1978–79 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season

1978–79 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season

Season summary map
First system formed	November 19
Last system dissipated	May 9
Strongest storm1	Celine and Idylle – 927 hPa (mbar), 165 km/h (105 mph) (1-minute sustained)
Total depressions	15
Total storms	10
Tropical cyclones	5
Total fatalities	Unknown
Total damage	Unknown
1Strongest storm is determined by lowest pressure
South-West Indian Ocean tropical cyclone seasons 1976–77, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1980–81
Related articles
1978–79 Australian region cyclone season 1978–79 South Pacific cyclone season

The 1978–79 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season was an average cyclone season. The season officially ran from November 1, 1978, to April 30, 1979.

Storms

Tropical Cyclone Angele

Tropical cyclone (MFR)
Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration	December 13 – December 29
Peak intensity	150 km/h (95 mph) (10-min)  941 hPa (mbar)

Angele form on December 13, while stationed in the middle of the Mozambique Channel. It traveled north and gradually organized into a tropical storm while performing a tight counter-clockwise loop. On December 18 Angele intensified into a tropical cyclone before making landfall on Mozambique. Angele weakened to a tropical storm while over land, but re-intensified back to a tropical cyclone as it re-emerged into the Mozambique channel. The cyclone moved south and quite abruptly, on December 23, moved to the northeast. On December 24 Angele reached a peak intensity as a category three cyclone. The system weakened slightly before making landfall on Madagascar two days later. The weak storm moved over the open Indian Ocean and translated into an extra-tropical storm.

Angele is responsible for four deaths and 2,500 people homeless in Mozambique. In Madagascar 70 people were killed by the storm's passage.

Cyclone 03S

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	December 24 (Entered basin) – December 26
Peak intensity	100 km/h (65 mph) (1-min)

03S entered the basin on December 24 and lasted until December 26.

Tropical Cyclone Benjamine

Tropical cyclone (MFR)
Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration	January 3 – January 14
Peak intensity	150 km/h (95 mph) (10-min)  941 hPa (mbar)

Benjamine existed from January 3 to January 14.

Intense Tropical Cyclone Celine

Intense tropical cyclone (MFR)
Category 4 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration	January 31 – February 12
Peak intensity	165 km/h (105 mph) (10-min)  927 hPa (mbar)

Celine existed from January 31 to February 12.

Tropical Depression Dora

Tropical depression (MFR)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	February 4 – February 12
Peak intensity	50 km/h (30 mph) (10-min)  997 hPa (mbar)

Dora existed from February 4 to February 12.

Moderate Tropical Storm Estelle

Moderate tropical storm (MFR)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	February 10 – February 18
Peak intensity	65 km/h (40 mph) (10-min)  991 hPa (mbar)

Estelle existed from February 10 to February 18.

Tropical Depression Fatou

Tropical depression (MFR)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	February 14 – February 16
Peak intensity	50 km/h (30 mph) (10-min)  997 hPa (mbar)

Fatou existed from February 14 to February 16.

Tropical Depression Gelie

Tropical depression (MFR)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	March 8 – March 14
Peak intensity	50 km/h (30 mph) (10-min)  997 hPa (mbar)

Gelie existed from March 8 to March 14.

Tropical Depression Helios

Tropical depression (MFR)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	March 26 – March 28
Peak intensity	50 km/h (30 mph) (10-min)  997 hPa (mbar)

Helios existed from March 26 to March 28.

Intense Tropical Cyclone Idylle

Intense tropical cyclone (MFR)
Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration	April 4 – April 13 (Exited basin)
Peak intensity	170 km/h (105 mph) (10-min)  927 hPa (mbar)

Idylle developed on April 4 and left the basin on April 13.

See also

• Atlantic hurricane seasons: 1978, 1979
• Eastern Pacific hurricane seasons: 1978, 1979
• Western Pacific typhoon seasons: 1978, 1979
• North Indian Ocean cyclone seasons: 1978, 1979