1978–79 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season

The 1978–79 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season was an average cyclone season. The season officially ran from November 1, 1978, to April 30, 1979.

1978–79 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season
Season summary map
Seasonal boundaries
First system formedNovember 19, 1978
Last system dissipatedMay 9, 1979
Strongest storm
NameCeline and Idylle
 • Maximum winds165 km/h (105 mph)
(10-minute sustained)
 • Lowest pressure927 hPa (mbar)
Seasonal statistics
Total depressions10
Total storms6
Tropical cyclones4
Intense tropical cyclones2
Total fatalities74
Total damageUnknown
Related articles

Systems

Tropical Cyclone Angele
Tropical cyclone (MFR)
Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
 
DurationDecember 13 – December 29
Peak intensity150 km/h (95 mph) (10-min)  941 hPa (mbar)

Angele form on December 13, while stationed in the middle of the Mozambique Channel. It traveled north and gradually organized into a tropical storm while performing a tight counter-clockwise loop. On December 18 Angele intensified into a tropical cyclone before making landfall on Mozambique. Angele weakened to a tropical storm while over land, but re-intensified back to a tropical cyclone as it re-emerged into the Mozambique channel. The cyclone moved south and quite abruptly, on December 23, moved to the northeast. On December 24 Angele reached a peak intensity as a category three cyclone. The system weakened slightly before making landfall on Madagascar two days later. The weak storm moved over the open Indian Ocean and translated into an extra-tropical storm.

Angele is responsible for four deaths and 2,500 people homeless in Mozambique. In Madagascar 70 people were killed by the storm's passage.[1]

Cyclone 03S
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
DurationDecember 24 (Entered basin) – December 26
Peak intensity100 km/h (65 mph) (1-min) 

03S entered the basin on December 24 and lasted until December 26.

Tropical Cyclone Benjamine
Tropical cyclone (MFR)
Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
 
DurationJanuary 3 – January 14
Peak intensity150 km/h (95 mph) (10-min)  941 hPa (mbar)

Benjamine existed from January 3 to January 14. On January 7, the cyclone passed between Réunion and Mauritius. On the former island, the storm dropped heavy rainfall, reaching 665 mm (26.2 in) at Gite de Bellecombe, along with 126 km/h (78 mph) wind gusts at St. Denis. The storm damaged or destroyed 194 houses, while also damaging crops and power lines.[2]

Intense Tropical Cyclone Celine
Intense tropical cyclone (MFR)
Category 4 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
 
DurationJanuary 31 – February 12
Peak intensity170 km/h (105 mph) (10-min)  927 hPa (mbar)

Celine existed from January 31 to February 12. Celine looped near Mauritius while intensifying, and later passed just north of Rodrigues. Wind gusts on the latter island reached 216 km/h (134 mph).[3] The storm killed about half of the population of the critically endangered Rodrigues flying fox.[4]

Tropical Depression Dora
Tropical depression (MFR)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
DurationFebruary 4 – February 12
Peak intensity50 km/h (30 mph) (10-min)  997 hPa (mbar)

Dora existed from February 4 to February 12.

Moderate Tropical Storm Estelle
Moderate tropical storm (MFR)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
DurationFebruary 10 – February 18
Peak intensity65 km/h (40 mph) (10-min)  991 hPa (mbar)

Estelle existed from February 10 to February 18. For several days, Estelle moved around the Mascarene Islands, with a peak rainfall total on Réunion of 544 mm (21.4 in) recorded at Petite Plaine.[5]

Tropical Depression Fatou
Tropical depression (MFR)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
DurationFebruary 14 – February 16
Peak intensity50 km/h (30 mph) (10-min)  997 hPa (mbar)

Fatou existed from February 14 to February 16.

Tropical Depression Gelie
Tropical depression (MFR)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
DurationMarch 8 – March 14
Peak intensity50 km/h (30 mph) (10-min)  997 hPa (mbar)

Gelie existed from March 8 to March 14.

Tropical Depression Helios
Tropical depression (MFR)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
DurationMarch 26 – March 28
Peak intensity50 km/h (30 mph) (10-min)  997 hPa (mbar)

Helios existed from March 26 to March 28.

Intense Tropical Cyclone Idylle
Intense tropical cyclone (MFR)
Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
 
DurationApril 4 – April 13 (Exited basin)
Peak intensity175 km/h (110 mph) (10-min)  927 hPa (mbar)

Idylle developed on April 4 and left the basin on April 13.

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See also
  • Atlantic hurricane seasons: 1978, 1979
  • Eastern Pacific hurricane seasons: 1978, 1979
  • Western Pacific typhoon seasons: 1978, 1979
  • North Indian Ocean cyclone seasons: 1978, 1979

References
  1. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (2013). "Historical event review". Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Archived from the original on 3 January 2013. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  2. Tropical Cyclone Benjamine, 3-14 January, 1979. National Climatic Data Center (Report). Global tropical/extratropical cyclone climatic atlas. 1996. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
  3. Hurricane Celine, 31 January-12 February. National Climatic Data Center (Report). Global tropical/extratropical cyclone climatic atlas. 1996. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
  4. J. Bryan Carroll; Georgina M. Mace (January 1988). "Population management of the Rodrigues fruit bat". Conservation Science and Zoos. 27: 70–78. doi:10.1111/j.1748-1090.1988.tb03198.x.
  5. Tropical Storm Estelle, 11-18 February. National Climatic Data Center (Report). Global tropical/extratropical cyclone climatic atlas. 1996. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
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