1979–80 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season
| 1979–80 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season | |
|---|---|
Season summary map
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| Seasonal boundaries | |
| First system formed | August 30, 1979 |
| Last system dissipated | March 20, 1980 |
| Strongest storm | |
| Name | Viola-Claudette |
| • Maximum winds | 205 km/h (125 mph) (10-minute sustained) |
| • Lowest pressure | 930 hPa (mbar) |
| Seasonal statistics | |
| Total depressions | 11 |
| Total storms | 11 |
| Tropical cyclones | 4 |
| Intense tropical cyclones | 2 |
| Total fatalities | Unknown |
| Total damage | Unknown |
| Related articles | |
| Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
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| Duration | 30 August – 31 August |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 95 km/h (60 mph) (10-min) 990 hPa (mbar) |
| Intense tropical cyclone (MFR) | |
| Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
  |
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| Duration | 25 November – 6 December |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 195 km/h (120 mph) (10-min) |
| Intense tropical cyclone (MFR) | |
| Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
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| Duration | 10 December – 28 December |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 205 km/h (125 mph) (10-min) 930 hPa (mbar) |
| Severe tropical storm (MFR) | |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
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| Duration | 15 December – 21 December |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 95 km/h (60 mph) (10-min) |
| Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
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| Duration | 23 December – 3 January |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 130 km/h (80 mph) (10-min) 973 hPa (mbar) |
| Tropical cyclone (MFR) | |
| Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
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| Duration | 15 January – 31 January |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 135 km/h (85 mph) (10-min) 955 hPa (mbar) |
| Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
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| Duration | 1 February – 7 February |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 185 km/h (115 mph) (1-min) |
| Category 2 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
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| Duration | February 20 – February 28 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 175 km/h (110 mph) (1-min) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
 |
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| Duration | 25 February – 13 March |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 110 km/h (70 mph) (1-min) |
The 1979–80 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season was an above average cyclone season. The season officially ran from November 1, 1979, to April 30, 1980.
On 26 August, TCWC Perth reported that a tropical low had developed on a shear line about 1300 km (810 mi) to the northwest of Cocos Island. Over the next couple of days the depression gradually developed further before at 1800 UTC on 27 August, TCWC Perth estimated that it had become a tropical cyclone and named it Tony. During the next couple of days, the system moved towards the west-southwest before on 29 August it reached its peak intensity of 95 km/h (60 mph) and a peak pressure of 990 hPa (29.23 inHg) as it approached the edge of TCWC Perth's area of responsibility. During the next day, Tony moved into the South West Indian Ocean and weakened gradually before it dissipated during 31 August. Neither the Mauritius or Reunion meteorological services monitored Tony as a tropical cyclone while it was active, while it was not included in the JTWC's analysis of the season.
Albine existed from 25 November to 6 December.
Viola-Claudette existed from 10 December to 28 December.
Berenice existed from 15 December to 21 December.
Wilf-Danitza existed from 23 December, 1979, to 3 January, 1980.
Hyacinthe formed on January 15, 1980, to the northeast of Mauritius in the southern Indian Ocean. Initially it moved to the west-southwest, and while slowly intensifying it passed north of the French overseas department of Réunion. On January 19, Météo-France estimated that the storm had intensified to a tropical cyclone. Hyacinthe looped to the south of eastern Madagascar and weakened, although it restrengthened after turning to the east. The storm executed another loop to the southwest of Réunion, passing near the island for a second and later third time. Hyacinthe became extratropical on January 29 after turning southward, dissipating two days later.
Tropical Cyclone Hyacinthe set several worldwide tropical cyclone rainfall records in Réunion in the Southwestern Indian Ocean, including a peak total of 5678 mm (223.5 inches). For twelve days, Hyacinthe dropped torrential rainfall on Réunion; nearly all of the island received more than 1 m (3.3 ft) of precipitation. Over a 15‑day period from January 14 to January 28, 6,083 mm (239.5 in) of rainfall were recorded at Commerson's Crater, a volcano. The heaviest rainfall occurred through a process called orographic lift in the mountainous interior, leading to hundreds of landslides. Widespread floods washed out roads and isolated three villages. Hyacinthe caused heavy damage to crops and damaged or destroyed 2,000 houses. Losses from the storm totaled $167 million (1980 USD, 676 million francs), and 25 people were killed.
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