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Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm Tauktae May 2021
Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm Tauktae was the 2 nd depression, 1 st cyclonic storm, 1 st severe
cyclonic storm, 1 st very severe cyclonic storm, and 1 st extremely severe cyclonic storm of the North
Indian Ocean cyclone season in 2021. Cyclone Tauktae also became one of the strongest and most
destructive tropical cyclones in the Arabian Sea to ever affect the west coast of India. It was also the
strongest tropical cyclone to make landfall in the state of Gujarat since the 1998 Gujarat cyclone.
Category: Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm
Location: North Indian Ocean
Formed: 14 May, 2021
Dissipated: 19 May, 2021
Highest winds: 3-minute sustained: 115 mph (185 km/h); 1-minute sustained: 140 mph (220 km/h)
Lowest pressure: 28.05 inHg; 950 hPa (mbar)
Affected Countries: India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan
Fatalities: approx. total 174 and 81 missing.
Damage: approx. $2.1 billion (2021 USD)
Formation and track
Tauktae originated on 13 May 2021, from a tropical disturbance. By May 14 May 2021, the disturbance moved eastward and developed into a deep depression. The wind system then turned north-eastwards and began to drift towards India. The system continued to gain strength and intensified into a cyclonic storm.
The cyclone was then given the name, Tauktae. The name of the cyclone was contributed by Myanmar, which in the Burmese language means gecko. Tauktae continued to intensify on 15 May 2021 and later that day it reached severe cyclonic storm status. Cyclone Tauktae continued to move parallel to the western coast of India. On 16 May 2021, the cyclone quickly developed into a very severe cyclonic storm at around 05:30 IST. The same day, around 11:30 IST, Tauktae strengthened into a Category 2 tropical cyclone.
On 17 May, 2020, this cyclonic system intensified into an extremely severe cyclonic storm at around 08:30 IST. Later that day, it was upgraded to a Category 4-equivalent tropical cyclone. However, just then, the cyclone faced unfavourable cyclonic conditions and rapidly weakened into a Category 3- equivalent tropical cyclone, before re-intensifying again. Cyclone Tauktae finally made landfall in the region of Saurashtra between Diu and Una at around 21:00 IST as a Category 3-tropical cyclone. After making landfall, Tauktae gradually weakened due to land interaction. The cyclone drifted north-eastward, moving further inland. On 19 May 2021, Cyclone Tauktae weakened into a well- marked low-pressure area over Rajasthan and adjoining west Madhya Pradesh. Later that day, the wind system gradually dissipated.
Preparations
On 15 May 2021, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for torrential rainfall for 9 districts in Kerala, including Lakshadweep. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) mobilized around 4,700 personnel in 100 teams, across six Indian states. Nine teams were sent to Kerala by the NDRF, while the Indian military was placed on standby. Fishing activities in coastal areas of India where Cyclone Tauktae was expected to pass were halted due to rough seas.
Over 2,00,000 people in low-lying areas were shifted to shelters, which in turn, sparked fears of new coronavirus clusters in the days to come. Due to the ongoing second wave of the COVID-19 in India, the Indian Government arranged for isolated testing facilities for the displaced peoples. The flight operations at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport were temporarily halted as a precautionary measure.
Aftermath
In India
The states and Union territories in India that were badly affected by Cyclone Tauktae were Kerala, Gujarat, Goa, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, Lakshadweep,Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. Several houses were damaged and electricity was disrupted in different parts of these states and Union Territories during the cyclone. A total of around 174 people were reported to have been killed and around 81 others were reported to have been missing. Losses from Tauktae are expected to be around ₹15,000 crore (US$2.1 billion).
Other countries
In Sri Lanka and Maldives, more than 730 families were reported to have been affected by the cyclone. In Pakistan, the outer wind field of the storm reached as far as lower Sindh province. Around 5 people, including 2 children, died in wall and roof collapse incidents.
© Arked
Category: Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm
Location: North Indian Ocean
Formed: 14 May, 2021
Dissipated: 19 May, 2021
Highest winds: 3-minute sustained: 115 mph (185 km/h); 1-minute sustained: 140 mph (220 km/h)
Lowest pressure: 28.05 inHg; 950 hPa (mbar)
Affected Countries: India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan
Fatalities: approx. total 174 and 81 missing.
Damage: approx. $2.1 billion (2021 USD)
Formation and track
Tauktae originated on 13 May 2021, from a tropical disturbance. By May 14 May 2021, the disturbance moved eastward and developed into a deep depression. The wind system then turned north-eastwards and began to drift towards India. The system continued to gain strength and intensified into a cyclonic storm.
The cyclone was then given the name, Tauktae. The name of the cyclone was contributed by Myanmar, which in the Burmese language means gecko. Tauktae continued to intensify on 15 May 2021 and later that day it reached severe cyclonic storm status. Cyclone Tauktae continued to move parallel to the western coast of India. On 16 May 2021, the cyclone quickly developed into a very severe cyclonic storm at around 05:30 IST. The same day, around 11:30 IST, Tauktae strengthened into a Category 2 tropical cyclone.
On 17 May, 2020, this cyclonic system intensified into an extremely severe cyclonic storm at around 08:30 IST. Later that day, it was upgraded to a Category 4-equivalent tropical cyclone. However, just then, the cyclone faced unfavourable cyclonic conditions and rapidly weakened into a Category 3- equivalent tropical cyclone, before re-intensifying again. Cyclone Tauktae finally made landfall in the region of Saurashtra between Diu and Una at around 21:00 IST as a Category 3-tropical cyclone. After making landfall, Tauktae gradually weakened due to land interaction. The cyclone drifted north-eastward, moving further inland. On 19 May 2021, Cyclone Tauktae weakened into a well- marked low-pressure area over Rajasthan and adjoining west Madhya Pradesh. Later that day, the wind system gradually dissipated.
Preparations
On 15 May 2021, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for torrential rainfall for 9 districts in Kerala, including Lakshadweep. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) mobilized around 4,700 personnel in 100 teams, across six Indian states. Nine teams were sent to Kerala by the NDRF, while the Indian military was placed on standby. Fishing activities in coastal areas of India where Cyclone Tauktae was expected to pass were halted due to rough seas.
Over 2,00,000 people in low-lying areas were shifted to shelters, which in turn, sparked fears of new coronavirus clusters in the days to come. Due to the ongoing second wave of the COVID-19 in India, the Indian Government arranged for isolated testing facilities for the displaced peoples. The flight operations at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport were temporarily halted as a precautionary measure.
Aftermath
In India
The states and Union territories in India that were badly affected by Cyclone Tauktae were Kerala, Gujarat, Goa, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, Lakshadweep,Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. Several houses were damaged and electricity was disrupted in different parts of these states and Union Territories during the cyclone. A total of around 174 people were reported to have been killed and around 81 others were reported to have been missing. Losses from Tauktae are expected to be around ₹15,000 crore (US$2.1 billion).
Other countries
In Sri Lanka and Maldives, more than 730 families were reported to have been affected by the cyclone. In Pakistan, the outer wind field of the storm reached as far as lower Sindh province. Around 5 people, including 2 children, died in wall and roof collapse incidents.
© Arked
