Under the influence of a persistent area of convection, a low-pressure area formed over the Malay Peninsula, adjoining north Sumatra, in early December 2016. The low pressure area gradually organized into a tropical disturbance over the next several days, as it slowly moved towards the southeast Bay of Bengal. On December 6, The IMD classified the system as Depression BOB 06, as the system had sufficiently organized itself, with winds of 45 km/h. Owing to low wind shear and favorable sea surface temperatures, the storm gradually intensified into a Deep Depression on the following day. Skirting off the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as a Deep Depression, BOB 06 was upgraded to a Cyclonic Storm by the IMD and JTWC, in the early hours of December 8, and was assigned the name Vardah. With conditions favorable for further development, Vardah intensified into a Severe Cyclonic Storm on December 9. Although predicted to maintain its intensity, Vardah strengthened further, as it followed a generally west-northwestwards track, prompting the IMD to upgrade its intensity to Very Severe Cyclonic Storm status, on December 10. Gradually intensifying as it moved westward, Vardah reached its peak intensity on December 11, with maximum 3-minute sustained winds of 130 km/h, and a minimum central pressure of. On December 12, Vardah weakened into a Severe Cyclonic Storm, before making landfall over the eastern coast of India, close to Chennai, Tamil Nadu, with winds of. Afterward, it rapidly weakened into a depression, due to land interaction, on 13 December. The depression caused overnight rainfall in Southern Karnataka on December 13. Due to land interaction, Vardah degenerated into a well-marked low on December 13, at around midday, local time. The remnants of Vardah crossed the Indian Subcontinent and entered the Arabian Sea on December 14. Owing to warm sea surface temperatures, the system regenerated into a depression on December 17, with the IMD assigning the storm a new identifier, ARB 02. On the next day, the system entered an area marked by colder sea surface temperatures and high wind shear, causing it to rapidly weaken into a well-marked low-pressure area, just off the coast of Somalia, before moving ashore and dissipating on December 19.
The precursor low of Cyclone Vardah caused severe flooding in Thailand, affecting half a million residents in the country's southern provinces. By the end of the week, more than of rainfall was observed in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province of the country. 21 people were reported to be killed due to the floods, and the damage were about US$25 million.
South India
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Vardah brought heavy rainfall to Andaman and Nicobar Islands as a Deep Depression. Hut Bay recorded of rainfall on December 6, while Port Blair recorded of rainfall on December 7. More than 1,400 tourists were stranded on the Havelock and Neil islands of the archipelago, during the storm. They were evacuated by the Indian Navy on December 9.
More than 16,000 people were evacuated from low-lying areas, as a result of Vardah. The Indian Armed Forces were kept on standby for any relief operations. Two warships, INS Shivalik and INS Kadmatt, sailed out of Visakhapatnam to Chennai, carrying medical teams, divers, inflatable rubber boats, an integral helicopter, and material, including food, tents, clothes, medicines, and blankets to aid with relief efforts. Fifteen teams of the National Disaster Response Force were deployed in various coastal regions. The cyclone killed 24 people in the state, and caused ₹22,573 crore in damage. Vardah crossed the eastern coast of India close to Chennai in the afternoon hours of December 12, 2016. Winds were estimated at during landfall. The cyclone claimed over 18 lives, uprooted about 1 lakh trees in Chennai and its suburbs, and caused extensive damage to roads, supplies, and power infrastructure: over 10,000 electric poles were mangled and 800 transformers damaged. Carcasses of around 77 cows were found afloat in a lake in the Kancheepuram District. As many as 224 roads were blocked, and 24 huts were also damaged. More than ten people were reported to have been killed, due to events related to the storm. Public transportation was severely affected by Vardah. Chennai International Airport was closed at least until 11:00 pm IST on December 12, in the wake of the storm, leaving about 500 passengers stranded. The Indian Railways suspended operations of all 17 outstation trains originating from Chennai, and suburban railway services were also cancelled. Chennai Metro services were also affected, after power was cut off, as a precaution by the EB. Several Compound walls of buildings, the glass windows of scrapers and certain buildings were damaged. If not, the walls became weak.
