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{{short description|North Indian cyclone in 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}}
{{Infobox tropical cyclone
| Name=Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Vardah
| Type=tropical cyclone
| Year=2016
| Basin=NIO
| Image location=12-11-2016-Vardah-Nighttime Colored.png
| Image name=Vardah at peak intensity on 11 December
| Formed=6 December 2016
| Dissipated=13 December 2016
| 3-min winds=70
| 1-min winds=85
| Pressure=975
| Areas=[[Thailand]], [[Sumatra]], [[Malaysia]], [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]], [[Sri Lanka]], [[South India]]
| Fatalities=47 total
| Damages=3375
| Hurricane season=[[2016 North Indian Ocean cyclone season]]
}}
'''Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Vardah''' was the fourth cyclonic storm, as well as the most intense [[tropical cyclone]] of the [[2016 North Indian Ocean cyclone season]]. The system struck the [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]], as well as [[South India]], before later affecting [[Somalia]].

Originating as a low-pressure area near the [[Malay Peninsula]] on 3 December, the storm was designated a depression on 6 December. It gradually intensified into a Deep Depression on the following day, skirting off the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and intensified into a Cyclonic Storm on 8 December. Maintaining a generally westward track thereafter, Vardah consolidated into a Severe Cyclonic Storm on 9 December, before peaking as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm, with 3-minute sustained winds of {{convert|80|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}, and a minimum central pressure of {{convert|975|hPa|inHg|abbr=on}}, on 11 December. Weakening into a Severe Cyclonic Storm, Vardah made landfall close to [[Chennai]] on the following day, and degenerated into remnant low on 13 December.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Vardah over Bay of Benga|url=http://www.rsmcnewdelhi.imd.gov.in/images/pdf/publications/preliminary-report/vardah.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=India Meteorological Department}}</ref>

The name ''Vardah'', suggested by Pakistan, refers to the [[Rose|red rose]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Sanyal|first1=Anindita|title=Name Of Cyclone 'Vardah' Given By Pakistan, Means A 'Red Rose'|url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/name-of-cyclone-vardah-given-by-pakistan-1636792|access-date=12 December 2016|publisher=NDTV}}</ref>

==Meteorological history==
{{Storm path|Vardah 2016 track.png}}
Under the influence of a persistent area of convection, a [[low-pressure area]] formed over the [[Malay Peninsula]], adjoining north Sumatra, in early December 2016. The low-pressure area gradually organized into a tropical disturbance over the next several days, as it slowly moved towards the southeast Bay of Bengal. On 6 December, The IMD classified the system as Depression BOB 06, as the system had sufficiently organized itself, with winds of {{convert|45|km/h|mph|abbr=on|round=5}}.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Kumar|first1=Naresh|title=Special Tropical Weather Outlook for North Indian Ocean issued at 0600 UTC of 7 December 2016|url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/RSMC_201612070600.pdf|archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6mhL65LmS?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/RSMC_201612070600.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 December 2016|publisher=India Meteorological Department|access-date=12 December 2016}}</ref> Owing to low wind shear and favorable sea surface temperatures, the storm gradually intensified into a Deep Depression on the following day.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Katiyar|first1=Shobhit|title=Special Tropical Weather Outlook for North Indian Ocean issued at 1930 UTC of 7 December 2016|url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/RSMC_201612072000.pdf|archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6mhLZzrX2?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/RSMC_201612072000.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 December 2016|publisher=India Meteorological Department|access-date=12 December 2016}}</ref> Skirting off the [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]] as a Deep Depression, BOB 06 was upgraded to a Cyclonic Storm by the IMD and JTWC, in the early hours of 8 December, and was assigned the name ''Vardah''.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Katiyar|first1=Shobhit|title=Tropical Storm Vardah Advisory Number One issued at 0300 UTC of 8 December 2016|url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/RSMC_201612080400.pdf|archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6mhMA3bdA?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/RSMC_201612080400.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 December 2016|publisher=India Meteorological Department|access-date=12 December 2016}}</ref>

