Cyclone Hary

Intense Tropical Cyclone Hary

Very intense tropical cyclone (SWIO scale)
Category 5 (Saffir–Simpson scale)
Cyclone Hary on March 8
Formed	March 5, 2002
Dissipated	March 17, 2002
(Extratropical after March 13)
Highest winds	10-minute sustained: 220 km/h (140 mph) 1-minute sustained: 260 km/h (160 mph)
Lowest pressure	905 hPa (mbar); 26.72 inHg
Fatalities	4 direct
Areas affected	Madagascar, Réunion, Mauritius
Part of the 2001–02 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season

Very Intense Tropical Cyclone Hary was the strongest tropical cyclone in the 2001–02 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season and the strongest storm worldwide in 2002. Developing on March 5 from the monsoon trough, the storm initially moved generally to the west and gradually intensified. With favorable conditions, Hary quickly intensified on March 7, developing an eye and well-defined outflow. After reaching an initial peak, the cyclone briefly weakened due to an eyewall replacement cycle, by which time the storm turned southwestward toward Madagascar. Hary re-intensified and attained peak winds of 220 km/h (140 mph) on March 10 just offshore eastern Madagascar, which made it the first very intense tropical cyclone since 2000.

After peaking, Hary weakened due to land interaction, and it struck Madagascar southeast of Antalaha. It was turning south over land, and as a result it quickly moved offshore. There were three deaths in the country, one of which from electrocution. There was locally heavy crop damage, and four bridges were destroyed. However, the damage was considered minimal, given the intensity of the storm. After affecting Madagascar, Hary accelerated to the southeast, and the eastern periphery of the circulation moved over Réunion. On the mountain peaks of the island, rainfall reached 1,344 mm (52.9 in), although it was much less near the coast. The rainfall caused flooding, killing one person, and 20,000 people were left without power. Hary became extratropical on March 13, although its remnants continued for several days as a powerful mid-latitude storm.

In early March 2002, tropical activity was minimal in the southern Indian Ocean, limited to an area of convection, or thunderstorms, located southwest of Diego Garcia along the monsoon. On March 4, a broad and elongated low pressure area developed within the system, although moderate wind shear in the region initially prevented significant development. The next day, the circulation became better defined, and after being nearly stationary for a few days, it began moving steadily to the west-southwest, due to a ridge to the southeast. On March 5, Météo-France (MFR) classified the system as a tropical disturbance, and later Tropical Depression 11. At 0000 UTC on March 6, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) initiated advisories on Tropical Cyclone 18S, and six hours later MFR upgraded the system to Moderate Tropical Storm Hary.