1970–71 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season

1970–71 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season
Season summary map
Seasonal boundaries
First system formed16 September 1970
Last system dissipated21 March 1971
Strongest storm
NameMaggie-Muriel
 • Maximum winds195 km/h (120 mph)
(10-minute sustained)
 • Lowest pressure951 hPa (mbar)
Seasonal statistics
Total disturbances16
Total depressions15
Total storms15
Tropical cyclones10
Intense tropical cyclones4
Very intense tropical cyclones0
Total fatalities32
Total damageUnknown
Related articles
South-West Indian Ocean tropical cyclone seasons
1968–69, 1969–70, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73

The 1970–71 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season was an above-average cyclone season. The season officially ran from November 1, 1970, to April 30, 1971.

Systems

Tropical cyclone scales#Comparisons across basins

Tropical Disturbance Andree

Tropical disturbance (MFR)
Tropical depression (SSHWS)
 
DurationSeptember 16 – September 19
Peak intensity45 km/h (30 mph) (10-min);

Moderate Tropical Storm Betsy

Moderate tropical storm (MFR)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
DurationOctober 1 – October 8
Peak intensity65 km/h (40 mph) (10-min);

Moderate Tropical Storm Andrea–Claudine

Moderate tropical storm (MFR)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
DurationNovember 10 (Crossed 80°E) – November 13
Peak intensity65 km/h (40 mph) (10-min);
970 hPa (mbar)
  • Andrea-Claudine, 10 November to 13 November 1970 in central Indian Ocean

Intense Tropical Cyclone Hilary–Dominique

Intense tropical cyclone (MFR)
Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
 
DurationDecember 12 – December 28
Peak intensity165 km/h (105 mph) (10-min);
  • Hilary, 11 to 18 December 1970 in central Indian Ocean

Moderate Tropical Storm Edith

Moderate tropical storm (MFR)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
DurationJanuary 5 – January 10
Peak intensity65 km/h (40 mph) (10-min);

Tropical Cyclone Felicie

Tropical cyclone (MFR)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
 
DurationJanuary 17 – February 6
Peak intensity120 km/h (75 mph) (10-min);

Cyclone Felicie was a slow moving cyclone that made a large number of landfalls in Madagascar, 4, in addition to a single landfall in Mozambique, which reportedly killed 30 people. The storm followed a very erratic track due to unusual steering patterns, and went through many cycles of strengthening and weakening as it slowly trudged to the south. Felicie reached Tropical Cyclone status three separate times, before finally becoming extratropical southwest of Madagascar.[1]

Tropical Cyclone Myrtle–Ginette

Tropical cyclone (MFR)
Category 2 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
 
DurationJanuary 15 – January 31
Peak intensity150 km/h (90 mph) (10-min);

On January 19, Severe Tropical Cyclone Myrtle entered the South-West Indian Ocean; therefore, it was assigned a second name, Ginette. The next day, Ginette reached hurricane status and developed a clear eye as it traveled generally west-southwestward. On January 22, Ginette curved southwestward and came within 72 kilometers (45 miles) of the island of Rodrigues. On Rodrigues, winds as high as 150 km/h (93 mph) were recorded along with a minimum barometric pressure of 989 mbar (29.2 inHg). Throughout the next two days, Ginette approached the island of Reunion, causing stormy weather that lasted until January 29. In Reunion, swells associated with Ginette reached 6 meters (20 feet) at times. On January 25, Ginette became stationary while located south of Reunion. The next day, Ginette encountered a ridge which caused it to execute a small clockwise loop. After completing the loop, Ginette accelerated southeastward and gradually weakened. By January 31, Ginette had transitioned into an extratropical cyclone.[2]

Tropical Cyclone Helga

Tropical cyclone (MFR)
Category 2 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
 
DurationFebruary 2 – February 15
Peak intensity150 km/h (90 mph) (10-min);

On February 8, Helga passed southeast of Réunion and Mauritius, bringing heavy rainfall to the former island, reaching 926 mm (36.5 in) at Commerson. Two people died on the island due to drowning.[3]

Tropical Cyclone Tilly-Iphigenie

Tropical cyclone (MFR)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
 
DurationFebruary 14 (entered basin) – February 17
Peak intensity120 km/h (75 mph) (10-min);
970 hPa (mbar)

Tropical Cyclone Joelle

Tropical cyclone (MFR)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
 
DurationFebruary 15 – February 25
Peak intensity120 km/h (75 mph) (10-min);

Tropical Cyclone Kalinka

Tropical cyclone (MFR)
Category 2 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
 
DurationFebruary 16 – February 26
Peak intensity140 km/h (85 mph) (10-min);

Tropical Cyclone Yvonne–Lise

Tropical cyclone (MFR)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
 
DurationFebruary 21 – March 3
Peak intensity130 km/h (80 mph) (10-min);

Intense Tropical Cyclone Maggie–Muriel

Intense tropical cyclone (MFR)
Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
 
DurationMarch 7 – March 18
Peak intensity165 km/h (105 mph) (10-min);
951 hPa (mbar)
  • Maggie/Muriel, 7 to 20 March 1971 in central Indian Ocean

Tropical Cyclone Nelly

Tropical cyclone (MFR)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
 
DurationMarch 12 – March 22
Peak intensity120 km/h (75 mph) (10-min);

See also

  • Atlantic hurricane seasons: 1970, 1971
  • Eastern Pacific hurricane seasons: 1970, 1971
  • Western Pacific typhoon seasons: 1970, 1971
  • North Indian Ocean cyclone seasons: 1970, 1971

References

  1. ^ Tropical Storm Felice, 17 January- 5 February. National Climatic Data Center (Report). Global tropical/extratropical cyclone climatic atlas. 1996. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
  2. ^ Hurricane Ginette, 17–31 January. National Climatic Data Center (Report). Global tropical/extratropical cyclone climatic atlas. 1996. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
  3. ^ Hurricane Helga, 3–12 February. National Climatic Data Center (Report). Global tropical/extratropical cyclone climatic atlas. 1996. Retrieved February 11, 2019.