Cyclones in Bhutan
Cyclones only occur occasionally in Bhutan. On average, they happen about 3 times a year. The hardest hit regions are Geylegphug, Samdrup Jongkhar and Samchi.The typical cyclone season depends on the summer monsoon. In the months before (May to June) and after (October to November), the most severe storms occur.
The most severe cyclone to make landfall in Bhutan in the past 12 months was »Sitrang«. It reached a wind speed of up to 74 km/h on October 24, 2022 at 9:00 pm local time near Sarpang and was 236 kilometers in diameter at the time. According to the internationally accepted Saffir-Simpson classification, this corresponded to a tropical storm cyclone. On the open sea, speeds of up to 83 km/h were measured.
Other natural hazards in Bhutan:
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Current satellite image of the Indian Ocean
07.06.2023 © CIMSS University of Wisconsin-Madison
Most violent cyclones in Bhutan since 2018
Mocha: May 11-14, 2023
Region:
Bay of Bengal
Wind speed:
max. 256 km/h
Diameter:
max. 259 km
Air pressure:
below 918 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 5
The cyclone did not make direct landfall in Bhutan. On May 15th, 2023 at 12:00 am it had the shortest distance at about 506 km southwest of Samdrup Jongkhar.
Sitrang: October 23-24, 2022
Region:
Bay of Bengal
Wind speed:
max. 83 km/h
on land:
max. 74 km/h
Diameter:
max. 1222 km
Air pressure:
below 994 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
Affected regions
Geylegphug
Samdrup Jongkhar
Geylegphug
Samdrup Jongkhar
Jawad: December 3-6, 2021
Region:
Bay of Bengal
Wind speed:
max. 65 km/h
Diameter:
max. 130 km
Air pressure:
below 997 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
The cyclone did not make direct landfall in Bhutan. On December 6th, 2021 at 6:00 am it had the shortest distance at about 496 km south of Samtse in Samchi.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Solap in India on December 6th at 6:00 am.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Solap in India on December 6th at 6:00 am.
Jawad: November 30 to December 6, 2021
Region:
Bay of Bengal
Wind speed:
max. 74 km/h
Diameter:
max. 926 km
Air pressure:
below 1000 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
The cyclone did not make direct landfall in Bhutan. On December 6th, 2021 at 12:00 pm it had the shortest distance at about 200 km south of Phuntsholing in Chhukha.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Haldia in India on December 6th at 9:00 am.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Haldia in India on December 6th at 9:00 am.
Yaas: May 24-27, 2021
Region:
Bay of Bengal
Wind speed:
max. 119 km/h
Diameter:
max. 259 km
Air pressure:
below 974 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
The cyclone did not make direct landfall in Bhutan. On May 27th, 2021 at 6:00 pm it had the shortest distance at about 440 km southeast of Samtse in Samchi.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Kuchaiburi in India on May 26th at 6:00 pm.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Kuchaiburi in India on May 26th at 6:00 pm.
Yaas: May 23-27, 2021
Region:
Bay of Bengal
Wind speed:
max. 139 km/h
on land:
max. 74 km/h
Diameter:
max. 796 km
Air pressure:
below 970 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 1
Affected regions
Samchi
Samchi
Amphan: May 15-21, 2020
Region:
Bay of Bengal
Wind speed:
max. 241 km/h
Diameter:
max. 644 km
Air pressure:
below 920 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 4
The cyclone did not make direct landfall in Bhutan. On May 21st, 2020 at 12:00 pm it had the shortest distance at about 121 km south of Sarpang in Geylegphug.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Harindanga in India on May 20th at 6:00 pm.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Harindanga in India on May 20th at 6:00 pm.
Bulbul:matmo: October 28 to November 11, 2019
Region:
Bay of Bengal
Wind speed:
max. 139 km/h
Diameter:
max. 704 km
Air pressure:
below 976 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 1
The cyclone did not make direct landfall in Bhutan. On November 11th, 2019 at 6:00 am it had the shortest distance at about 375 km south of Samdrup Jongkhar.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Gosaba in India on November 10th at 3:00 am.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Gosaba in India on November 10th at 3:00 am.
Fani: April 25 to May 4, 2019
Region:
Bay of Bengal
Wind speed:
max. 213 km/h
Diameter:
max. 185 km
Air pressure:
below 932 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 4
The cyclone did not make direct landfall in Bhutan. On May 4th, 2019 at 6:00 pm it had the shortest distance at about 188 km south of Panbang in Shemgang.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Egra in India on May 4th at 12:00 am.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Egra in India on May 4th at 12:00 am.
These evaluations are based on data from the National Centers for Environmental Information of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Individual data have been summarized or translated.
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