south west indian_ocean cyclone season south west indian_ocean cyclone season fairly quiet latest start years tropical disturbance originated january named storm upgraded february record late start storm dissipate unusually late tropical depression late july storms suffered effects wind shear contributed tropical cyclone equivalent minimal hurricane season occurred powerful tropical depression season moved january causing landslides flooding landslide affected houses swept river landslides killed people country february islands gusty winds strongest storm season reaching maximum sustained winds mph named storm season tropical depression preceded crossed madagascar times depression eventually tropical storm lasted days caused flooding madagascar heavy rainfall killed person left locally heavy crop damage disturbances february including dissipated days originated disturbance brought heavy rainfall mauritius rest season fairly quiet short lived tropical disturbances storms season summary year france office issued warnings tropical systems region year tracked tropical cyclones south equator coast africa issued warnings unofficial capacity season latest start years depression forming january storm named february retains record latest date named storm early portion season unusually quiet conditions basin higher normal pressure convergence zone associated monsoon active february allowing tropical cyclogenesis occur frequently tropical storms season attained tropical cyclone status averages respectively storms attained intense tropical cyclone status season low activity contrasted previous season active days storm active lowest ongoing evident season storms tropical depression system season originated circulation persisted northern january convection developed center near classification moving southwestward system organized tropical depression january developing curved band convection intensification halted system moved ashore near depression turned south land remaining inland days january classified system tropical cyclone estimating winds mph despite storm inland agency quickly downgraded storm tropical depression status briefly upgraded january system crossed extreme western agency downgraded storm moved ashore contrast assessed system remained tropical depression placed circulation farther inland january depression turned southeast open waters influenced trough south despite warmer waters system unable intensify presence wind shear upgraded system tropical storm status final time depression approached tropical storm intensify developing increased convection center weakened january day system dissipated southern coast madagascar formative stages depression dropped beneficial rainfall reaching prince said international airport depression land warm air open waters sustained heavy convection circulation dropped heavy rainfall eastern rains caused landslides flooding country disrupted transport provinces damaging bridges significant landslide occurred nighttime swept houses river people left homeless village confirmed fatalities people missing presumed killed later placed total number casualties rainfall extended villages flooded crops damaged system accelerating southeast away produced gale force winds moderate tropical storm northerly flow produced low pressure area february central channel influenced monsoon trough system developed distinct circulation february near tropical disturbance bringing gusts mph island convection organized circulation moving eastward conditions favorable strengthening system landfall western madagascar february progressing slightly inland disturbance looped turned south circulation difficult locate surface observations helped track circulation southward country late february system reached open waters south madagascar quickly redeveloped convection southeast center displaced wind shear reclassified subtropical depression briefly classified tropical cyclone february winds mph building ridge south turned system northeastward february later northwest bringing southwestern madagascar february circulation subsequently thunderstorms rebuilt poorly defined center trough ridge allowed system turn southwest later southeast increase convection february organized curved band upgraded system tropical storm day west coast madagascar classified system february possibly extended duration issuing advisories strong wind shear stripped convection center approached southwestern madagascar february building ridge turned weakened depression northwest finally dissipating february near mouth remnants later moved accompanied locally heavy rainfall madagascar brought heavy rainfall country persistent precipitation damaged crops areas forced thousands evacuate houses covered village killing person roads bridges washed away tropical cyclone february spawned area convection southwest system slowly organized aided warm waters weakening wind shear february developed tropical disturbance tropical storm days later february initiated advisories storm tropical cyclone storm initially moved westward ridge north motion shifted southwest february trough influence system tropical storm developed eye feature february indicating attained tropical cyclone status winds mph time passed west february cyclone passed east mauritius shortly attained peak winds presenting eye reached peak winds mph according estimated peak winds mph approaching trough weakened cyclone steered southeastward causing eye disappear february extratropical remnants continued southeastward passing near day intensifying february southern indian_ocean passing near produced peak winds mph gusts mph later storm produced gusty winds mph mauritius rainfall port louis extratropical remnants brought gale force winds moderate tropical storm large area low pressure spawned small tropical disturbance march moving southeastward system slowly developed wind shear region slowly decreased despite tropical depression named march day classified tropical cyclone increased convection organized central dense overcast intensified minimal tropical storm reaching peak winds mph according contrast estimated peak winds mph wind shear returned causing weakening circulation convection march extratropical absorbed cold days later severe tropical storm march low pressure area persisted west australian basin drifted westward entering south west indian_ocean march tropical disturbance remained weak little convection center outflow gradually increased satellite imagery limited region image day late march satellite imagery indicated defined tropical storm curved convection immediately upgraded severe tropical storm estimating peak winds mph contrast estimated winds mph having classified tropical cyclone day time storm moving steadily southwest trough region related remnants increased wind shear caused steady weakening removing circulation convection february day weakened tropical depression status curved southward building ridge south turned system east gradually northwest eventually dissipated march tropical depression weakening turning south system forming near convection associated monsoon trough persisted march tropical disturbance days later ridge steered system southwest conditions expected allow intensification result named disturbance march day intensified tropical depression reaching peak winds mph march initiated advisories time passed southeast peaking convection decreased wind shear causing winds march circulation exposed thunderstorms approached east mauritius producing wind gusts mph day dissipated approaching cold moderate tropical storm extended period inactivity produced areas convection located south southwest located east southeast system classified tropical disturbances april subsequently interacted eastern system classified tropical cyclone quickly dissipated strong wind shear absorbed western system disturbance continued organize developed central dense overcast center tropical storm april ridge trough steered storm southeast later east april attained peak winds mph according estimated mph winds storms year increased wind shear caused storm weaken weaker system isolated upper level steering causing circulation loop southwestward april dissipated far east storms addition named systems tropical depressions disturbances tracked agencies january tropical depression cyclone crossed australian region dissipated day february tropical low formed north western_australia remnants earlier formed east coast australia low moved generally westward strong ridge south given victor storm intensified peak mph weakening steadily increased wind shear february storm weakened tropical depression status victor crossed south west indian_ocean february defined circulation little convection despite downgraded tropical disturbance system named february system continued gradually weakening turning southwest dissipating february marked day period system active cyclone extratropical area convection developed northeast february circulation moved southwestward organizing february later day upgraded tropical depression status convection organized central dense overcast day classified tropical cyclone increased wind shear weakened depression trough turned southeast february trough absorbed system disturbance dissipated large low pressure area persisted east madagascar associated february tropical disturbance passed west continued southeast passing south mauritius wind shear stripped convection center caused dissipate day period system dropped nearly rainfall portions including nearly february station precipitation fell hours gusts reached mph locations storm caused flooding landslides island power outages rainfall reached millimetres mauritius residents generally caught guard storm lack warnings tropical disturbance developed march tropical storm final named storm subsequent tropical disturbances formed end april dissipated general region named tropical cyclone moved westward duration failed intensify wind shear april system dissipated having developed tropical disturbance status disturbance year formed july east system moved generally southwestward dissipating july wind shear time tropical cyclone year basin lasted august july following year considers start tropical cyclone year begin july result considered system tropical disturbance classified tropical cyclone storm names tropical disturbance named reaches moderate tropical storm strength tropical disturbance reaches moderate tropical storm status west sub regional madagascar assigns appropriate storm tropical disturbance reaches moderate tropical storm status sub regional mauritius assigns appropriate storm new annual list year names retired
1997–98 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season