What was the first storm to develop in the 1999–2000 South-West Indian Ocean tropical cyclone season?
1999–2000 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season
The 1999–2000 South-West Indian Ocean tropical cyclone season was the first on record in which two storms – Leon–Eline and Hudah – struck Mozambique at tropical cyclone intensity, or with maximum sustained winds of at least 120km/h (75mph).[1] The most notable storm of the season was Eline, which was the longest-lasting storm on record in the basin. It lasted for 29days while traversing the southern Indian Ocean, making the strongest landfall in decades along eastern Madagascar in late February. The storm was the first in a series of three storms that struck the country in early 2000, along with Gloria in March and Hudah in April. Collectively, the three storms killed at least 316people. The season started on November1, 1999, and ended for most of the basin on April30, 2000; for Mauritius and the Seychelles, the season continued until May15. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the basin;[2]
2002–03 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season
Around the same time that Tropical Storm Gerry was developing, another area of convection to its east was organizing. On February 7, the system became a tropical disturbance, and initially moved to the north. Operationally, MFR first began issuing advisories on February 9 for Tropical Disturbance 11, when the system had a small center and accompanying convection. By that time, the disturbance had turned to the south, and favorable conditions allowed for gradual development. MFR upgraded the system to tropical storm status late on February 9, although the system was not named Hape until 36 hours later. On February 10, the JTWC initiated advisories on Tropical Cyclone 17S. An eye developed on February 11, suggesting quick intensification. At 1800 UTC that day, the JTWC and MFR upgraded Hape to the equivalent of a minimal hurricane and to tropical cyclone status, respectively. By that time, the cyclone had turned to the east-northeast due to a weakness in a ridge to the north. MFR estimated that Hape reached peak 10-minute winds of 150 km/h (90 mph) on February 12, and the next day the JTWC estimated 1-minute winds of 165 km/h (105 mph). Later, the storm weakened, and it turned to the southeast when the ridge re-intensified. Outflow decreased due to interaction with Cyclone Gerry to the west, and Hape weakened to tropical storm status on February 13. On February 15, the JTWC discontinued advisories once the circulation was exposed from the deep convection. The next day, MFR followed suit after the circulation dissipated.