Cyclone Tej's Powerful Arabian Sea Surge Leaves Yemen's Coast Shaken
Cyclone Tej developed over the Arabian Sea on 20 October 2023 and intensified into an Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) classification. The storm reached peak intensity on 22 October with three-minute sustained winds of 175 km/h and a central pressure of 964 hPa. Tej moved toward Yemen's eastern coastline, bringing destructive winds, heavy rainfall, flooding, and coastal disruption to Socotra, Al Mahrah, and Hadramawt. The cyclone made landfall overnight between 23 and 24 October 2023 along eastern Yemen before weakening and dissipating on 24 October.
Over the Arabian Sea: The Path That Forged Cyclone Tej
Cyclone Tej began as a developing disturbance over the southwestern Arabian Sea before becoming a tropical depression on 20 October 2023 near 10.7°N, 62.6°E. The system gradually organized as it moved westward, with improving circulation and increasing wind speeds. According to IMD monitoring data, Tej strengthened into a cyclonic storm on 21 October before entering a period of rapid intensification.
The storm's structure improved significantly during 21 October as it moved across the Arabian Sea's warm waters. Wind speeds increased from tropical storm intensity to a powerful cyclone within a short period, with Tej reaching Category 1 equivalent strength in the available storm intensity dataset late on 21 October. Its central pressure fell steadily as the circulation became more compact.
By 22 October, Tej had become an Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm under the IMD classification. At 06:00 UTC, the cyclone reached its peak intensity near 12.4°N, 55.4°E, with three-minute sustained winds of 175 km/h and a central pressure of 964 hPa. The storm maintained this strength for several hours while tracking northwestward toward the waters near Socotra and Yemen.
The cyclone's unusual track placed its strongest phase close to the Arabian Peninsula rather than far from populated areas. Forecast centers monitored the storm closely as it approached Socotra and Yemen's eastern coastline, where authorities prepared for strong winds, flooding, and coastal hazards.
Tej's development followed a short but intense lifecycle, with rapid strengthening between 21 and 22 October. Its movement demonstrated the challenges posed by severe cyclones in regions where major tropical storm impacts occur less frequently.
Near Socotra: How Tej Reached Its Fearsome Peak
Cyclone Tej's strongest phase occurred near Socotra Island on 22 October 2023. The cyclone maintained a well-organized circulation while passing through the Arabian Sea, producing powerful winds and heavy rainfall across the surrounding region.
Socotra, a UNESCO World Heritage site located in the Arabian Sea, experienced the effects of Tej's outer rain bands before the cyclone approached mainland Yemen. Heavy rainfall and strong winds affected transportation links, communications, and local infrastructure on the island. The storm created additional difficulties for communities because Socotra relies heavily on limited transport connections for emergency support.
As Tej continued northwestward, its wind field affected areas near the Yemen-Oman coastal region. Meteorological authorities issued warnings as the cyclone moved closer to the eastern Yemeni governorates of Al Mahrah and Hadramawt.
The cyclone began weakening after reaching its maximum intensity. By 23 October, Tej had declined to Category 1 equivalent strength as it approached the coast. The reduction in intensity was associated with interaction with land and changing environmental conditions, but the storm still carried strong winds and significant rainfall when it reached Yemen.
Yemen Landfall and Coastal Damage: Cyclone Tej's Human Impact
Cyclone Tej made landfall overnight between 23 and 24 October 2023 along eastern Yemen, affecting Al Mahrah Governorate and nearby areas of Hadramawt. The Yemen Meteorological Service issued warnings ahead of the storm's arrival as the cyclone approached the coast. Tej brought heavy rainfall, flooding, strong winds, and damage to homes and infrastructure.
The International Organization for Migration reported that 3,689 households, representing 22,134 people, were displaced in Al Mahrah and Hadramawt following the cyclone. Flooding and wind damage disrupted daily life, damaged property, and affected access to essential services in several communities.
The most affected locations included districts in Al Mahrah, where residents faced damaged housing, flooded roads, and interruptions to electricity and communications. Emergency teams worked to assess damage and provide assistance as communities recovered from the storm's impact.
Socotra also experienced major disruption after Tej passed through the region. Damage affected homes, roads, agricultural areas, and public facilities, while the island's geographic isolation complicated recovery operations.
Humanitarian assessments recorded impacts on more than 10,000 households across Al Mahrah, Hadramawt, and Socotra. Relief operations focused on emergency shelter, basic supplies, and support for affected families. The event exposed the region's limited capacity to withstand rare but severe cyclones.
Over the Peninsula: Tej's Final Hours Over Land
After striking eastern Yemen, Cyclone Tej weakened rapidly while moving across the Arabian Peninsula. The storm's circulation deteriorated as it lost access to ocean heat and encountered land conditions that disrupted its structure.
On 24 October 2023, Tej weakened into a tropical depression near 16.4°N, 51.3°E, with winds decreasing to about 46 km/h and central pressure rising to around 1004 hPa. The system dissipated later that day after completing a six-day lifecycle from formation to decay.
Cyclone Tej's 2023 record was defined by its rapid strengthening over the Arabian Sea, its approach toward Socotra and eastern Yemen, and the flooding and infrastructure damage that followed landfall. The storm's track, intensity, and impacts were documented through international tropical cyclone monitoring records and regional meteorological observations.