2003-04 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season
Encyclopedia
The 2003-04 South-West Indian Ocean
cyclone season was an annual event of tropical cyclone
formation. It started on November 15, 2003 and ended on April 30, 2004. For Mauritius
and the Seychelles
, the season continued 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
.
.
, but caused little if any damage. Throughout Madagascar at least 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain fell, with northern areas receiving totals in excess of 300 mm (11.8 in). Parts of Mozambique also recorded heavy rainfall in relation to Cela, with between 75 and 150 mm (3 and 5.9 in) falling in northern regions of the country.
.
. It strengthened to become a strong tropical storm before striking northwestern Madagascar on January 28. Elita weakened to tropical depression status while crossing the island, and after turning to the west it restrengthened to a tropical storm before moving ashore on January 31. The cyclone intensified again after reaching waters, and Elita turned to the southeast to make its final landfall on February 3 near peak intensity. By February 5 it underwent extratropical transition
, and the remnants of Elita drifted erratically before weakening further on February 12.
Elita dropped heavy rainfall of over 200 mm (8 inches), which damaged or destroyed thousands of houses in Madagascar. Over 50,000 people were left homeless, primarily in Mahajanga
and Toliara
provinces. Flooding from the storm damaged or destroyed more than 450 km² (170 sq mi) of agricultural land, including the staple food
s of much of the population. Across the island, the cyclone caused at least 33 deaths, with its impact further compounded by Cyclone Gafilo
about two months later. Elsewhere, the cyclone brought rainfall and damage to Mozambique
and Malawi
, while its outer circulation produced rough seas and strong winds in Seychelles
, Mauritius
, and Réunion
.
Frank slowed and turned toward the south-southeast. A second intensification period began, culminating in a second peak of 115 kts (1-min avg) at 04/0600 UTC as it completed a hairpin turn, now moving slowly to the southwest. A gradual weakening set in, which would continue as the system tracked towards cooler SSTs and heavy shearing conditions. At 0600 UTC on 6 February Frank was barely at hurricane/cyclone strength. Frank began to accelerate toward the east-southeast as winds fell to tropical storm intensity. Deep convection surrounding the LLCC had all but dissipated and the remnant extratropical system joined up with a weak baroclinic boundary by 1200 UTC on 7 February.
After landfall, Gafilo continued its track to southwest, crossing the island and emerging at the Mozambique Channel as a tropical storm. Over water it briefly re-intensified back to hurricane strength, then turned southeast and made a second landfall at southwest Madagascar as a strong tropical storm. Gafilo dissipated on March 11 over southern Madagascar, with remnant low emerging over the ocean, but conditions were unfavourable for regeneration.
.
, then the Sub-regional Tropical Cyclone Advisory Centre in Madagascar
assigns the appropriate name to the storm. If a tropical disturbance reaches moderate tropical storm status between 55°E
and 90°E
, then the Sub-regional Tropical Cyclone Advisory Centre in Mauritius
assigns the appropriate name to the storm. A new annual list is used every year so no names are retired.
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
cyclone season was an annual event of tropical cyclone
Tropical cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor...
formation. It started on November 15, 2003 and ended on April 30, 2004. For Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
and the Seychelles
Seychelles
Seychelles , officially the Republic of Seychelles , is an island country spanning an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, some east of mainland Africa, northeast of the island of Madagascar....
, the season continued 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
90th meridian east
The meridian 90° east of Greenwich is a line of longitude that extends from the North Pole across the Arctic Ocean, Asia, the Indian Ocean, the Southern Ocean, and Antarctica to the South Pole.The Ninety East Ridge is named after the meridian....
and south of the Equator
Equator
An equator is the intersection of a sphere's surface with the plane perpendicular to the sphere's axis of rotation and containing the sphere's center of mass....
. Tropical cyclones in this basin are monitored by the Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre in Réunion
Réunion
Réunion is a French island with a population of about 800,000 located in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar, about south west of Mauritius, the nearest island.Administratively, Réunion is one of the overseas departments of France...
.
Moderate Tropical Storm Abaimba
This early out-of-season storm formed on September 29 and dissipated on October 4. It formed at a very low latitude but threatened no land. The name was contributed by TanzaniaTanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
.
Intense Tropical Cyclone Beni
It first formed on November 9 and intensified to an intense cyclone, winds reaching 100 kts. It weakened below tropical disturbance status on November 15. It intensified again on November 18 and reached a secondary peak of 70 kts, before dissipating on November 22.Tropical Cyclone Cela
Formed on December 5 and became extratropical on December 21. It crossed MadagascarMadagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
, but caused little if any damage. Throughout Madagascar at least 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain fell, with northern areas receiving totals in excess of 300 mm (11.8 in). Parts of Mozambique also recorded heavy rainfall in relation to Cela, with between 75 and 150 mm (3 and 5.9 in) falling in northern regions of the country.
Severe Tropical Storm Darius
Formed on December 29, 2003, and moved poleward while remaining east of La Reunion. The system was absorbed by a larger extratropical system on January 4, 2004. It passed close to MauritiusMauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
.
