1978–79 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season
| 1978–79 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season | |
|---|---|
Season summary map
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| 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 | |
| Tropical cyclone (MFR) | |
| Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
  |
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| Duration | December 13 – December 29 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 150 km/h (95 mph) (10-min) 941 hPa (mbar) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
  |
|
| Duration | December 24 (Entered basin) – December 26 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 100 km/h (65 mph) (1-min) |
| 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) |
| 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) |
| Tropical depression (MFR) | |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
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|
| Duration | February 4 – February 12 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 50 km/h (30 mph) (10-min) 997 hPa (mbar) |
| Moderate tropical storm (MFR) | |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
  |
|
| Duration | February 10 – February 18 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 65 km/h (40 mph) (10-min) 991 hPa (mbar) |
| Tropical depression (MFR) | |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
  |
|
| Duration | February 14 – February 16 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 50 km/h (30 mph) (10-min) 997 hPa (mbar) |
| Tropical depression (MFR) | |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
  |
|
| Duration | March 8 – March 14 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 50 km/h (30 mph) (10-min) 997 hPa (mbar) |
| Tropical depression (MFR) | |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
  |
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| Duration | March 26 – March 28 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 50 km/h (30 mph) (10-min) 997 hPa (mbar) |
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.
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.
03S entered the basin on December 24 and lasted until December 26.
Benjamine existed from January 3 to January 14.
Celine existed from January 31 to February 12.
Dora existed from February 4 to February 12.
Estelle existed from February 10 to February 18.
Fatou existed from February 14 to February 16.
Gelie existed from March 8 to March 14.
Helios existed from March 26 to March 28.
Idylle developed on April 4 and left the basin on April 13.
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Wikipedia