1978–79 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season
| 1978–79 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season | |
|---|---|
 Season summary map | |
| Seasonal boundaries | |
| First system formed | November 19, 1978 |
| Last system dissipated | May 9, 1979 |
| Strongest storm | |
| Name | Celine and Idylle |
| • Maximum winds |
165 km/h (105 mph) (10-minute sustained) |
| • Lowest pressure | 927 hPa (mbar) |
| Seasonal statistics | |
| Total depressions | 10 |
| Total storms | 6 |
| Tropical cyclones | 4 |
| Intense tropical cyclones | 2 |
| Total fatalities | Unknown |
| Total damage | Unknown |
| Related articles | |
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.
Systems
Tropical Cyclone Angele
| Tropical cyclone (MFR) | |
| Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | December 13 – December 29 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 150 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) | |
  | |
| Duration | December 24 (Entered basin) – December 26 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 100 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) | |
  | |
| Duration | January 3 – January 14 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 150 km/h (95 mph) (10-min) 941 hPa (mbar) |
Benjamine existed from January 3 to January 14.
Intense Tropical Cyclone Celine
| Intense tropical cyclone (MFR) | |
| Category 4 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | January 31 – February 12 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 165 km/h (105 mph) (10-min) 927 hPa (mbar) |
Celine existed from January 31 to February 12.
Tropical Depression Dora
| Tropical depression (MFR) | |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | February 4 – February 12 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 50 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) | |
  | |
| Duration | February 10 – February 18 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 65 km/h (40 mph) (10-min) 991 hPa (mbar) |
Estelle existed from February 10 to February 18.
Tropical Depression Fatou
| Tropical depression (MFR) | |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | February 14 – February 16 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 50 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) | |
  | |
| Duration | March 8 – March 14 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 50 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) | |
  | |
| Duration | March 26 – March 28 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 50 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) | |
  | |
| Duration | April 4 – April 13 (Exited basin) |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 170 km/h (105 mph) (10-min) 927 hPa (mbar) |
Idylle developed on April 4 and left the basin on April 13.
See also
References
- ↑ Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (2013). "Historical event review". Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Retrieved 23 April 2013.