Tropical Cyclone Elita
Elita developed on January 24 in the Mozambique ChannelMozambique Channel
The Mozambique Channel is a portion of the Indian Ocean located between the island nation of Madagascar and southeast Africa, primarily the country of Mozambique. It was a World War II clashpoint during the Battle of Madagascar...
. It strengthened to become a strong tropical storm before striking northwestern Madagascar on January 28. Elita weakened to tropical depression status while crossing the island, and after turning to the west it restrengthened to a tropical storm before moving ashore on January 31. The cyclone intensified again after reaching waters, and Elita turned to the southeast to make its final landfall on February 3 near peak intensity. By February 5 it underwent extratropical transition
Extratropical cyclone
Extratropical cyclones, sometimes called mid-latitude cyclones or wave cyclones, are a group of cyclones defined as synoptic scale low pressure weather systems that occur in the middle latitudes of the Earth having neither tropical nor polar characteristics, and are connected with fronts and...
, and the remnants of Elita drifted erratically before weakening further on February 12.
Elita dropped heavy rainfall of over 200 mm (8 inches), which damaged or destroyed thousands of houses in Madagascar. Over 50,000 people were left homeless, primarily in Mahajanga
Mahajanga Province
Mahajanga is a former province of Madagascar with an area of 150,023 km². It had a population of 1,896,000 . Its capital was Mahajanga.Except for Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga Province bordered all of the country's other provinces:...
and Toliara
Toliara Province
Toliara is a former province of Madagascar with an area of 161,405 km². It had a population of 2,229,550 . Its capital was Toliara...
provinces. Flooding from the storm damaged or destroyed more than 450 km² (170 sq mi) of agricultural land, including the staple food
Staple food
A staple food is one that is eaten regularly and in such quantities that it constitutes a dominant portion of a diet, and that supplies a high proportion of energy and nutrient needs. Most people live on a diet based on one or more staples...
s of much of the population. Across the island, the cyclone caused at least 33 deaths, with its impact further compounded by Cyclone Gafilo
Cyclone Gafilo
Cyclone Gafilo was a powerful tropical cyclone which struck Madagascar in March 2004, causing devastating damage. It is the most intense cyclone ever to form in the south-western Indian Ocean.-Meteorological history:...
about two months later. Elsewhere, the cyclone brought rainfall and damage to Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
and Malawi
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
, while its outer circulation produced rough seas and strong winds in Seychelles
Seychelles
Seychelles , officially the Republic of Seychelles , is an island country spanning an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, some east of mainland Africa, northeast of the island of Madagascar....
, Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
, and Réunion
Réunion
Réunion is a French island with a population of about 800,000 located in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar, about south west of Mauritius, the nearest island.Administratively, Réunion is one of the overseas departments of France...
.
Intense Tropical Cyclone Frank
On 25 January three areas of convection were being monitored in the south Indian Ocean. This system formed from the farthest eastward disturbance, about 700 nm off the northeast coast of Madagascar. At 1200 UTC on the 27th, bulletins were started on Tropical Disturbance 07 with the 10-min avg MSW estimated at 25 kts, while located approximately 520 nm west-southwest of Diego Garcia and drifting slowly to the south-southeastward. At 0600 UTC on 28 January it strengthened to a tropical storm. Steered by a low to mid-level ridge to the south and east, Tropical Storm Frank began to trot towards the south at 8 kts. It attained hurricane strength by 1800 UTC as Frank began the first leg of a cyclonic loop that it would transcribe over the following two to three days. Further strengthening occurred with Frank becoming a 90-kt storm, but there was no further intensification during the 29th as the system slowly moved southwestward, curving onto a west-northwesterly track by the end of the day. The next day, strengthening had resumed and winds increased to a 115 kts, an intensity that was maintained through 31 January and the 1st day of February. Enhanced infrared satellite imagery at 31/1800 UTC showed a distinct 15-nm irregular eye.Frank slowed and turned toward the south-southeast. A second intensification period began, culminating in a second peak of 115 kts (1-min avg) at 04/0600 UTC as it completed a hairpin turn, now moving slowly to the southwest. A gradual weakening set in, which would continue as the system tracked towards cooler SSTs and heavy shearing conditions. At 0600 UTC on 6 February Frank was barely at hurricane/cyclone strength. Frank began to accelerate toward the east-southeast as winds fell to tropical storm intensity. Deep convection surrounding the LLCC had all but dissipated and the remnant extratropical system joined up with a weak baroclinic boundary by 1200 UTC on 7 February.
