Cyclones in Nepal
Cyclones only occur occasionally in Nepal. On average, they happen about 3 times a year. The hardest hit regions are Eastern Region and Central Region.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 Nepal in the past 12 months was »Sitrang«. It reached a wind speed of up to 74 km/h on October 24, 2022 at 8:45 pm local time near Bhadrapur 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 Nepal:
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Current satellite image of the Indian Ocean
30.05.2023 © CIMSS University of Wisconsin-Madison
Most violent cyclones in Nepal since 2018
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
Eastern Region
Eastern Region
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 Nepal. On December 6th, 2021 at 5:45 am it had the shortest distance at about 449 km south of Bhadrapur in Eastern Region.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Solap in India on December 6th at 5:45 am.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Solap in India on December 6th at 5:45 am.
Jawad: November 30 to December 6, 2021
Region:
Bay of Bengal
Wind speed:
max. 74 km/h
on land:
max. 19 km/h
Diameter:
max. 926 km
Air pressure:
below 1000 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
Affected regions
Eastern Region
Eastern Region
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 Nepal. On May 27th, 2021 at 5:45 pm it had the shortest distance at about 231 km south of Jaleswar in Central Region.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Balasore in India on May 26th at 11:45 am.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Balasore in India on May 26th at 11:45 am.
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
Eastern Region
Central Region
Eastern Region
Central Region
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 Nepal. On May 21st, 2020 at 11:45 am it had the shortest distance at about 189 km southwest of Bhadrapur in Eastern Region.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Harindanga in India on May 20th at 5:45 pm.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Harindanga in India on May 20th at 5:45 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 Nepal. On November 10th, 2019 at 5:45 pm it had the shortest distance at about 472 km southwest of Bhadrapur in Eastern Region.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Kultali in India on November 9th at 11:45 pm.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Kultali in India on November 9th at 11:45 pm.
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 Nepal. On May 4th, 2019 at 11:45 am it had the shortest distance at about 250 km southwest of Bhadrapur in Eastern Region.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Remuna in India on May 3rd at 8:45 pm.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Remuna in India on May 3rd at 8:45 pm.
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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