Tropical cyclones in 2020
| Tropical cyclones in 2020 | |
|---|---|
 Year summary map | |
| Year boundaries | |
| First system | Blake |
| Formed | January 4, 2020 |
| Strongest system | |
| Name | Harold |
| Lowest pressure | 924 mbar (hPa); 27.29 inHg |
| Longest lasting system | |
| Name | Esther |
| Duration | 14 days |
| Year statistics | |
| Total systems | 41 |
| Named systems | 26 |
| Total fatalities | 238 total, 2 missing |
| Total damage | > $14.632 billion (2020 USD) |
Throughout 2020 so far, 41 tropical cyclones have formed in bodies of water known as tropical cyclone basins. Of these, 25 have been named, including a subtropical cyclone in the South Atlantic, by various weather agencies when they attained maximum sustained winds of 35 knots (65 km/h, 40 mph). The strongest storm of the year so far is Cyclone Harold in the South Pacific Ocean. While the deadliest and costliest storm of the year has been Cyclone Amphan in the North Indian Ocean, causing over 100 fatalities in India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, also while causing castrostrophic damage in the latter country.
Tropical cyclones are primarily monitored by a group of ten warning centres, which have been designated as a Regional Specialized Meteorological Center (RSMC) or a Tropical Cyclone Warning Center (TCWC) by the World Meteorological Organisation. These are the United States National Hurricane Center (NHC) and Central Pacific Hurricane Center, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Météo-France, Indonesia's Badan Meteorologi, Klimatologi, dan Geofisika, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), Papua New Guinea's National Weather Service, the Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS) as well as New Zealand's MetService. Other notable warning centres include the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC), and the Brazilian Navy Hydrographic Center.
Global conditions
As 2020 began, sea surface temperatures were above normal in the eastern Pacific Ocean near the equator, which had the potential to develop into El Niño conditions. On January 9, a group of climate scientists writing for ENSO Blog published their forecast for atmospheric conditions. They believed that there was a 60% chance that the environment would remain in neutral conditions related to the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO); this was based on the expectation that the above normal water temperatures would return to normal.[1] By March, there was little evidence of increased rainfall near the equator. Trade winds were enhanced in the central and tropical Pacific Ocean, and water temperatures remained above normal. On April 9, ENSO Blog reaffirmed their belief that environmental conditions would remain neutral.[2]
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the response to tropical cyclones during the year. In the South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu, COVID-19, travel and social distancing restrictions associated with the pandemic were lifted for those seeking safe houses and evacuation shelters during Cyclone Harold.[3][4] When Typhoon Vongfong struck the Philippines in May, evacuation shelters were filled to half-capacity to comply with social distancing guidelines, requiring more evacuation centers to house refugees.[5][6][7] As a result of the use of schools as quarantine facilities for COVID-19, some schools could not be used as evacuation shelters.[8] When Cyclone Amphan was approaching India in May, shelter capacity in West Bengal was reduced from 500,000 people to 200,000 people due to social distancing restrictions.[9] Movement restrictions in El Salvador were temporarily lifted to allow people to purchase supplies ahead of Tropical Storm Amanda.[10]
Summary
Systems
January
The month of January was minimally active, and no tropical cyclones developed within the Northern Hemisphere, while 10 systems existed within the Southern Hemisphere. Six of these systems were named and had gale force winds, while two of these named storms developed hurricane-force winds and were classified as Severe tropical cyclones. As the month opened, both Tropical Cyclones Calvinia and Sarai were weakening and gradually dissipated over the next few days. Tropical Cyclone Blake subsequently became the first named storm of the year and made two landfalls in the Kimberley Region, bringing heavy rainfall throughout the region. Adding on, Cyclone Tino brought considerable damage throughout the South Pacific in the middle portion of the month, and a rare South Atlantic tropical cyclone formed, named Subtropical Storm Kurumí, becoming the first of its kind to be named in January later on in the month.
