Quiet Indian Ocean 2011

[Extratropical94]

Has anyone noticed the lack of activity in the Northern Indian Ocean so far?
The season total is up to three depressions and zero cyclonic storms as of September 17th.
The only year (in recent history because of reliable data) in which the first cyclonic storm formed even later was 1993 with November 8th, 1995 saw its first storm on September 12th.
In nearly every other season besides those three, there was at least one storm between April and June.
Not a single season has ever managed to produce NO system of CS strength, thus I think 2011 is a good candidate unless we see a ramp-up in November.
Maybe someone here has an idea why everything is so quiet down there, I certainly don't.

[bg1]

Has anyone noticed the lack of activity in the Northern Indian Ocean so far?
The season total is up to three depressions and zero cyclonic storms as of September 17th.
The only year (in recent history because of reliable data) in which the first cyclonic storm formed even later was 1993 with November 8th, 1995 saw its first storm on September 12th.
In nearly every other season besides those three, there was at least one storm between April and June.
Not a single season has ever managed to produce NO system of CS strength, thus I think 2011 is a good candidate unless we see a ramp-up in November.

It's the Northern Hemisphere Season Cancel!!! That is a good question.
Actually, on the Unisys site, I see only one storm, and it was of storm strength.

http://weather.unisys.com/hurricane/n_i ... /track.dat

[HurricaneBill]

It wasn't just the northern. The southwest Indian Ocean only produced 3 named storms: Abele, Bingiza, and Cherono. Despite the inactivity, Cyclone Bingiza made a destructive hit on Madagascar.

[Macrocane]

Yeah, last year was one of the least active (if not the least) in terms of tropical cyclone activity worldwide according to Ryan Maue's site as the WPAC, EPAC and SIO were near or at record low activity. There has been some recovery this year in the EPAC and WPAC but the activity is still lower than normal, very weird behavior around most of the world.

[Extratropical94]

Has anyone noticed the lack of activity in the Northern Indian Ocean so far?
The season total is up to three depressions and zero cyclonic storms as of September 17th.
The only year (in recent history because of reliable data) in which the first cyclonic storm formed even later was 1993 with November 8th, 1995 saw its first storm on September 12th.
In nearly every other season besides those three, there was at least one storm between April and June.
Not a single season has ever managed to produce NO system of CS strength, thus I think 2011 is a good candidate unless we see a ramp-up in November.

It's the Northern Hemisphere Season Cancel!!! That is a good question.
Actually, on the Unisys site, I see only one storm, and it was of storm strength.

http://weather.unisys.com/hurricane/n_i ... /track.dat

That is because they use the JTWC's classification and according to them there was one storm.
If you follow the IMD which is the official authority in that area and is responsible for naming you will see that the first name of this year's season, Keila, hasn't been used.
According to the IMD we had three depressions, of which one was a deep depression and an additional land depression, whatever that is.

[Ptarmigan]

Yeah, last year was one of the least active (if not the least) in terms of tropical cyclone activity worldwide according to Ryan Maue's site as the WPAC, EPAC and SIO were near or at record low activity. There has been some recovery this year in the EPAC and WPAC but the activity is still lower than normal, very weird behavior around most of the world.

I think the reason for being less active is due to La Nina and cooler Pacific Decadal Oscillation. I also think the unusually warm weather and floods on landmass is putting a lid on tropical activity as well. I read that the heat waves and floods over land mass put a cap on tropical activity because of energy being distributed. I know 1977 was very inactive in all the basins as well. As for 1977, there was a weak El Nino in early and late 1977.