Amphan
Overview
Super Cyclonic Storm Amphan was the strongest tropical cyclone to strike the Ganges Delta since Sidr in 2007 and the first super cyclonic storm to occur in the Bay of Bengal since the 1999 Odisha cyclone. Despite occurring during the COVID-19 pandemic, authorities successfully evacuated over 3 million people.
Timeline
Formation
16 May 2020
Dissipation
21 May 2020
Duration
5 days
Affected Areas
West BengalOdishaBangladesh
Key Statistics
Maximum Wind Speed
240 km/h
Peak Gusts
185 km/h
Sustained winds had weakened to 155-165 km/h by landfall near the Sundarbans.
Landfall
Near Bakkhali, Sundarbans, West Bengal
20 May 2020 · 165 km/h winds
155-165 km/h at landfall; weakened from its 240 km/h peak over the sea
Minimum Pressure
920 hPa
Basin
Bay of Bengal
Season
Pre-Monsoon
Casualties
133
Economic Damage
15.5 billion USD