1997 North Indian Ocean cyclone season
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Through Indian Ocean and Sri Lanka
Season summary
Five tropical cyclones were observed, making 1997 an average season. However, 3 reached Cyclone strength.
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Systems
Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm BOB 01 (01B)
On May 13, a near-equatorial trough developed. The poorly organized system slowly tracked towards the north-northwest. The following day, deep convection consolidated around the center of circulation and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) classified the system as Tropical Cyclone 01B. Favorable upper-level conditions and good outflow allowed the storm to intensify. Shortly after, the cyclone attained tropical storm-force winds and turned towards the northeast. While gradually increasing in forward motion, the storm continued to strengthen. On May 17, the cyclone attained winds of 120 km/h (75 km/h), equivalent to a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson scale. By May 18 an eye developed and the storm reached its peak intensity with winds of 215 km/h (135 mph) before making landfall near Chittagong. After landfall, the storm rapidly tracked northeastward inland and dissipated early on May 20. It caused significant damage and 67 fatalities.
Deep Depression BOB 02
Deep Depression BOB 03
Deep Depression BOB 04
Deep Depression BOB 05
Depression BOB 06
Severe Cyclonic Storm BOB 07 (02B)
On September 19, a tropical depression formed from an area of disturbed weather in the western Bay of Bengal. It drifted northwestward towards the Indian coastline, but a mid-latitude trough pulled it northeastward, The depression strengthened to a tropical storm on the 24th, and it reached cyclone strength while paralleling the Indian coastline on 26th. It made landfall in Bangladesh on the 27th, and dissipated shortly thereafter. Tropical Cyclone 2B was responsible for 51 fatalities and left an additional 137 people missing.
Deep Depression ARB 01 (04A)
On November 2, a tropical depression developed over Sri Lanka. It drifted southward, northward, then westward over India. On the 10th, it was upgraded to a tropical storm over the Arabian Sea, and it reached its peak of 65 mph (105 km/h) winds the next day. Wind shear caused the storm to dissipate over the open waters on the 14th.
Cyclonic Storm BOB 08 (Linda)
Typhoon Linda killed 30 while crossing the Malay Peninsula, emerged into the Bay of Bengal on November 4. It continued westward, reaching cyclone strength again, but vertical shear caused it to dissipate on the 9th.
In southern Thailand, 30 people were killed and 102 others were listed as missing as a result of the storm. Linda damaged at least 100 homes and sank 30 ships in the region. An estimated 6,400,000 m2 of farmland were destroyed by Linda.
Tropical Cyclone 03A
A broad trough of low pressure formed into a tropical depression on November 4 in the central Arabian Sea. It moved westward, slowly intensifying into a tropical storm on the 8th. Vertical shear weakened it to a depression later that day, but on the 9th, just before making landfall on eastern Somalia, it restrengthened to a tropical storm. Tropical Storm Three dissipated on the 10th without causing any reported damage.