The 1974 North Indian Ocean cyclone season was part of the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. The season has no official bounds but cyclones tend to form between April and December. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northern Indian Ocean. There are two main seas in the North Indian Ocean—the Bay of Bengal to the east of the Indian subcontinent and the Arabian Sea to the west of India. The official Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre in this basin is the India Meteorological Department (IMD), while the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) releases unofficial advisories. An average of five tropical cyclones form in the North Indian Ocean every season with peaks in May and November.[1] Cyclones occurring between the meridians 45°E and 100°E are included in the season by the IMD.[2]
This cyclone was one of the three rare April cyclone which was formed during first fifteen days of the month during the satellite era. The other cyclones were Cyclone Bijli in 2009 and Cyclone Maarutha in 2017.
Tropical Storm Two (02A)[]
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration
May 17 – May 22
Peak intensity
65 km/h (40 mph) (1-min)
Tropical Storm Three (03B)[]
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration
May 29 – June 1
Peak intensity
65 km/h (40 mph) (1-min)
Cyclone Six (06B)[]
Very severe cyclonic storm (IMD)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration
August 13 – August 20
Peak intensity
130 km/h (80 mph) (3-min)
This cyclone formed on 13 August and reached its peak intensity of a Category 1 storm by the next day. On 15 August, the storm made landfall at Digha in West Bengal. It maintained the intensity of cyclone until 17 August and dissipated on 20 August. The storm caused heavy flooding over West Bengal coastal and deltaic districts. It was a rare August cyclone to peak as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm.[citation needed]
Tropical Storm Seven (07A)[]
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration
September 19 – September 24
Peak intensity
65 km/h (40 mph) (1-min)
Tropical Storm Eight (08B)[]
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration
September 26 – September 30
Peak intensity
65 km/h (40 mph) (1-min)
The system developed in Bay of Bengal and lasted from September 26 until September 30.[citation needed]
Cyclone Twelve (12B)[]
Severe cyclonic storm (IMD)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration
November 23 – November 28
Peak intensity
110 km/h (70 mph) (3-min)
This system developed off the eastern coast of southern India on November 23 and strengthened as it moved to the northeast. The system nearly reached hurricane strength as it made landfall near Chittagong late on November 28. A 10 feet (3.0 m) storm surge accompanied the system's approach to Bangladesh, which inundated several islands offshore. Less than 100 people perished while thousands were left homeless.[3]
^Dick DeAngelis (March 1975). "Hurricane Alley". Mariners Weather Log. Vol. 19 no. 2. United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. pp. 88–89.