Cyclone Hudhud

Meteorological history

Under the influence of an upper-air cyclonic circulation,a low-pressure area formed over the Andaman Sea on October 6. It slowly consolidated and was upgraded to a depression by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on October 7. While over open waters, the depression continued to encounter a favorable environment, and a tropical cyclone formation alert (TCFA) was issued by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC), followed by IMD upgrading the storm into a deep depression.

In the early hours of October 8, the JTWC started issuing its advisories for the system as it recorded tropical storm winds at the storm's centre. The IMD later reported that the deep depression made its first landfall over Long Island, Andaman, and had reached cyclonic storm intensity, naming it Hudhud. After entering the Bay of Bengal, Hudhud continued to intensify the following day, and was upgraded to a severe cyclonic storm.

Early on October 10, the JTWC classified the storm as a Category 1 tropical cyclone after it formed a microwave eye feature and was located in an environment favorable for further intensification with moderate wind shear. The IMD upgraded Hudhud to a very severe cyclonic storm later the same day, and the JTWC further upgraded the storm to a Category 2 tropical cyclone.

On October 11, Hudhud underwent rapid intensification and developed an eye at its center. In the following hours, the storm reached its peak intensity with a minimum central pressure of 950 mbar (28.05 inHg) and three-minute average windspeeds of 185 km/h (115 mph). Maintaining intensity, it made landfall over Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh at noon of October 12, near 17.7°N 83.3°E / 17.7; 83.3. The maximum wind gust recorded by the High Wind Speed Recorder (HWSR) instrument of the Cyclone Warning Center in Visakhapatnam was 260 km/h (160 mph). Measured by the Doppler weather radar stationed in the city, the storm's eye was 66 km (41 mi) in diameter. The strength of the winds disrupted telecommunication lines and damaged the Doppler radar, inhibiting further observations.

Bringing extensive damage to the coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh, Hudhud gradually weakened as it curved northwards over land. The storm continued its weakening trend and was last noted as a well-marked low pressure area over east Uttar Pradesh on October 14. Unlike most BoB storms that dissipate quickly over land, Hudhud has been the only TC whose remnant ever reached as far north as the Himalayas.

India

In light of the storm, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) mobilized 35 teams in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. The East Coast Railway cancelled 38 trains on October 12 when the cyclone made landfall.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands

On October 8, while Hudhud was gaining cyclonic storm intensity, the authorities closed schools and cancelled ferry services in and around the Andaman Islands. Fishermen were warned about the storm. The Andaman Trunk Road, one of the major roads traversing the island, was shut down after trees were uprooted due to the storm's force. Landslides were reported on the island, causing some power and communication lines to fail.

Andhra Pradesh

An alert was sounded in nine out of thirteen districts of Andhra Pradesh where standing crops including paddy, groundnut, sugarcane, and pulses were yet to be harvested. Over 700,000 people, including 500,000 people in Andhra Pradesh, were evacuated and put up in relief camps & emergency bunkers. The local government made arrangements to shift half a million people in all.

Hudhud crossed the coast of Andhra Pradesh at the noon of October 12 over Visakhapatnam, with winds exceeding 185 km/h (115 mph). As per initial reports, 3 people were killed due to heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds in coastal areas. Within hours of hitting the coast, the cyclone severed the radar link of Visakhapatnam Cyclone Warning Centre.

Hudhud caused 61 deaths within Andhra Pradesh and an estimated damage of ₹21908 crores (US$3.4 billion). This makes Hudhud the most destructive cyclone to ever hit India and the second most destructive in the basin after Cyclone Nargis in 2008.

Visakhapatnam, also known as Vizag, bore the brunt of Hudhud, which hit its coast with a speed of 185 km/h (115 mph). Hundreds of vehicles parked on roads were damaged while heavy rains inundated a few colonies. The runway at Visakhapatnam Airport was flooded and the radar and navigational aids were destroyed. The roof of the terminal was torn apart due to the speed of the cyclone. Villages near Vizag were also significantly affected by Hudhud, including Kasimkota, which is known for its robust food distribution system during the cyclone that became standard ration procedure for Visakhapatnam disaster management.

Odisha

The Odisha government had placed 16 districts under high alert: Balasore, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Ganjam, Mayurbhanj, Jajpur, Cuttack, Khurdha, Nayagarh, Gajapati, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Malkangiri and Koraput.

At the time of the storm landfall, strong winds and heavy rainfall commenced in southern Odisha districts, leading to disruption in power supply. Wind speeds reaching 90 km/h (56 mph) were predicted in the region.

Relief fund

The Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi announced of October 15th that ₹1000 crore ($136 million) was to be awarded as aid for affected areas in Andhra Pradesh.

Nepal

On 14 October 2014, sudden weather changes caused by Cyclone Hudhud in Nepal reportedly caused an avalanche on Mount Dhaulagiri. The avalanche and heavy snowfall killed at least 43 hikers and guides in Nepal.