Biparjoy longest duration cyclone since 1977: IMD

Cyclone Biparjoy, which wreaked havoc in Gujarat earlier this month, was the longest-duration cyclonic storm in the northern Indian Ocean since 1977, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

Cyclone Biparjoy, which wreaked havoc in Gujarat earlier this month, was the longest-duration cyclonic storm in the northern Indian Ocean since 1977, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on June 26.

Biparjoy, the first cyclonic storm over the Arabian Sea this year, originated over the southeast Arabian Sea on June 6 and had landfall over Saurashtra and Kutch on June 15 before weakening into a depression on June 18.

The cyclonic storm had a total life of 13 days and three hours (depression to depression), more than double the average life of severe cyclonic storms of six days and three hours over the Arabian Sea, the IMD said in a report on Biparjoy.

The longest duration cyclone over the north Indian Ocean had developed over the Bay of Bengal and weakened over the Arabian Sea between November 8-23, 1977 with a life period of 14 days and six hours.

In recent years, extremely severe cyclonic storm Kyarr (October 2019) over Arabian Sea had a life period of nine days and 15 hours, while very severe cyclonic storm Gaja (November 2018) over Bay of Bengal had a life period of nine days and 15 hours.

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Biparjoy also changed tracks nine times in its 2,525-km run making it difficult for meteorologists to predict the path of the cyclone. It had also intensified into an extremely severe cyclonic storm on June 11, but weakened to a very severe cyclonic storm (VSCS) by landfall four days later.