). "Earthweek: A diary of the planet". Toronto Star.
^"150,000 flee cyclone on Indian coast". San Jose Mercury News. 9 May 1990. Retrieved 18 November 2009.
^"Cyclone claims 65 in India". The Bulletin. 10 May 1990. Retrieved 18 November 2009.
^ abHazarika, Sanjoy (13 May 1990). "Furious Cyclone has India reeling". The New York Times. from the original on 21 January 2011. Retrieved 16 November 2009.
^(PDF). Government of India. 18 January 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 June 2009. Retrieved 14 November 2009.
^ ab. The Washington Post. 14 May 1990. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2009.
^"India Stunned after Cyclone". news-record.com. 15 May 1990. Retrieved 18 November 2009.
External linksedit
Joint Typhoon Warning Center 1 March 2010 at the Wayback Machine
January 01, 1970
1990, andhra, pradesh, cyclone, worst, disaster, affect, southern, india, since, 1977, andhra, pradesh, cyclone, system, first, noted, depression, 1990, while, located, over, bengal, about, southeast, chennai, india, during, next, depression, intensified, into. The 1990 Andhra Pradesh cyclone was the worst disaster to affect Southern India since the 1977 Andhra Pradesh cyclone The system was first noted as a depression on 4 May 1990 while it was located over the Bay of Bengal about 600 km 375 mi to the southeast of Chennai India During the next day the depression intensified into a cyclonic storm and started to intensify rapidly becoming a super cyclonic storm early on 8 May The cyclone weakened slightly before it made landfall on India about 300 km 190 mi to the north of Madras in the Andhra Pradesh state as a very severe cyclonic storm with winds of 165 km h 105 mph While over land the cyclone gradually dissipated The cyclone had a severe impact on India with over 967 people reported to have been killed Over 100 000 animals also died in the cyclone with the total cost of damages to crops estimated at over 600 million 1990 USD 1990 Andhra Pradesh cyclone 1990 Andhra Pradesh cycloneMeteorological historyFormed4 May 1990 1990 05 04 Dissipated10 May 1990 1990 05 11 Super cyclonic storm3 minute sustained IMD Highest winds235 km h 145 mph Lowest pressure920 hPa mbar 27 17 inHgCategory 4 equivalent tropical cyclone1 minute sustained SSHWS JTWC Highest winds230 km h 145 mph Overall effectsFatalities967Areas affectedIndiaIBTrACSPart of the 1990 North Indian Ocean cyclone season Contents 1 Meteorological history 2 Preparations and impact 2 1 Preparations 2 2 Impact 2 2 1 Tamil Nadu 3 Aftermath 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksMeteorological history edit nbsp Map plotting the storm s track and intensity according to the Saffir Simpson scaleMap keySaffir Simpson scale Tropical depression 38 mph 62 km h Tropical storm 39 73 mph 63 118 km h Category 1 74 95 mph 119 153 km h Category 2 96 110 mph 154 177 km h Category 3 111 129 mph 178 208 km h Category 4 130 156 mph 209 251 km h Category 5 157 mph 252 km h Unknown Storm type nbsp Tropical cyclone nbsp Subtropical cyclone nbsp Extratropical cyclone remnant low tropical disturbance or monsoon depression On 4 May 1990 the India Meteorological Department IMD reported that a depression had developed over the Bay of Bengal about 600 km 375 mi to the southeast of Chennai India 1 During that day the system gradually developed further and became the subject of a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center as it moved westwards under the influence of the subtropical ridge of high pressure 1 2 The depression subsequently intensified into a cyclonic storm early the next day before the JTWC initiated advisories on the system and designated it as Tropical Cyclone 02B later that day 1 2 At this stage the JTWC only expected the cyclone to intensify marginally before it weakened as it made landfall in Southern India within 72 hours 2 During 6 May the system started to move more towards the north west because of a weakness in the subtropical ridge as it continued to intensify and became a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm 1 3 This turn towards the northwest turned out to be more northerly than had been expected which as a result allowed the system to stay offshore for longer than had been expected by the JTWC 2 Over the next couple of days the system rapidly intensified before the JTWC reported early on 8 May that the system had peaked with 1 minute sustained windspeeds of 230 km h 145 mph which made the system equivalent to a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir Simpson hurricane wind scale 2 At around the same time the IMD also reported that the cyclone had peaked as a Super Cyclonic Storm with 3 minute sustained wind speeds of 235 km h 145 mph and an estimated central pressure of 920 hPa 27 17 inHg 1 By this time the system was located about 150 km 95 mi to the northeast of Madras and was moving northwards slowly 1 Later that day as the ship Visvamohini moved through the systems eye region it measured a central pressure of 912 hPa 26 93 inHg which the IMD reported would be one of the lowest central pressures ever measured in the Bay of Bengal if it was correct 1 The system subsequently weakened and had