1974–75 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season

1974–75 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season

Season summary map
First system formed	23 December 1974
Last system dissipated	22 April 1975
Strongest storm	Gervaise – 951 hPa (mbar), 280 km/h (175 mph) (1-minute sustained)
Total depressions	10
Total storms	6
Tropical cyclones	5
Total fatalities	9 total
Total damage	Unknown
South-West Indian Ocean tropical cyclone seasons 1972–73, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1976–77
Related articles
1974–75 Australian region cyclone season 1974–75 South Pacific cyclone season

The 1974–75 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season was a below-average cyclone season. The season officially ran from November 1, 1974, to April 30, 1975.

Storms

Tropical Disturbance Adele

Tropical disturbance (MFR)
Duration	December 23 – December 24
Peak intensity	45 km/h (30 mph) (10-min)

Cyclone Blandine

Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration	January 6 – January 12
Peak intensity	185 km/h (115 mph) (1-min)  980 mbar (hPa)

Cyclone Camille

Severe tropical storm (MFR)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration	January 10 – January 21
Peak intensity	110 km/h (70 mph) (10-min)  995 mbar (hPa)

This system formed southeast of the Seychelles on January 7 before becoming disorganized while interacting with northern Madagascar. The system redeveloped as a hurricane-force cyclone in the northern Mozambique Channel on January 16 before moving southeast into Madagascar on January 19.^[1]

Cyclone Robyn-Deborah

Tropical cyclone (MFR)
Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration	January 14 – January 24
Peak intensity	130 km/h (80 mph) (10-min)  960 mbar (hPa)

Tropical Depression Elsa

Tropical depression (MFR)
Duration	January 25 – January 27
Peak intensity	55 km/h (35 mph) (10-min)

Tropical Disturbance Fernande

Tropical disturbance (MFR)
Duration	February 1 – February 1
Peak intensity	45 km/h (30 mph) (10-min)

This storm lasted for only 18 hours on February 1.

Cyclone Gervaise

Tropical cyclone (MFR)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration	February 1 – February 10
Peak intensity	120 km/h (75 mph) (10-min)  951 mbar (hPa)

Intense tropical cyclone Gervaise formed on 1 February 1975 in the south of Diego Garcia. On the following day, the cyclone started to intensify gradually producing waves of 15 m high. The cyclone was moving in a west-south-west direction towards Madagascar when suddenly on 4 February 1975, the cyclone curved to a south-south-west direction, showing a potential danger to the Island of Mauritius. On 5 February 1975, the intense tropical cyclone Gervaise approached Mauritius where its eye was centered on the island on the morning of the 6th February 1975. Calm weather prevailed on the island from 09.30hr till 13hr30 and later the weather started to deteriorate again with average wind speeds over 200kmh for approx 12 hours either side of the eye and maximum gusts of 280 km/h until 2 o'clock in the morning of the 7th of February. It caused substantial damage to properties, vegetation and wildlife. Moored yachts around the coast were washed hundreds of yards inland in places due to the storm surge and in the capital Port Louis, a cargo ship of ca. 10,000 tonnes was washed up on to the quay. 6 deaths - 34 injured, 3,706 homeless.

Cyclone Heloise

Tropical depression (MFR)
Tropical depression (SSHWS)
Duration	February 19 – February 26
Peak intensity	55 km/h (35 mph) (10-min)  985 mbar (hPa)

Cyclone Ines

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	March 9 – March 19
Peak intensity	100 km/h (65 mph) (1-min)  985 mbar (hPa)

Tropical Depression Junon

Tropical depression (MFR)
Duration	April 18 – April 22
Peak intensity	55 km/h (35 mph) (10-min)

See also

• Atlantic hurricane seasons: 1974, 1975
• Eastern Pacific hurricane seasons: 1974, 1975
• Western Pacific typhoon seasons: 1974, 1975
• North Indian Ocean cyclone seasons: 1974, 1975

References