| Storm name | Dates active | Max wind km/h (mph) |
Pressure (hPa) |
Areas affected | Damage (USD) |
Deaths | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blake | January 4 – 11 | 75 (45) | 986 | Western Australia | Minor | None | |
| Claudia | January 4 – 17 | 150 (90) | 969 | Eastern Indonesia, Top End, Kimberley | None | None | |
| Tino | January 11 – 20 | 120 (75) | 970 | Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, Wallis and Futuna, Samoan Islands, Tuvalu, Tonga | $5.83 million | None | |
| 05 | January 19 – 23 | 55 (35) | 999 | None | None | None | |
| Diane | January 22 – 26 | 95 (60) | 980 | Madagascar, Mauritius, Réunion | Unknown | 31 | |
| Kurumí | January 23 – 25 | 65 (40) | 998 | São Paulo | None | 3 | |
| Esami | January 23 – 26 | 75 (45) | 993 | Rodrigues | None | None | |
| TL | January 23 – 30 | Unspecified | 998 | Northern Territory, Queensland | None | None | |
| 05F | January 24 – 26 | Unspecified | 1003 | Samoan Islands | None | None | |
| TL | January 31 – February 4 | Unspecified | 1007 | Christmas Island, Cocos Islands | None | None |
February
The month of February was active, seeing 13 tropical cyclones develop, with eight being named. Cyclone Damien became the first and strongest storm of the month, impacting the Pilbara Region of Western Australia as a high-end Category 2 cyclone on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Cyclone Uesi also impacted the east coast of Australia and New Caledonia, killing 1 person. Later in the month, activity increased in the South Pacific with Cyclones Vicky and Wasi forming, bringing heavy rain to the Samoan Islands. Consequently, activity also increased in the Australian basin with Cyclone Esther and Ferdinand forming, with Ferdinand staying well north of the Australian coastline its entire lifetime.
| Storm name | Dates active | Max wind km/h (mph) |
Pressure (hPa) |
Areas affected | Damage (USD) |
Deaths | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Damien | February 2 – 11 | 170 (105) | 955 | Northern Australia, Kimberley | Moderate | None | |
| Uesi | February 3 – 15 | 120 (75) | 970 | Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Lord Howe Island, New Zealand, New South Wales, South East Queensland | Minor | 1 | |
| Francisco | February 3 – 15 | 80 (50) | 994 | Madagascar | Minor | 1 | |
| TL | February 6 – 8 | Unspecified | 1007 | Cocos Islands | None | None | |
| TL | February 13 | Unspecified | 1009 | None | None | None | |
| Gabekile | February 14 – 19 | 130 (80) | 976 | None | None | None | |
| 07F | February 14 – 21 | Unspecified | 998 | Tuvalu, American Samoa, Tokelau | None | None | |
| TL | February 15 – 17 | Unspecified | 1002 | Solomon Islands | None | None | |
| 08F | February 17 – 18 | 65 (40) | 994 | American Samoa, Niue | None | None | |
| Vicky | February 19 - 22 | 85 (50) | 988 | Samoan Islands, Niue | None | None | |
| Wasi | February 21 – 23 | 85 (50) | 990 | Wallis and Futuna, Samoan Islands | None | None | |
| Esther | February 21 - March 5 | 75 (45) | 988 | Far North Queensland, Northern Territory, Kimberley | None | None | |
| Ferdinand | February 22 – March 4 | 155 (100) | 960 | Lesser Sunda Islands | None | None |
March
With only four tropical cyclones forming in March, the month was largely inactive. Despite that, Cyclones Gretel and Herold formed; with the latter becoming the first major tropical cyclone of 2020.
