The 1979–80 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season was an above-average cyclone season, and is most notable for featuring the wettest tropical cyclone ever recorded, Cyclone Hyacinthe. The season officially ran from November 1, 1979, to April 30, 1980.
On 26 August, the BoM reported that a tropical low had developed on a shear line about 1300 km (810 mi) to the northwest of Cocos Island.[1] Over the next couple of days the depression gradually developed further before at 1800 UTC on 27 August, TCWC Perth estimated that it had become a tropical cyclone and named it Tony.[1] During the next couple of days, the system moved towards the west-southwest before on 29 August it reached its peak intensity of 95 km/h (60 mph) and a peak pressure of 990 hPa (29.23 inHg) as it approached the edge of TCWC Perth's area of responsibility.[1] During the next day, Tony moved into the South West Indian Ocean and weakened gradually before it dissipated during 31 August.[1] Neither the Mauritius or Reunion meteorological services monitored Tony as a tropical cyclone while it was active, while it was not included in the JTWC's analysis of the season.[1][2][3]
Cyclone Viola entered the basin on December 18 from the Australian region, whereupon it became Cyclone Claudette.[4] After passing southeast of St. Brandon, Claudette struck Mauritius on December 22, producing wind gusts of 221 km/h (137 mph). The storm caused 5 fatalities, 257 injuries, and US$175 million in damage on the island. About 5,000 houses were destroyed or severely damaged. Effects on neighboring Réunion were limited to 79 km/h (49 mph) wind gusts and some rainfall.[5][6][7][8]
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).[9] 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.
Jacinthe existed from 1 February to 7 February. On February 3, the cyclone passed between Mauritius and Rodrigues, producing wind gusts of 117 km/h (73 mph) and 119 km/h (74 mph) on the respective islands.[10]
Kolia existed from 25 February to 13 March. The storm executed two loops near the Mascarene Islands, bringing the storm between Réunion and Mauritius twice. Wind gusts reached 80 km/h (50 mph) on Mauritius.[11]
Laure existed from 8 March to 17 March. On March 13, the cyclone passed just east of Mauritius, producing wind gusts of 109 km/h (68 mph) and 65.7 mm (2.59 in) of rainfall.[12]
^Donque, G. "La saison cyclonique 1979-1980 a Madagascar"(PDF). Madagascar Rev. De Geo (in French). 38 (Janv-Juin 1981). Direction de la Meteorologie Service de La Reunion: 115–120. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2011-07-22. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
^"Bee Swarms". The Canberra Times. Australian Associated Press. January 1, 1980.
^Tropical Cyclone Claudette, 10–28 December. National Climatic Data Center (Report). Global tropical/extratropical cyclone climatic atlas. 1996. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
^Tropical Cyclone Jacinthe, 1–7 February. National Climatic Data Center (Report). Global tropical/extratropical cyclone climatic atlas. 1996. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
^Tropical Cyclone Laure, 8–17 March. National Climatic Data Center (Report). Global tropical/extratropical cyclone climatic atlas. 1996. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