With conditions favorable for further development, Vardah intensified into a Severe Cyclonic Storm on 9 December.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Srivastava|first1=Akhil|title=Tropical Storm Vardah Advisory Number Fifteen issued at 2000 UTC of 9 December 2016.|url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/RSMC_201612092000.pdf|archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6mhMWWRuf?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/RSMC_201612092000.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 December 2016|publisher=India Meteorological Department|access-date=12 December 2016}}</ref> Although predicted to maintain its intensity, Vardah strengthened further, as it followed a generally west-northwestwards track, prompting the IMD to upgrade its intensity to Very Severe Cyclonic Storm status, on 10 December.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Ravindren|first1=Shambu|title=Tropical Storm Vardah Advisory Number Twenty One issued at 1500 UTC of 10 December 2016.|url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/RSMC_201612101500.pdf|archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6mhMu6G0d?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/RSMC_201612101500.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 December 2016|publisher=India Meteorological Department|access-date=12 December 2016}}</ref> Gradually intensifying as it moved westward, Vardah reached its peak intensity on 11 December, with maximum 3-minute sustained winds of {{convert|130|km/h|mph|abbr=on|round=5}}, and a minimum central pressure of {{convert|975|mbar|inHg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Singh|first1=Charan|title=Tropical Storm Vardah Advisory Number Twenty Eight issued at 1200 UTC of 11 December 2016.|url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/RSMC_201612111200.pdf|archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6mhNKMrRr?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/RSMC_201612111200.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 December 2016|publisher=India Meteorological Department|access-date=12 December 2016}}</ref>

On 12 December, Vardah weakened into a Severe Cyclonic Storm, before making landfall over the eastern coast of India, close to [[Chennai]], [[Tamil Nadu]], with winds of {{convert|65|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Kumar|first1=Naresh|title=Tropical Storm Vardah Advisory Number Thirty Five issued at 1300 UTC of 12 December 2016.|url=http://rsmcnewdelhi.imd.gov.in/images/bulletin/rsmc.pdf|publisher=India Meteorological Department|access-date=12 December 2016|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6mhSJDfHr?url=http://rsmcnewdelhi.imd.gov.in/images/bulletin/rsmc.pdf|archive-date=12 December 2016}}</ref> Afterward, it rapidly weakened into a depression, due to land interaction, on 13 December.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Katiyar|first1=Shobhit|title=BOB06/2016 Bulletin Number 48 issued at 0300 UTC of December 13, 2016.|url=http://rsmcnewdelhi.imd.gov.in/images/bulletin/indian.pdf|publisher=India Meteorological Department|access-date=13 December 2016|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6miVAz2tA?url=http://rsmcnewdelhi.imd.gov.in/images/bulletin/indian.pdf|archive-date=13 December 2016}}</ref> The depression caused overnight rainfall in Southern Karnataka on 13 December. Due to land interaction, Vardah degenerated into a well-marked low on 13 December, at around midday, local time. The remnants of Vardah later regenerated into [[2016 North Indian Ocean cyclone season#Depression ARB 02|Depression ARB 02]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Gopal|first1=Neetha|title=Depression over southwest Arabian Sea|url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/INDIAN_201612170600.pdf|archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6mqw42for?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/INDIAN_201612170600.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 December 2016|publisher=India Meteorological Department|access-date=18 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Significant Tropical Weather Advisory for the Indian Ocean Issued on 16 December 2016.|url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/ABIO10-PGTW_201612161800.htm|archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6mqwL1Yi0?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/ABIO10-PGTW_201612161800.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 December 2016|publisher=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|access-date=18 December 2016}}</ref>