| Storm name | Dates active | Max wind km/h (mph) |
Pressure (hPa) |
Areas affected | Damage (USD) |
Deaths | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09U | March 9 – 14 | 75 (45) | 999 | Java, Bali, West Nusa Tenggara Western Australia | None | None | |
| Gretel | March 10 – 17 | 100 (65) | 980 | Top End, New Guinea, Queensland, New Caledonia, Norfolk Island, New Zealand | None | None | |
| Herold | March 12 – 20 | 175 (110) | 957 | Madagascar, Tromelin Island | None | 5 | [11] |
| 11U | March 29 – April 2 | Unspecified | 1005 | New Guinea, Cape York Peninsula | None | None |
April
The month of April was fairly inactive with only five storms developing and three being named, however the month featured Severe Tropical Cyclone Harold, the first category 5-equivalent storm of 2020, and the first to be featured in the South Pacific since Cyclone Gita in 2018. It also featured Tropical Depression One-E in the Eastern Pacific, becoming its earliest forming tropical cyclone in the basin proper, and the first storm in the Northern Hemisphere in 2020.
| Storm name | Dates active | Max wind km/h (mph) |
Pressure (hPa) |
Areas affected | Damage (USD) |
Deaths | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Irondro | April 1 – 7 | 175 (110) | 945 | None | None | None | |
| Harold | April 1 – 11 | 220 (140) | 924 | Eastern Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga | >$123.5 million | ≥30 | |
| TL | April 3 | Unspecified | 1008 | None | None | None | |
| Jeruto | April 10 – 16 | 65 (40) | 1000 | None | None | None | |
| One-E | April 25 – 26 | 55 (35) | 1006 | None | None | None |
May
The month of May was marginally active with eight tropical cyclones developing and six of those being named. Typhoon Vongfong (Ambo) became the first storm of the Pacific Typhoon season; marking the latest start to the basin since 2016 and dealing significant damage in the Philippines. Tropical Storm Arthur also developed in the month, giving the North Atlantic season six consecutive seasons with pre-season activity. Super Cyclonic Storm Amphan became the strongest of the month, and also became one of the strongest cyclones in the North Indian Ocean on record. Later in the month, Tropical Cyclone Mangga formed as an off-season tropical storm in the Australian region. Furthermore, Tropical Storm Bertha formed in the Atlantic and marked the first time since 2016 that two pre-season storms have formed in the Atlantic, as well as the first time since 2012 that two tropical depressions or storms formed in the month of May.
| Storm name | Dates active | Max wind km/h (mph) |
Pressure (hPa) |
Areas affected | Damage (USD) |
Deaths | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TD | May 3 - 10 | 55 (35) | 1004 | Mentawai Islands, Sumatra | None | None | |
| Vongfong (Ambo) | May 10 - 18 | 155 (100) | 960 | Palau, Philippines, Taiwan, Ryukyu Islands | $31.1 million | 5 | |
| Amphan | May 16 - 21 | 240 (150) | 925 | Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India, Bhutan | >$13.2 billion | 128 | |
| Arthur | May 16 - 19 | 95 (60) | 991 | Cuba, Florida, The Bahamas, North Carolina, Bermuda | Minimal | None | |
| Mangga | May 19 – 23 | 65 (40) | 995 | Cocos Islands, Mentawai Islands, Sumatra, Western Australia | None | None | |
| Bertha | May 27 - 28 | 85 (50) | 1004 | Florida, Bahamas, East Coast of the United States | >$1 million | 1 | |
| ARB 01 | May 29 - 31 | 45 (30) | 1000 | Oman, Yemen | Unknown | 3 | |
| Amanda | May 30 - 31 | 65 (40) | 1003 | Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Belize, Costa Rica | >$200 million | 33 |
June
June has had 3 tropical cyclones form so far, with all 3 being named. In the Northern Indian Ocean, Cyclone Nisarga formed near southwest India and historically affected the cities of Alibag and Mumbai. Tropical Storm Cristobal formed with the remnants of Tropical Storm Amanda in the Eastern Pacific and affected Mexico and the United States. Tropical Storm Nuri (Butchoy) formed on the eastern coast of the Philippines, becoming the second storm of the typhoon season in the West Pacific.
| Storm name | Dates active | Max wind km/h (mph) |
Pressure (hPa) |
Areas affected | Damage (USD) |
Deaths | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nisarga | June 1 - 4 | 100 (65) | 990 | West India | $664 million | 6 | |
| Cristobal | June 1 - 12 | 95 (60) | 992 | Guatemala, El Salvador, Belize, Mexico, Gulf Coast of the United States, Midwestern United States | $191.2 million | 4 | |
| Nuri (Butchoy) | June 10 - Present | 65 (35) | 1000 | Philippines | None | None |
Global effects
- ^ The sum of the number of systems in each basin will not equal the number shown as the total. This is because when systems move between basins, it creates a discrepancy in the actual number of systems.
