2020 South Indian cyclone season
Cyclone Ambali 2019
Recorded track and intensity from Dec 3, 2019 to Dec 9, 2019
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161 mph
Dec 6, 2019 during the tropical stage
Full archive record, including non-tropical stages if present
Along the recorded center positions
STORM HISTORY
Track and intensity summary
Ambali is listed in the South Indian basin for the 2020 season. Its archived track begins on Dec 3, 2019, 06:00 AM UTC at 3.9°S, 65.4°E. The first observation lists sustained winds of 17 mph. These dates describe the available observations, which may include stages before and after the tropical cyclone phase.
The first Category 5 observation appears on Dec 6, 2019, 12:00 AM UTC. The highest recorded tropical-stage one-minute sustained wind is 161 mph, first recorded on Dec 6, 2019, 12:00 AM UTC at 10.4°S, 62.2°E. The minimum recorded tropical-stage central pressure is 918 hPa on Dec 6, 2019, 12:00 AM UTC.
The full record spans 144 hours and approximately 980 mi along the recorded center positions. The last recorded position is 14.1°S, 59.6°E on Dec 9, 2019, 06:00 AM UTC. The final tropical-stage observation is earlier, on Dec 7, 2019, 09:00 PM UTC.
QUICK ANSWERS
Ambali in brief
What was Cyclone Ambali's highest wind speed?
161 mph, the highest one-minute sustained wind in its tropical stage, recorded on Dec 6, 2019, 12:00 AM UTC.
What category was Cyclone Ambali?
Category 5 at its peak on the Saffir–Simpson one-minute wind scale, first reaching Category 5 on Dec 6, 2019, 12:00 AM UTC. Other agencies classify storms differently.
What was Cyclone Ambali's lowest pressure?
918 mb, the minimum central pressure recorded during its tropical stage, on Dec 6, 2019, 12:00 AM UTC.
When did Cyclone Ambali occur?
The archived track runs from Dec 3, 2019, 06:00 AM UTC to Dec 9, 2019, 06:00 AM UTC, with the tropical stage from Dec 3, 2019, 06:00 PM UTC to Dec 7, 2019, 09:00 PM UTC.
Where did Cyclone Ambali form?
In the South Indian basin, in the 2020 season. Its first archived position is 3.9°S, 65.4°E on Dec 3, 2019, 06:00 AM UTC.
Did Cyclone Ambali make landfall?
No archived position places Cyclone Ambali's center over land, but positions are six-hourly and a brief landfall can fall between them.
METHODOLOGY
Data sources and limitations
The map and summary are generated from NOAA's IBTrACS v04r01 archive. Wind and category use US-agency records; minimum pressure is calculated during the tropical stage, with the archive's pressure source retained. Category 5 refers to the Saffir–Simpson one-minute wind scale; local agencies may use different classifications. Coastlines use Natural Earth's 1:10m land data.
Track distance adds great-circle distances between consecutive observations, excluding gaps over 12 hours. This track has no gaps over 12 hours. The line shows the storm's center, not its size, rainfall or flood extent. Converted wind speeds are rounded to the nearest whole unit.
Archive retrieved
NOAA IBTrACS archive and Field documentation
Sources & methodology