become a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm by the time it made landfall during 9 May near the mouth of the Krishna River in southern Andhra Pradesh 1 2 3 The system subsequently moved north westwards and gradually weakened further before it was last noted during 11 May by both the IMD and JTWC 1 2 Preparations and impact editPreparations edit As a result of timely warnings issued by the IMD the Indian government was able to launch an evacuation campaign and order that all fisherman return to shore 4 5 6 7 This led to more than 150 000 people being evacuated to relief camps which had been set up on higher ground 8 Due to the thorough preparations there was fewer deaths than in the 1977 Andhra Pradesh cyclone 2 4 Impact edit On Edurumondi Island over 7 000 people were left stranded after they refused to evacuate 5 The island itself was reported to have experienced the full brunt of the system 2 5 However all of the residents reportedly sought protection within a shelter provided by the government 5 The cyclone had a significant effect on India with storm surge tides as high as 4 9 meters 16 ft above normal Consequently over 100 villages were submerged in water and destroyed 2 At least 967 people were killed by the cyclone most of the deaths occurred when houses made mostly out of mud and straw collapsed Other people were killed when electrical wires were knocked down and while some people were carried away by flooded rivers 9 10 The storm left at least 3 million people homeless while over 100 000 farm animals were killed At least 435 000 acres 1 760 km2 of rice paddies were destroyed along with huge tracts of mango and banana trees The total damage to crops and property was estimated at over 600 million 1990 USD 2 10 The cyclone was described as the worst disaster in southern India since the 1977 storm 4 Sea water contaminated fresh drinking wells prompting warnings about outbreaks of Cholera and Typhoid as many people were drinking and cooking with water from the drains which was causing stomach disorders 8 11 Tamil Nadu edit Overall the cyclone only caused minor damage to Tamil Nadu with the worst affected area being the district of Chengalpattu where one of the old shrines of Kasiviswanathar Temple collapsed as high waves hit the coast 1 A large number of huts were also washed away by the waves while six deaths were reported in the state 1 Aftermath editOn 11 May two days after the cyclone had hit the Indian Government launched a massive relief and rescue operation The Indian Army and Naval helicopters took surveys of areas affected by the cyclone and also dropped food packets 4 Although the Indian Government did not request international assistance the Red Cross provided food oil medicines and water tanks for the affected families the Commission on Inter Church Aid Refugee and World Service CICARWS at the World Council of Churches issued an appeal for 262 000 1990 USD so they could provide immediate needs with World Vision providing 160 000 1990 USD for food blankets and utensils 4 See also edit nbsp Tropical cyclones portal 1990 North Indian Ocean cyclone season 1977 Andhra Pradesh cycloneReferences edit a b c d e f g h i j k 2 Pre Monsoon Season Cyclonic Disturbances PDF Report on Cyclonic Disturbances Depressions and Tropical Cyclones over North Indian Ocean in 1990 India Meteorological Department January 1991 pp 3 18 Archived PDF from the original on 15 January 2015 Retrieved 15 January 2014 a b c d e f g h i j k Carr Lester E 1991 Tropical Cyclone 02B PDF 1990 Annual Tropical Cyclone Report United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center Archived PDF from the original on 23 January 2019 Retrieved 15 January 2015 a b IMD Best track data 1982 2022 xls India Meteorological Department A guide on how to read the database is available here a b c d e India Cyclone May 1990 UNDRO Information Reports 1 3 United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs DHA ReliefWeb 14 May 1990 Archived from the original on 7 July 2011 Retrieved 14 November 2009 a b c d Newman Steve 13 May 1990 Earthweek A diary of the planet Toronto Star 150 000 flee cyclone on Indian coast San Jose Mercury News 9 May 1990 Retrieved 18 November 2009 Cyclone claims 65 in India The Bulletin 10 May 1990 Retrieved 18 November 2009 a b Hazarika Sanjoy 13 May 1990 Furious Cyclone has India reeling The New York Times Archived from the original on 21 January 2011 Retrieved 16 November 2009 Hazards disasters and your community A Primer for Parliamentarians PDF Government of India 18 January 2005 Archived from the original PDF on 19 June 2009 Retrieved 14 November 2009 a b Cyclone Kills 450 Along Indian Coast Damage to Crops Estimated at 588 Million The Washington Post 14 May 1990 Archived from the original on 23 October 2012 Retrieved 18 November 2009 India Stunned after Cyclone news record com 15 May 1990 Retrieved 18 November 2009 External links editJoint Typhoon Warning Center Archived 1 March 2010 at the Wayback Machine India Meteorological Department Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1990 Andhra Pradesh cyclone amp oldid 1210488671, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