- ^ The sum of the number of fatalities in each basin will not equal the number shown as the total. This is because when systems move between basins, it creates a discrepancy in the actual number of fatalities.
See also
Notes
2 Only systems that formed either on or after January 1, 2020 are counted in the seasonal totals.
3 Only systems that formed either before or on December 31, 2020 are counted in the seasonal totals.
4 The wind speeds for this tropical cyclone/basin are based on the IMD Scale which uses 3-minute sustained winds.
5 The wind speeds for this tropical cyclone/basin are based on the Saffir Simpson Scale which uses 1-minute sustained winds.
6The wind speeds for this tropical cyclone are based on Météo-France which uses wind gusts.
References
- ^ Emily Becker (January 9, 2020). "January 2020 ENSO update: new year, new you". Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ Michelle L'Heureux (April 9, 2020). "April 2020 ENSO Update: Alternative Communication". Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ Tahana, Jamie (April 5, 2020). "'Bad timing': Cyclone Harold likely to hit Vanuatu as category 5". RNZ. Radio New Zealand. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
- ^ Kottasová, Ivana; Miller, Brandon (April 6, 2020). "Giant storm hits Vanuatu amid coronavirus state of emergency". CNN. Cable News Network. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
- ^ "Sorsogon imposes distancing measure in evac centers amid threat of Typhoon Ambo". ABS-CBN News. ABS-CBN Corporation. May 14, 2020. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
- ^ "NDRRMC urges LGUs to prepare for 'Bagyong Ambo'". PTV News. People's Television Network, Inc. May 13, 2020. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
- ^ Brackett, Ron (18 May 2020). "India, Bangladesh Tell Millions to Evacuate as Tropical Cyclone Amphan Approaches". The Weather Channel. TWC Product and Technology. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
- ^ "Hurricane Amanda kills 14 people in El Salvador". Seven News. June 1, 2020. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
- ^ 17 March 2020. "Herold drenches Madagascar". Retrieved 24 March 2020.
External links
Regional Specialized Meteorological Centers
- US National Hurricane Center – North Atlantic, Eastern Pacific
- Central Pacific Hurricane Center – Central Pacific
- Japan Meteorological Agency – NW Pacific
- India Meteorological Department – Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea
- Météo-France – La Reunion – South Indian Ocean from 30°E to 90°E
- Fiji Meteorological Service – South Pacific west of 160°E, north of 25° S
Tropical Cyclone Warning Centers
- Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency of Indonesia – South Indian Ocean from 90°E to 141°E, generally north of 10°S
- Australian Bureau of Meteorology (TCWC's Perth, Darwin & Brisbane) – South Indian Ocean & South Pacific Ocean from 90°E to 160°E, generally south of 10°S
- Papua New Guinea National Weather Service – South Pacific Ocean from 141°E to 160°E, generally north of 10°S
- Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited – South Pacific west of 160°E, south of 25°S
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the National Weather Service.
- Tropical cyclones by year
- 2020 Atlantic hurricane season
- 2020 Pacific hurricane season
- 2020 Pacific typhoon season
- 2020 North Indian Ocean cyclone season
- 2019–20 Australian region cyclone season
- 2020–21 Australian region cyclone season
- 2019–20 South Pacific cyclone season
- 2020–21 South Pacific cyclone season
- 2019–20 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season
- 2020–21 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season
- 2020-related lists
- Tropical cyclones in 2020