Cyclone Kyarr

Despite the immense strength of the storm, and many countries being affected by high tides and storm surges, there were no reported fatalities in Socotra, though there were 5 people reported dead in Karnataka, India, due to heavy rains.

Meteorological history

A low-pressure area formed on October 17 in the Arabian Sea west of India near the Lakshadweep islands. Around that time, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) anticipated that the low would eventually develop into a tropical cyclone. The low remained in the same general region for a few days, becoming well-marked by October 22. The IMD classified the system as a Depression early on October 24, upgrading it to a Deep Depression later that day. On the same day, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) began issuing warnings on the system, classifying it as Tropical Cyclone 04A.

The Deep Depression initially moved to the northeast, towards the west coast of India. Early on October 25, the IMD upgraded the system to a Cyclonic Storm, naming it Kyarr. Later that day, the storm turned northward and intensified further into a Severe Cyclonic Storm. Warm water temperatures of around 28 °C (82 °F), as well as low wind shear, fueled rapid intensification. Kyarr turned to the northwest, away from India, on October 26. On the same day, the IMD upgraded the storm to a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm, and later, to an Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm. Early on October 27, the IMD upgraded Kyarr further to a Super Cyclonic Storm, the first one in the Arabian Sea since Gonu in 2007; it was also the only recorded Super Cyclonic Storm in the Arabian Sea to occur after the monsoon season. The IMD estimated the peak maximum sustained winds of 240 km/h (150 mph), with a minimum central pressure of 922 mbar (27.2 inHg) estimated by the IMD. The JTWC estimated slightly higher winds of 250 km/h (155 mph).

At its peak, Kyarr had a well-defined eye, surrounded by well-defined rainbands and outflow. For about 12 hours, Kyarr maintained peak intensity, although it remained a super cyclonic storm for about 51 hours while moving toward the Arabian Peninsula. On October 30, the storm began weakening as the track shifted to the west, falling to the intensity of a Severe Cyclonic Storm. On the same day, Kyarr co-existed with Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm Maha, marking the first time on record that there were two simultaneous Cyclonic Storms in the Arabian Sea. Kyarr turned to the southwest, paralleling the coastline of the Arabian Peninsula offshore. On October 31, Kyarr weakened to a Deep Depression, and Kyarr deteriorated further into a Depression on the next day. The storm's circulation passed just north of Socotra on November 2. Shortly afterward, the system weakened into a remnant low off the northern coast of Somalia, before dissipating on the next day.