2007-08 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season
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The 2007-08 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season is an event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. It began on November 15, 2007, and will end on April 30, 2008, with the exception for Mauritius and the Seychelles, for which it will run until May 15. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the basin, which is west of 90°E and south of the Equator. Tropical cyclones in this basin are monitored by the Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre in Réunion. StormsUnnamed Tropical Cyclone
An area of low pressure on the edge of the area of responsibility with Perth formed into tropical disturbance on July 27. Although no advisory was issued it was monitored and designated a number[1] by Meteo-France. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center had issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert [2] on the developing system a day earlier, and began warnings on Tropical Cyclone 01S later on July 29 with the storm estimated to be centred within Perth's region. The cyclone began to dissipate early on July 30, with the JTWC discontinuing advisories later that day [3] and the Bureau of Meteorology issuing its last warning the next day. The Bureau of Meteorology upgraded the disturbance to a tropical cyclone in its post-storm analysis, with maximum winds of 40 kt based on QuikSCAT observations.[4] Tropical Disturbance 01RThe first officially recognised tropical disturbance formed early on October 10. It traveled in a south-westerly direction, and early on October 12, it was designated as Tropical Disturbance 01R.[5] The upper-level environment near the cyclone was favourable, but the combination of a lack of equatorward low-level inflow and low sea-surface temperatures caused the cyclone to dissipate early on October 13.[6] Severe Tropical Storm Lee-Ariel
On November 13, the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre (TCWC) in Perth began issuing warnings on a developing tropical low which was located within the area of responsibilty of TCWC Jakarta, and was also on the edge off RSMC La Réunion's area of responsibility.[7] On November 14, TCWC Perth upgraded the Tropical Low to Tropical Cyclone Lee, while the cyclone was still in TCWC Jakarta's area of responsibility. [8] Later that day the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert on Tropical Cyclone Lee,[9] and then designated the storm as Tropical Cyclone 03S shortly after.[10] The TCWC in Perth upgraded Lee to a Category 2 cyclone on November 15. Later that day TCWC Perth issued its final advisory on Lee, as it moved into RSMC La Réunion's area of responsibility. [11] It was renamed by the Sub-Regional Tropical Cyclone Advisory Centre in Mauritius as Severe Tropical Storm Ariel. [12] Soon after entering the South-West Indian Ocean, Ariel encountered an unfavourable environment and began weakening, and RSMC La Réunion downgraded it to a moderate tropical storm on November 17,[13] and then to a tropical depression later that day. [14] Both RSMC La Reunion and the JTWC issued their final advisories late on November 18.[15][16] Severe Tropical Storm Bongwe
An area of disturbed weather developed east of Diego Garcia on November 15. The system slowly organised as it moved southeastward and began interacting with Severe Tropical Storm Ariel, and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert on November 17.[17] The JTWC upgraded the system to Tropical Cyclone 04S early the next day.[18] Also on November 18, RSMC La Reunion classified the system as Tropical Disturbance 03.[19] Later that day, RSMC La Reunion upgraded it to Tropical Depression 03.[20] It was upgraded to Moderate Tropical Storm Bongwe on November 19 and a Severe Tropical Storm later that day.[21][22] Increased wind shear early on November 20 slowed the intensification trend, and weakened it to a moderate tropical storm.[23] However, it restrengthened to a severe tropical storm on November 22.[24] The restrengthening trend was short-lived, however, as the storm weakened once again on November 23,[25] down to a depression and then a disturbance,[26][27] until it finally dissipated on November 24.[28] Moderate Tropical Storm Celina
An area of disturbed weather developed early on the December 12 north-northeast of Rodrigues.[29] Later that day it was designated as Tropical Disturbance 04R. [30]. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center then issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert on the developing system late on December 12.[31] The JTWC issued its first warning on December 13, designating the storm as Tropical Cyclone 06S.[32] Although the low level circulation center was exposed the system was upgraded to a tropical depression by Météo-France on December 14 due to a better low level circulation.[33] Early on December 17 Mauritius Meteorological Service upgraded the system to a moderate tropical storm and named it "Celina" as it approaches Mauritius Island.[34] Weakening took place on December 18, and the JTWC issued its final advisory early that day.[35] Meteo-France maintained the system as a tropical depression.[36][37] Météo-France issued its final advisory on December 21 as it begins to dissipate just east of southeastern Madagascar.[38] Moderate Tropical Storm Dama
