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Cyclone Agni existed closer to the equator than any other tropical cyclone in recorded history, breaking the record of Typhoon Vamei just 3 years before. It was the second named North Indian cyclone in history.
Storm history
On November 19, an area of convection developed and persisted about 500 miles east-southeast of Colombo, Sri Lanka. Under an area of moderate vertical shear, it moved west-southwestward and slowly organizing. It nearly dissipated on the 24th, but redeveloped on the 26th under an area of favorable upper level winds and good diffluence aloft. On November 27, it became Tropical Depression 5A, and after moving to the west-southwest, became Tropical Storm Agni on the 28th only 50 miles from the equator. In its developmental stages, a fair portion of its circulation was across the equator.
Under unusually favorable conditions so close to the equator, Agni strengthened and turned to the northwest. The convection concentrated, and quickly became a cyclone on November 29. A pinhole eye briefly developed, but dry air and vertical wind shear weakened Agni back to a tropical storm. The effects were temporary, and Agni re-attained cyclone status on the 30th. On December 1, the shear and dry air returned, and Agni again weakened back to a tropical storm.
After moving to the northwest for much of its lifetime, the storm turned to the west towards northeastern Africa. The change in course was due to the building of the subtropical ridge to its north. Late on December 3, the storm weakened to a tropical depression, and made landfall on eastern Somalia on the 4th. It turned to the south, and dissipated after reaching the Arabian Sea on December 5.
Impact
Because the storm was weak and the convection disorganized when it hit Somalia, no damage or deaths were reported from the storm.
Unusual Formation
When Tropical Storm Agni reached a position of 50 miles north of the equator, it became the nearest a tropical cyclone has ever approached to the equator, less than half of Typhoon Vamei's previous record distance of 103 miles. However, because Agni formed more to the north and tracked southwestward, Vamei retains the record for the southernmost formation.
RSMC New Delhi also admitted that cyclogenesis over the north Indian Ocean at such low latitudes has not occurred in the past.
See also
References
North Indian cyclones | 2000-2004 North Indian cyclone seasons | 2004 meteorology
"Cyclone Agni"