1979–80 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season

1979–80 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season
Related articles

Season summary map
First system formed	November 25
Last system dissipated	March 20
Strongest storm	Viola-Claudette – 930 hPa (mbar), 230 km/h (145 mph) (1-minute sustained)
Total fatalities	Unknown
Total damage	Unknown
South-West Indian Ocean tropical cyclone seasons 1977–78, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1981–82
1979–80 Australian region cyclone season 1979–80 South Pacific cyclone season

The 1979–80 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season was a below average cyclone season. The season officially ran from November 1, 1979, to April 30, 1980.

Storms

Intense Tropical Cyclone Albine

Intense tropical cyclone (MFR)

Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)

Duration

25 November – 6 December

Peak intensity

195 km/h (120 mph) (10-min)

Intense Tropical Cyclone Viola-Claudette

Intense tropical cyclone (MFR)

Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)

Duration

10 December – 28 December

Peak intensity

205 km/h (125 mph) (10-min) 930 mbar (hPa)

Severe Tropical Storm Berenice

Severe tropical storm (MFR)

Tropical storm (SSHWS)

Duration

15 December – 21 December

Peak intensity

95 km/h (60 mph) (10-min)

Severe Tropical Cyclone Wilf-Danitza

Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)

Tropical storm (SSHWS)

Duration

23 December – 3 January

Peak intensity

130 km/h (80 mph) (10-min) 973 mbar (hPa)

Tropical Cyclone Hyacinthe

Tropical cyclone (MFR)

Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)

Duration

January 15 – January 31

Peak intensity

135 km/h (85 mph) (10-min) 955 mbar (hPa)

Main article: Cyclone Hyacinthe

Tropical Cyclone Hyacinthe was the wettest tropical cyclone on record in the world. The eighth named storm of the season, Hyacinthe formed on January 15, 1980, to the northeast of Mauritius in the southern Indian Ocean. Initially it moved to the west-southwest, and while slowly intensifying it passed north of the French overseas department of Réunion. On January 19, Météo-France estimated that the storm had intensified to a tropical cyclone. Hyacinthe looped to the south of eastern Madagascar and weakened, although it restrengthened after turning to the east. The storm executed another loop to the southwest of Réunion, passing near the island for a second and later third time. Hyacinthe became extratropical on January 29 after turning southward, dissipating two days later.

Tropical Cyclone Hyacinthe set several worldwide tropical cyclone rainfall records in Réunion in the Southwestern Indian Ocean, including a peak total of 5678 mm (223.5 inches).^[1] For twelve days, Hyacinthe dropped torrential rainfall on Réunion; nearly all of the island received more than 1 m (3.3 ft) of precipitation. Over a 15 day period from January 14 to January 28, 6,083 mm (239.5 in) of rainfall were recorded at Commerson's Crater, a volcano. The heaviest rainfall occurred through a process called orographic lift in the mountainous interior, leading to hundreds of landslides. Widespread floods washed out roads and isolated three villages. Hyacinthe caused heavy damage to crops and damaged or destroyed 2,000 houses. Losses from the storm totaled $167 million (1980 USD, 676 million francs), and 25 people were killed.