==Preparations and impact==
===Thailand===
The precursor low of Cyclone Vardah caused severe flooding in [[Thailand]], affecting half a million residents in the country's southern provinces. By the end of the week, more than {{convert|300|mm|in}} of rainfall was observed in [[Nakhon Si Thammarat Province]] of the country.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Wright|first1=Pam|title=Severe Flooding Kills 14 in Thailand; Southern Tourist Islands Inundated|url=https://weather.com/news/news/thailand-flooding-impacts|access-date=12 December 2016|agency=The Weather Channel}}</ref> 21 people were reported to be killed due to the floods, and the damage were about US$25 million.<ref>{{cite web|title=Thailand: Floods - Dec 2016|url=https://reliefweb.int/disaster/fl-2017-000004-tha|date=10 January 2017|access-date=12 January 2017|publisher=ReliefWeb}}</ref><ref>{{cite report|title=Global Catastrophe Recap December 2016|url=http://thoughtleadership.aonbenfield.com/Documents/20170117-ab-analytics-if-december-global-recap.pdf|date=17 January 2017|access-date=18 January 2017|publisher=Aon Benfield}}</ref>

===South India===
====Andaman and Nicobar Islands====
Vardah brought heavy rainfall to [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]] as a Deep Depression. [[Little Andaman|Hut Bay]] recorded {{convert|166|mm|in|abbr=on}} of rainfall on 6 December, while [[Port Blair]] recorded {{convert|167|mm|in|abbr=on}} of rainfall on 7 December.<ref>{{cite news|title=Port Blair receives 76 mm in six hours, 1400 tourists stranded in Havelock|url=http://www.skymetweather.com/content/weather-news-and-analysis/heavy-rains-lash-havelock-in-andaman-navy-to-rescue-800-stranded-tourists/|access-date=7 December 2016|publisher=Skymet Weather}}</ref> More than 1,400 tourists were stranded on the [[Havelock Island|Havelock]] and [[Neil Island|Neil]] islands of the archipelago, during the storm.<ref>{{cite news|last1=PTI|title=At least 1400 tourists stranded due to heavy rainfall in the Andamans.|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/andaman-and-nicobar-islands-havelock-heavy-rainfall-tourists-stranded-4415302/|access-date=7 December 2016|agency=PTI|publisher=The Indian Express}}</ref> They were evacuated by the [[Indian Navy]] on 9 December.

====Tamil Nadu====
[[File:Vardah 2016-12-12 Animation.gif|thumb|Vardah making landfall over the coast of India]]
More than 12,26,000 people were evacuated from low-lying areas, as a result of Vardah. The [[Indian Armed Forces]] were kept on standby for any relief operations.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Shukla|first1=Shuchi|title=2 Dead As Cyclone Vardah Strikes Near Chennai: 10 Updates|url=http://www.ndtv.com/south/cyclone-vardah-tamil-nadu-andhra-pradesh-on-high-alert-chennai-braces-for-storm-1636811|access-date=12 December 2016|agency=NDTV}}</ref> Two warships, [[INS Shivalik]] and [[INS Kadmatt (P29)|INS Kadmatt]], sailed out of [[Visakhapatnam]] to [[Chennai]], carrying medical teams, divers, inflatable rubber boats, an integral helicopter, and material, including food, tents, clothes, medicines, and blankets to aid with relief efforts. Fifteen teams of the [[National Disaster Response Force]] were deployed in various coastal regions.<ref>{{cite news|title=Cyclone Vardah makes landfall: Two killed in Tamil Nadu, life thrown off gear|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/vardah-makes-landfall-two-killed-in-tamil-nadu-life-thrown-off-gear/story-sT5AyIF3QIf0slBLZPc5dN.html|access-date=12 December 2016|publisher=Hindustan Times}}</ref> The cyclone killed 24 people in the state,<ref>{{cite AV media|people=R. B. Udhaya Kumar|title=24 Dead in Tamil Nadu over Cyclone Vardah hit|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKMRolueIQA|medium=video|date=19 December 2016|accessdate=20 December 2016|publisher=Thanthi TV}}</ref> and caused [[Indian rupee|₹]]22,573 crore (US$3.35 billion) in damage.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/tamil-nadu-estimates-cyclone-damage-at-rs-22-573-crore-116121901039_1.html|title=Tamil Nadu estimates cyclone damage at Rs 22,573 crore|date=19 December 2016|publisher=Business Syandard|access-date=20 December 2016}}</ref>

