Cyclone Tauktae
Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm Tauktae was a powerful, deadly and damaging tropical cyclone in the Arabian Sea that became the strongest tropical cyclone to make landfall in the Indian state of Gujarat since the 1998 Gujarat cyclone. One of the strongest tropical cyclones to ever affect the west coast of India, Tauktae was the strongest storm of 2021 North Indian Ocean cyclone season. The second depression, first cyclonic storm, first severe cyclonic storm, first very severe cyclonic storm, and first extremely severe cyclonic storm of the 2021 North Indian Ocean cyclone season, Tauktae originated from an area of low pressure in the Arabian Sea, which was first monitored by the India Meteorological Department on 13 May. The low drifted eastward and organized into a deep depression by 14 May. The storm soon took a northward turn, continuing to gradually intensify because of warm waters near the coast, and the system strengthened into a cyclonic storm and was named Tauktae later that same day. Tauktae continued intensifying into 15 May, reaching severe cyclonic storm status later that day. Tauktae began to parallel the coast of the Indian states of Kerala, Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra, before rapidly intensifying into a very severe cyclonic storm, early on 16 May. Early on 17 May, Tauktae intensified into an extremely severe cyclonic storm, reaching its peak intensity soon afterward. Later that same day, Tauktae underwent an eyewall replacement cycle and weakened, before restrengthening as it neared the coast of Gujarat, making landfall soon afterward.
After making landfall, Tauktae gradually weakened as it slowly turned northeastward, moving further inland. On 19 May, Tauktae weakened into a well-marked low-pressure area.
Tauktae brought heavy rainfall and flash floods to areas along the coast of Kerala and on Lakshadweep. There were reports of heavy rain in the states of Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra as well. Tauktae resulted in at least 169 deaths in India, and left another 81 people missing. There were also 5 deaths reported in Pakistan. The storm displaced over 200,000 people in Gujarat. The cyclone also caused widespread infrastructure and agricultural damage to the western coast of India. Upwards of 40 fishermen were lost at sea when their boats were caught in the cyclone. Mumbai also experienced the impact of the storm, with airports being closed for safety reasons.
The city experienced their highest ever recorded wind gust at. Power outages and other electrical problems also prevailed in the impacted regions. The cyclone made landfall in Gujarat the same day as India recorded its, at the time, highest single-day COVID-19 death toll, with 4,329 deaths reported. The cyclone also caused a large amount of maritime incidents as it moved along the coast of western India. Hundreds were missing from various barges; however, most of them have been rescued. Other larger ships also experienced problems, such as structure or power losses. At least 174 people have been killed by the storm, with over 80 still missing. Losses from Tauktae were calculated at ₹165 billion or US$2.25 billion.
Meteorological history
11 On May, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center began monitoring a large area of low pressure in the equatorial Arabian Sea for potential tropical cyclone development. As the system slowly moved eastwards, it gradually organized amid favorable conditions, including sea surface temperatures of up to and low wind shear. The JTWC issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert on this system on 13 May. A few hours later, the JTWC designated it as Tropical Cyclone 01A. The system gradually intensified, as the previously disorganized broad area of convection began to wrap around the low-level circulation center. It further strengthened to become a deep depression at 12:00 UTC the next day. Around this time, the system turned northeastwards and began to move towards India. Due to the very large area of convection over the cyclone, it dumped heavy rainfall over the southern portions of the country. Six hours after the upgrade, the system became even more organized and intensified into a cyclonic storm, receiving the name Tauktae by the IMD. Tauktae later intensified into a Severe Cyclonic Storm at 15:00 UTC on 15 May as a robust central dense overcast developed. Just three hours later, the JTWC upgraded Tauktae to a Category 1 tropical cyclone on the Saffir–Simpson scale, while a ragged eye appeared on infrared satellite imagery as the storm started a period of rapid intensification.Early the next day, the cyclone turned northward, paralleling the west coast of India. Amid the favorable conditions stated earlier, the storm rapidly intensified, and at 06:00 UTC that day, the JTWC upgraded the system to a Category 2 tropical cyclone. By 09:00 UTC, the cyclone had developed a well-defined, but ragged eye, according to INSAT imagery, and the JTWC upgraded Tauktae to a Category 3-equivalent tropical cyclone, as rapid intensification continued. Despite this period of strengthening, the eye of the storm degraded for a while, according to INSAT imagery. Later, the storm continued intensifying, and at 03:00 UTC on 17 May Tauktae reached its peak intensity as an extremely severe cyclonic storm, with maximum 3-minute sustained winds of, maximum 1-minute sustained winds of, and a minimum central pressure of, making the storm the equivalent of a Category 4 tropical cyclone on the Saffir–Simpson scale. Soon afterward, Tauktae initiated an eyewall replacement cycle, which started to weaken the storm.