An area of disturbed weather begin developing east of 90ºE near Cocos Island, eventually crossing into the southwestern Indian Ocean early on December 17. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert early December 18.[39] RSMC Réunion designated the system a tropical disturbance early in the afternoon as the convection begin to deepen and isolate itself from the disturbance to its northwest.[40] The Joint Typhoon Warning Center designated the tropical disturbance as Tropical Cyclone 07S.[41] The weak vertical wind shear allowed the system to deepen into a tropical depression in the early evening of December 18.[42] The system temporarily reached moderate tropical storm intensity on December 19 but persistent vertical wind shear caused it to rapidly weaken back into a tropical depression.[43] However, the next day, decreasing wind shear allowed convection to form closer to the center for 05R to reclassify as a moderate tropical storm status and earned the name "Dama."[44] The Joint Typhoon Warning Center and Météo-France issued its final advisory on December 21 as it transitioned to an extratropical system.[45][46] Moderate Tropical Storm Elnus
Early on December 30 an area of disturbed weather formed west of Madagascar and was designated as 06R.[47] Later that day it was upgraded to Tropical Disturbance 06R,[48] whilst the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert on the developing system.[49] On December 31, Meteo-France upgraded the disturbance to tropical depression status.[50] Soon after, the JTWC upgraded the system to Tropical Cyclone 09S.[51] Early on January 1, the depression was upgraded to Moderate Tropical Storm Elnus, while located in the Mozambique Channel.[52] On January 2, Meteo-France downgraded the system to Tropical Depression ex-Elnus,[53] and then to a tropical disturbance the next day.[54] The JTWC issued its last advisory on January 4 as it transisted to an extratropical system. Meteo-France noted the storm was becoming extratropical on January 4,[55] and on January 6 issued its final advisory on Extratropical Depression ex-Elnus as the system passed to the south of Madagascar.[56] Tropical Disturbance 07REarly on January 7 an area of disturbed weather north-northeast of Reunion was designated as Tropical Disturbance 07R by Météo-France. [57] The storm never got organised and by January 8, the storm had dissipated.[58] Tropical Cyclone Fame
An area of of disturbed weather formed north of Madagascar and was designated as Tropical Disturbance 08R on January 24. On the next day it was upgraded to Tropical Depression 08R by Météo-France, while the Joint Typhoon Warning Center issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert on the developing system. it was then upgraded to "Moderate Tropical Storm Fame" by the Sub-Regional Tropical Cyclone Advisory Centre in Madagascar. It remained nearly stationary and by January 26 it was upgraded to a severe tropical storm. The storm made landfall over northwestern Madagascar as a severe tropical storm on January 27. Later that day the system temporarily reached tropical cyclone stage just before landfall near Malagasy.[59] It dissipated early on January 28 over Madagascar. The system, however, regenerated on January 29 as it re-emerged over water and became a tropical depression once again.[60] However, Fame did not strengthen further, and after being declared extratropical,[61] Météo-France redeclared the system tropical and issued its last advisory.[62] Fame caused 13 deaths in Madagascar.[63] Tropical Cyclone Gula
An area of disturbed weather formed over the south-central Indian Ocean in the fourth week of January. It slowly developed and Meteo-France began monitoring it as a disturbed area of weather on January 26. It was upgraded to a tropical depression later that day and was named as moderate tropical storm Gula on January 27 by the Mauritius Meteorological Service. Intensification continued and it was upgraded to a severe tropical storm on January 28. The intensification trend became more rapid early on January 29 as a clear eye developed and the storm became a tropical cyclone.[64] After weakening and oscillating between severe and moderate status,[65][66][67][68]Météo-France declared it an extratropical depression,[69] and then issued its last advisory on February 2.[70] Very Intense Tropical Cyclone Hondo
On February 4, an area of disturbed weather approximately 560 nm southeast of Diego Garcia was declared Tropical Disturbance 10R.[71] Early on February 5, the storm was upgraded to Moderate Tropical Storm Hondo.[72] The storm began rapidly intensifying after that, skipping severe tropical storm status entirely and being declared Tropical Cyclone Hondo a few hours later.[73] On the evening of February 6, Hondo was upgraded to intense tropical cyclone status.[74] Intensification continued, and Hondo reached its peak at very intense status with 120 knot winds on February 7.[75]It then began a slow downturn in intensity for a while from February 8 to February 10.[76][77] Wind shear and low oceanic heat content eventually took its hold of the system, and it began rapidly weakening the system starting on February 11.[78][79] On February 12, Météo-France and the JTWC issued their final advisories on the system.[80][81] The remnants of Hondo headed north-west.[82] Convection redeveloped over the circulation, and Météo-France resumed advisories as a tropical disturbance early on February 21.[83]. Later in the day Météo-France upgraded the system to a tropical depression,[84] and issued a yellow alert for the islands of Mauritius and Réunion,[85] for the possibility of Hondo to reintensify into a severe tropical storm in the coming days.[86] However, this never occurred, and Hondo was downgraded to a disturbance on February 22,[87] and the last advisory was issued on February 24.[88] Intense Tropical Cyclone Ivan
