Reflecting on the Anniversary of the Bhola Cyclone! (credit: This Day in Weather History)

DISCUSSION: Back on 12 November 1970, the deadliest tropical cyclone ever recorded, and one of the deadliest natural disasters in the modern era unfolded across East Pakistan (now known as Bangladesh). The Bhola Cyclone first formed over the Bay of Bengal on 8 November before travelling north with time. This cyclone reached peak intensity (the equivalent of a Category 3 hurricane) on 11 November, and made landfall on the coast of East Pakistan the following afternoon. The Bhola Cyclone killed an estimated 500,000 people and caused nearly $90 million in damage (1970 USD).  Hence, there is no debate whatsoever that this event was one for the record books!

To learn more about other past historic weather events from around the world, be sure to click here!

~Meteorologist Jordan Rabinowitz