Cyclone Fantala

Very Intense Tropical Cyclone Fantala

Very intense tropical cyclone (SWIO scale)
Category 5 (Saffir–Simpson scale)
Fantala north of Madagascar on 18 April, shortly after peak intensity
Formed	11 April 2016
Dissipated	27 April 2016
(Remnant low after 23 April)
Highest winds	10-minute sustained: 250 km/h (155 mph) 1-minute sustained: 280 km/h (175 mph) Gusts: 350 km/h (220 mph)
Lowest pressure	910 hPa (mbar); 26.87 inHg
Fatalities	13 total
Damage	$4.5 million (2016 USD) ()
Areas affected	Agaléga, Seychelles, Madagascar, Tanzania
Part of the 2015–16 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season

Very Intense Tropical Cyclone Fantala was the most intense tropical cyclone of the south-west Indian Ocean in terms of sustained winds. Part of the 2015–16 cyclone season, Fantala formed on 11 April to the south of Diego Garcia, an island in the central Indian Ocean. With a ridge to the south, the storm moved westward for several days while gaining strength, aided by warm waters and decreasing wind shear. Late on 17 April, the Météo-France office on Réunion (MFR) estimated peak 10-minute winds of 250 km/h (155 mph), making Fantala the strongest tropical cyclone of the basin in terms of 10-minute sustained winds. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) estimated peak 1-minute winds of 280 km/h (175 mph), equivalent to Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale and tied only with Agnielle from November 1995 as the strongest on record in the south-west Indian Ocean.

While near peak intensity, Fantala passed near the Farquhar Group of the Seychelles, damaging most of the buildings in the small archipelago. By 18 April, Fantala had weakened to an intense tropical cyclone and slowed its forward motion, eventually reversing its direction of movement. After fluctuating in strength, the disorganized system reversed direction again, making its closest approach to Madagascar. Fantala degenerated into a remnant low on 24 April, and the remnants continued toward Tanzania. There, heavy rainfall resulted in flooding that washed away roads and houses, killing 13 people. Rains extended further into Kenya, with similar effects.