Cyclone Zamir

Very Severe Cyclone Storm Zamir was a rare Caspian Sea tropical cyclone that formed in August of 2024. It reached Category 1 strength west of Uzbekistan. The system formed from a low-pressure area over Uzbekistan, which transitioned into a subtropical depression. 6 hours later, it became a tropical storm, and Azerbaijan's Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources began monitoring it.

Meteorological History
A low-pressure area formed over Uzbekistan on August 22, 2024. The area moved westward, and early on August 23, 2024, it organized into a subtropical depression. 6 hours later, it transitioned into a tropical storm and was named Zamir by Azerbaijan's Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, where it began monitoring it. 12 hours passed, and it strengthened into the peak intensity as a very severe cyclonic storm with 3-min winds of 120 km/h (75 mph), 1-min winds of 150 km/h (90 mph), and a pressure of 973 hPa (mbar; 28.73 inHg). The cyclone continued northwestward to when it made landfall near Baku, Azerbaijan with winds of 70 mph (3-min), 85 mph (1-min), and a pressure of 979 hPa (mbar; 28.91 inHg). The cyclone continued north then turned northeastward, where it weakened down to tropical storm status and made a cyclonic loop. The storm made a final landfall at tropical storm status on August 26, before turning extratropical. The extratropical remnants then weakened down to depression status and soon dissipated afterward.

Naming
When the system strengthened to tropical storm status on August 23, the MENR named the storm after noticing visible characteristics, choosing the name Zamir. Unlike Catarina of 2004 in the South Atlantic, the MENR immediately noticed tropical characteristics from satellites. Temperatures were at 26°C (79°F), and there was low wind shear.

Rare formation
A tropical cyclone never formed in the Caspian Sea before Zamir, and Zamir is the first tropical/subtropical cyclone to form in this sea. Zamir is also the only known tropical cyclone-strength storm in this basin, reaching winds of 150 km/h (90 mph; 1-min).

Impact
Although the storm was slow-moving, Azerbaijani citizens weren't prepared. Due to this, 98 lives were taken away, and it cost $775 million in 2024 USD.