2000 Sri Lanka cyclone

Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm BOB 06

Cyclone 04B at peak intensity near landfall
Meteorological history
Formed	December 23, 2000 (2000-12-23)
Remnant low	December 28
Dissipated	December 29, 2000 (2000-12-30)
Extremely severe cyclonic storm
3-minute sustained (IMD)
Highest winds	165 km/h (105 mph)
Lowest pressure	970 hPa (mbar); 28.64 inHg
Category 1-equivalent tropical cyclone
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC)
Highest winds	120 km/h (75 mph)
Overall effects
Fatalities	9 direct
Missing	8
Areas affected	Sri Lanka, India
IBTrACS
Part of the 2000 North Indian Ocean cyclone season

The 2000 Sri Lanka cyclone (IMD designation: BOB 06 JTWC designation: 04B) was the strongest tropical cyclone to strike Sri Lanka since 1978. The fourth tropical storm and the second severe cyclonic storm of the 2000 North Indian Ocean cyclone season, it developed from an area of disturbed weather on December 25, 2000. It moved westward, and quickly strengthened under favorable conditions to reach top wind speeds of 75 mph (121 km/h). The cyclone hit eastern Sri Lanka at peak strength, then weakened slightly while crossing the island before making landfall over southern India on December 28. The storm degenerated into a remnant low later that day, before merging with another trough on the next day.

The storm was the first cyclone over Sri Lanka with winds of at least hurricane strength since a cyclone of 1978 hit the island in the 1978 season, as well as the first tropical storm to hit the island since 1992. The storm was also the first December tropical cyclone of hurricane intensity in the Bay of Bengal since 1996. It produced heavy rainfall and strong winds, damaging or destroying tens of thousands of houses and leaving up to 500,000 homeless. At least nine people died as a result of the cyclone.^[1]