Vardah crossed the eastern coast of India close to Chennai in the afternoon hours of 12 December 2016.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://chennaivision.com/cyclone-vardah-chennai-worst-hit-limps-back-normalcy/|title=Cyclone Vardah: Chennai worst hit, limps back to normalcy – ChennaiVision|date=2016-12-13|newspaper=ChennaiVision|access-date=2016-12-13}}</ref> Winds were estimated at {{convert|65|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} during landfall. The cyclone claimed over 18 lives, uprooted about 15 lakh trees in Chennai and its suburbs, and caused extensive damage to roads, supplies, and power infrastructure: over 1,00,000 electric poles were mangled and 8,000 transformers damaged. Carcasses of around 550 cows were found afloat in a lake in the [[Kancheepuram]] District. As many as 2,424 roads were blocked, and 240 huts were also damaged. More than ten people were reported to have been killed, due to events related to the storm.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Shukla|first1=Shuchi|title=2 Dead As Cyclone Vardah Strikes Near Chennai: 10 Updates|url=http://www.ndtv.com/south/cyclone-vardah-tamil-nadu-andhra-pradesh-on-high-alert-chennai-braces-for-storm-1636811|access-date=12 December 2016|agency=NDTV}}</ref>

Public transportation was severely affected by Vardah. [[Chennai International Airport]] was closed at least until 11:00 pm IST (5:30 pm UTC) on 12 December, in the wake of the storm, leaving about 5,000 passengers stranded. The [[Indian Railways]] suspended operations of all 170 outstation trains originating from Chennai, and [[Chennai Suburban Railway|suburban railway]] services were also cancelled.<ref>{{cite news|title=Cyclone Vardah makes landfall: Two killed in Tamil Nadu, life thrown off gear|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/vardah-makes-landfall-two-killed-in-tamil-nadu-life-thrown-off-gear/story-sT5AyIF3QIf0slBLZPc5dN.html|access-date=12 December 2016|publisher=Hindustan Times}}</ref> [[Chennai Metro]] services were also affected, after power was cut off, as a precaution by the EB.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://chennaivision.com/eb-issues-advisory-restoring-power-supply/|title=EB issues advisory before restoring power supply – ChennaiVision|date=2016-12-13|newspaper=ChennaiVision|access-date=2016-12-13}}</ref>

Several Compound walls of buildings, the glass windows of scrapers and certain buildings were damaged. If not, the walls became weak.

====Andhra Pradesh====
Two people were killed in the state.<ref>{{cite news|title=Cyclone Vardah Kills Two In Andhra Pradesh|url=https://www.ndtv.com/south/cyclone-vardah-kills-two-in-andhra-pradesh-1637262|date=13 December 2016|access-date=14 December 2016|publisher=NDTV}}</ref> And the cyclone brought heavy rainfall over Rayalaseema region and adjoining [[Nellore district|Nellore]] and [[Prakasam district|Prakasam]] districts. The flooding were also minor with little damages to agricultural crops and livelihood.

==See also==

*[[Cyclone Jal]]
*[[Cyclone Mora]]
*[[Cyclone Thane]]
*[[Tropical Depression Wilma (2013)]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[http://www.rsmcnewdelhi.imd.gov.in/index.php?lang=en RSMC New Delhi]

{{2016 North Indian Ocean cyclone season buttons}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vardah}}
[[Category:2016 North Indian Ocean cyclone season]]
[[Category:Tropical cyclones in India]]
[[Category:Tropical cyclones in Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:2016 disasters in India]]
[[Category:2016 in Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Very severe cyclonic storms]]
[[Category:Tropical cyclones in 2016]]

Cyclone Vardah - Revision history

CleanupBot II at 08:36, 15 August 2023