As the storm neared the coast of Gujarat, Tauktae completed its eyewall replacement cycle and began to reorganize, as a new eye became visible on satellite imagery, and the cloud top temperatures dropped in the central dense overcast region. At 8:30 p.m. local time, the cyclone made landfall near Una in Gujarat. Soon afterward, the JTWC issued their final warning on the system. In the advisory, the agency estimated Tauktae's 1-minute sustained winds at landfall to be, making Tauktae the equivalent of a high-end Category 3 tropical cyclone, making it the strongest storm to make landfall in Gujarat since reliable records began, surpassing the record set by 1998 Gujarat cyclone. Afterward, due to land interaction, the storm began to weaken slowly; the Brown ocean effect from the Gulf of Kutch and Gulf of Khambhat caused the storm to weaken at a slower pace than usual. By 11:30 a.m. local time, the storm had weakened below severe cyclonic storm intensity, before weakening below cyclonic storm intensity twelve hours later, after traversing the rugged terrain of the Aravalli Range, bringing heavy rainfall and wind gusts to the region of North India. At 14:00 UTC on 19 May, Tauktae weakened into a well-marked low-pressure area over Rajasthan and adjoining Madhya Pradesh, and the IMD issued their final bulletin on the storm.
Preparations
India
Pre-landfall
On 16 May 2021, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a high review meeting to review preparedness on the cyclone through video conferencing with various senior officials in New Delhi. All coastal fishing in Kerala was banned by the state's disaster management authority between 13 and 17 May in anticipation of rough seas caused by Tauktae's formation and traversal of the offshore waters. The IMD issued a red alert for nine districts in Kerala for torrential rainfall on 15 May, including Lakshadweep. All flights at Agatti Airport in Lakshadweep were suspended while the cyclone passed over the archipelago. The National Disaster Response Force dispatched nine teams to Kerala while detachments of the Indian military were placed on standby. Supplemental oxygen and other medical supplies were also brought within the risk areas from both domestic and foreign sources. Three fishermen on an inoperable vessel were rescued by the Indian Coast Guard off Kannur on 14 May. More than 2,000 people were evacuated to 71 centres were established for populations vulnerable to coastal erosion while COVID-19 patients among the evacuees were brought to specialised treatment centres. A curfew initially imposed to curtail the spread of COVID-19 in Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka. In total, the NDRF mobilised 4,700 personnel in 100 teams across six states. In Gujarat, 200,000 people were evacuated from low-lying areas all while 54 teams of the National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force were deployed. In Maharashtra, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said alerts had been raised for coastal districts and that the state administration had been preparing to ensure that electricity and oxygen supply would remain in COVID-19 hospitals. Operations at Mumbai International Airport were suspended on 17 May between 11:00 and 14:00 IST. Bandra Worli Sea Link was also closed for normal traffic and the COVID-19 vaccination drive in Mumbai was also suspended for the day.On 16 May, the number of people evacuated quickly grew to tens of thousands of people as Tauktae neared the Gujarati coast. The IMD said tidal waves of up to nine feet were expected in the area. Government officials of the Indian state said that over 150,000 people were to be evacuated from vulnerable areas on Sunday evening. All fishing was suspended until Monday near the Gujarat coast. More than 170 mobile intensive care unit vans were deployed to help prevent the possibility of the current surge in COVID-19 cases being worsened. Hospitals windproofed their buildings to prevent damage. The Navy was placed on standby in Gujarat. The army was also reported to be continuously watching Tauktae. At this time, 180 relief and rescue teams and 9 ETFs were also on standby. The IMD warned of coastal flooding caused by storm surge of up to 13 feet. Ahmedabad, Gujarat's most populous city, was predicted to receive up to 4 inches of rainfall during the next 1–2 days, more than the average amount that the city receives in the first half of the year. Hundreds of COVID-19 patients were shifted from coastal wards in Mumbai to safer ground. Crews, dressed in hazmat suits, patrolled coastal areas and warned locals to get to higher ground.