Very Intense Tropical Cyclone Gafilo
Cyclone Gafilo began as a tropical disturbance on the February 29, 2004 in the central Indian Ocean, south of Diego Garcia. First advisories for Tropical Disturbance 09 were issued on March 2 by the Tropical Cyclone Warning Center on La Réunion and Joint Typhoon Warning Center. At this point, it was moving to west-northwest at fairly rapid pace. Development became quicker, and next day it was named Tropical Storm Gafilo. Its forward motion also slowed, and it began to turn southwards. On March 4, Gafilo was upgraded to tropical cyclone. Next day, March 5, Gafilo began a cycle of rapid deepening with winds increasing to 145 mph (230 km/h) making it a Category 4 cyclone. It was now moving west-southwest heading straight for Madagascar. The next day, March 6, 2004 saw it reach its estimated peak intensity of 895 mbar (hPa) and sustained windspeed of 160 mph (260 km/h). After midnight, Gafilo struck the northeast coast of Madagascar near to the town of Antalaha as a Category 5 cyclone, the highest possible rating.After landfall, Gafilo continued its track to southwest, crossing the island and emerging at the Mozambique Channel as a tropical storm. Over water it briefly re-intensified back to hurricane strength, then turned southeast and made a second landfall at southwest Madagascar as a strong tropical storm. Gafilo dissipated on March 11 over southern Madagascar, with remnant low emerging over the ocean, but conditions were unfavourable for regeneration.
Severe Tropical Storm Nicky-Helma
Originally called Nicky by Perth's TCWC, it entered the region on March 10. It dissipated on March 13.Tropical Disturbance 11R
A continuation of Tropical Cyclone Evan from the Australian region. Persisted until March 28.Intense Tropical Cyclone Oscar-Itseng
Originally called Oscar by Perth's TCWC, it entered the region on March 27, but dissipated by the next day.Severe Tropical Storm Juba
Formed on May 5 and dissipated on May 15. Name was contributed by SwazilandSwaziland
Swaziland, officially the Kingdom of Swaziland , and sometimes called Ngwane or Swatini, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa, bordered to the north, south and west by South Africa, and to the east by Mozambique...
.
Storm names
A tropical disturbance is named when it reaches moderate tropical storm strength. If a tropical disturbance reaches moderate tropical storm status west of 55°E55th meridian east
The meridian 55° east of Greenwich is a line of longitude that extends from the North Pole across the Arctic Ocean, Europe, Asia, the Indian Ocean, the Southern Ocean, and Antarctica to the South Pole....
, then the Sub-regional Tropical Cyclone Advisory Centre in Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
assigns the appropriate name to the storm. If a tropical disturbance reaches moderate tropical storm status between 55°E
55th meridian east
The meridian 55° east of Greenwich is a line of longitude that extends from the North Pole across the Arctic Ocean, Europe, Asia, the Indian Ocean, the Southern Ocean, and Antarctica to the South Pole....
and 90°E
90th meridian east
The meridian 90° east of Greenwich is a line of longitude that extends from the North Pole across the Arctic Ocean, Asia, the Indian Ocean, the Southern Ocean, and Antarctica to the South Pole.The Ninety East Ridge is named after the meridian....
, then the Sub-regional Tropical Cyclone Advisory Centre in Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
assigns the appropriate name to the storm. A new annual list is used every year so no names are retired.
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See also
- Tropical cyclone scalesTropical cyclone scalesTropical systems are officially ranked on one of several tropical cyclone scales according to their maximum sustained winds and in what oceanic basin they are located...
- List of Southern Hemisphere tropical cyclone seasons
- Atlantic hurricane seasons: 20032003 Atlantic hurricane seasonThe 2003 Atlantic hurricane season was an active Atlantic hurricane season with tropical activity before and after the official bounds of the season – the first such occurrence in 50 years. The season produced 21 tropical cyclones, of which 16 developed into named storms; seven...
, 20042004 Atlantic hurricane seasonThe 2004 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, 2004, and lasted until November 30, 2004. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin... - Pacific hurricane seasons: 20032003 Pacific hurricane seasonThe 2003 Pacific hurricane season produced an unusually large number of tropical cyclones which affected Mexico. The most notable cyclones the year were Hurricanes Ignacio and Marty, which killed 2 and 12 people in Mexico, respectively, and were collectively responsible for about...
, 20042004 Pacific hurricane seasonThe 2004 Pacific hurricane season officially started on May 15, 2004 in the eastern Pacific, and on June 1, 2004 in the central Pacific, and lasted until November 30, 2004... - Pacific typhoon seasons: 20032003 Pacific typhoon seasonThe 2003 Pacific typhoon season has no official bounds; it ran year-round in 2003, but most tropical cyclones tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between May and November...
, 20042004 Pacific typhoon seasonThe 2004 Pacific typhoon season has no official bounds; it ran year-round in 2004, but most tropical cyclones tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between May and November... - North Indian Ocean cyclone seasons: 20032003 North Indian Ocean cyclone seasonThe 2003 North Indian Ocean cyclone season had no bounds, but cyclones tend to form between April and December, with peaks in May and November. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northern Indian Ocean.-Season summary:Three tropical...
, 20042004 North Indian Ocean cyclone seasonThe 2004 North Indian Ocean cyclone season had no bounds, but cyclones tend to form between April and December, with peaks in May and November. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northern Indian Ocean.-Season summary:In 2004, RSMC New...