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2011-12 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season

2011–12 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season
2011-2012 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season summary.png
Season summary map
Seasonal boundaries
First system formed December 4, 2011
Last system dissipated June 8, 2012
Strongest storm
Name Funso
 • Maximum winds 205 km/h (125 mph)
(10-minute sustained)
 • Lowest pressure 925 hPa (mbar)
Seasonal statistics
Total disturbances 14
Total depressions 14
Total storms 10
Tropical cyclones 3
Intense tropical cyclones 2
Total fatalities 164 total
Total damage Unknown
Related articles
South-West Indian Ocean tropical cyclone seasons
2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013-14
Moderate tropical storm (MFR)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Alenga Dec 6 2011 0430Z.jpg Alenga 2011 track.png
Duration December 4 (entered basin) – December 7 (out of basin)
Peak intensity 85 km/h (50 mph) (10-min)  994 hPa (mbar)
Tropical depression (MFR)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
02S Dec 6 2011 0900Z.jpg 02R 2011 track.png
Duration December 6 – December 9
Peak intensity 55 km/h (35 mph) (10-min)  998 hPa (mbar)
Subtropical depression (MFR)
03S Dec 20 2011 1045Z.jpg 03R 2011 track.png
Duration December 19 – December 23
Peak intensity 55 km/h (35 mph) (10-min)  1000 hPa (mbar)
Tropical cyclone (MFR)
Category 2 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Benilde Dec 31 2011 0850Z.jpg Benilde 2011 track.png
Duration December 28 (entered basin) – January 4
Peak intensity 150 km/h (90 mph) (10-min)  968 hPa (mbar)
Moderate tropical storm (MFR)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Chanda Jan 8 2012 0655Z.jpg Chanda 2012 track.png
Duration January 5 – January 10
Peak intensity 75 km/h (45 mph) (10-min)  992 hPa (mbar)
Subtropical depression (MFR)
Subtropical Depression Dando Jan 16 2012 07.50(UTC).jpg Dando 2012 track.png
Duration January 10 – January 16
Peak intensity 85 km/h (50 mph) (10-min)  992 hPa (mbar)
Severe tropical storm (MFR)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Ethel Jan 20 2012 0540Z.jpg Ethel 2012 track.png
Duration January 17 – January 22
Peak intensity 100 km/h (65 mph) (10-min)  972 hPa (mbar)
Intense tropical cyclone (MFR)
Category 4 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Funso 24 Jan 2012 1120Z.jpg Funso 2012 track.png
Duration January 17 – January 28
Peak intensity 205 km/h (125 mph) (10-min)  925 hPa (mbar)
Intense tropical cyclone (MFR)
Category 4 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Giovanna Feb 13 2012 0630Z.jpg Giovanna 2012 track.png
Duration February 7 – February 22
Peak intensity 195 km/h (120 mph) (10-min)  935 hPa (mbar)

The 2011–12 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season was an event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. It began on November 15, 2011, and ended on April 30, 2012, with the exception for Mauritius and the Seychelles, for which it ended on May 15, 2012. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the region; however, Severe Tropical Storm Kuena developed in early June after the season had officially ended. The basin is defined as the area west of 90°E and south of the Equator in the Indian Ocean, which includes the waters around Madagascar westward to the east coast of Africa. Tropical cyclones in this basin are monitored by the Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre in Réunion.

On December 5, a rapidly developing area of low pressure crossed 90°E and entered La Réunion's area of responsibility. Within hours of moving into the region, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) classified it as Tropical Cyclone 01S. By this time, a banding eye feature was apparent on satellite imagery. Favorable atmospheric conditions allowed convection to increase in intensity and coverage over its center and good outflow. Several hours later, La Réunion reported that the system had intensified into a Moderate Tropical Storm, with the Mauritus Meteorological service naming it Alenga. The name was contributed by Kenya. Continuing to rapidly intensify, Alenga strengthened into a severe tropical storm later that day. Although predicted to intensify into a tropical cyclone, Alenga weakened near midday December 6, and was downgraded to moderate tropical storm status before it moved out of the South-West Indian Ocean (SWIO) and into the Australian region, early on December 7.

On December 6, Météo-France declared a tropical disturbance a tropical depression. On December 7, the cyclone entered an area of strong vertical wind shear causing the low level circulation centre to become exposed. Soon afterwards, Tropical Depression 02 dissipated to a remnant low. However, early on December 8, the system regenerated into a weak tropical depression. Later on December 8, convection redeveloped, and wrapped around the low level center, even as the storm continued moving westward, as it slowly weakened. Late on December 9, Météo-France issued their last advisory on the storm as it weakened below tropical depression intensity.However, the remnants continued to persist for the next several days with an exposed low level circulation center. But on December 16, the remnants dissipated completely in open waters, due to the high wind shear.


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