Early on February 7, an area of disturbed weather northeast of Madagascar, heading southeast, was designated Tropical Depression 11R.[89] Like Cyclone Hondo before it, the storm intensified quickly into Moderate Tropical Storm Ivan,[90] then reached severe status a few hours later.[91] Severe status was held until February 11, when Ivan became a tropical cyclone for a short time.[92] Ivan was moving quite slowly, and this, coupled with medium shear, weakened it to moderate tropical storm status by February 12.[93][94] During this time, Ivan made two complete loops in the open sea.[95] However, by February 14, it had sped up and entered a more favourable environment, becoming a severe tropical storm.[96] On February 15, Ivan was reupgraded to a tropical cyclone as favourable conditions persisted. Ivan was further upgraded to an Intense Tropical Cyclone on February 16 as it moved closer to Madagascar. Ivan made landfall north of Fanoarivo, Madagascar on February 17.[97] Once overland, rapid weakening occurred due to the rugged terrain of the island.[98] Ivan was forecast to regenerate over the Mozambique Channel into a tropical depression once it left Madagascar.[99] Ivan traversed Madagascar, heading southwest. Its remnants emerged back over water on February 21, and Météo-France resumed advisories on "filling depression Ex-Ivan".[100] Ivan, severely disrupted by Madagascar, did not strengthen any further; the last advisory was issued on February 22.[101] A preliminary casualty estimate due to Ivan is 93. The cyclone left over 330,000 homeless.[102] Sainte Marie, the island where Ivan made landfall, is estimated to have 75% of its buildings completely destroyed.[103] Total damages from Ivan total more than $30 million (2008 USD). Intense Tropical Cyclone Jokwe
On March 4, the JTWC issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert on an area of disturbed weather developing northeast of Madagascar.[104] Soon after, Meteo-France upgraded the system to tropical disturbance status.[105] Early on March 5, the JTWC issued its first advisory on the developing system, designating it as Tropical Cyclone 22S.[106] Later that day, the disturbance was upgraded to Moderate Tropical Storm Jokwe.[107]. At noon on March 6, after a bout of rapid intensification, Jokwe was upgraded to a tropical cyclone, skipping severe storm status.[108] After being briefly downgraded to a severe tropical storm,[109] Jokwe was reupgraded to a tropical cyclone,[110] then an intense tropical cyclone on the evening of March 7.[111] Jokwe made landfall between Mozambique Island and Angoche Island early on March 8.[112] Over the next two days, Jokwe fell down to severe tropical storm following land interaction with Mozambique.[113][114] Later that day, Jokwe was reupgraded to a tropical cyclone,[115] and became an intense tropical cyclone again early on March 11.[116] Jokwe then came under the influence of moderate windshear, and weakened down to a severe tropical storm again by March 12.[117][118] Jokwe was re-upgraded to a Tropical Cyclone early March 13, but was soon downgraded again to a severe tropical storm later that day due to another increase in wind shear.[119][120] 44 houses were destroyed in Madagascar as Jokwe hit the northern tip of the island. At least 20 people have been killed and over 9,000 homes were destroyed as Jokwe passed through north-eastern Mozambique. At least 100,000 have been displaced by Jokwe.
Intense Tropical Cyclone Kamba
Early on March 7, Meteo-France classified an area of disturbed weather that had moved into the region from TCWC Perth's area of responsibility as Tropical Disturbance 13R.[121] Soon after, the JTWC issued a TCFA on the developing system.[122] Later that day, the system was upgraded to a tropical depression by Meteo-France, and the JTWC issued its first advisory on Tropical Cyclone 23S.[123][124] In the early hours of March 9, Tropical Depression 13R was upgraded to Moderate Tropical Storm Kamba.[125] Later it was upgraded to a severe tropical storm[126] then a tropical cyclone early March 10.[127] Later that day, Kamba was upgraded further to a Intense Tropical Cyclone. Kamba was downgraded to a Tropical Cyclone on March 11.[128] Early on March 12 it was downgraded to a Severe Tropical Storm.[129] Shortly after it was further downgraded to a Moderate Tropical Storm,[130] and then by the middle of the day it was declared a "filling-depression", and the final advisory issued.[131] The JTWC issued its final advisory early that day as well.[132] Timeline of recent eventsMarch
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