The 1972–73 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season was an above-average cyclone season. The season officially ran from November 1, 1972, to April 30, 1973.
Systems
Severe Tropical Storm Ariane
Severe tropical storm (MFR)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration
November 26 – December 5
Peak intensity
110 km/h (70 mph) (10-min);
Ariana passed north of Mauritius and later executed a loop southeast of the island. The storm brought heavy rainfall and wind gusts of 92 km/h (57 mph).[1]
Charlotte passed just southwest of Réunion on January 8, producing 102 km/h (63 mph) wind gusts, as well as heavy rainfall reaching 813 mm (32.0 in) at Riviere de L'Est. The rains damaged crops and flooded roads, which killed one person due to drowning.[2]
Moderate Tropical Storm Dorothee
Moderate tropical storm (MFR)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration
January 10 – January 16
Peak intensity
65 km/h (40 mph) (10-min);
Dorothee produced a series of thunderstorms on Réunion while the storm passed to the southwest.[3]
Tropical Disturbance Emmanuelle
Tropical disturbance (MFR)
Tropical depression (SSHWS)
Duration
January 17 – January 20
Peak intensity
45 km/h (30 mph) (10-min);
Tropical Depression Faustine
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration
January 17 – January 22
Peak intensity
65 km/h (40 mph) (1-min);
Intense Tropical Cyclone Leila–Gertrude
Intense tropical cyclone (MFR)
Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration
January 24 (Crossed 80°E) – February 3
Peak intensity
175 km/h (110 mph) (10-min);
Cyclone Gertrude brushed eastern Rodrigues on January 31, producing 169 km/h (105 mph), as well as 296.4 mm (11.67 in) of rainfall.[4]
Severe Tropical Storm Hortense
Severe tropical storm (MFR)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration
January 24 – February 2
Peak intensity
100 km/h (65 mph) (10-min);
On February 2, Hortense passed south of Réunion, bringing rainfall to the island.[5]
Tropical Cyclone Jessy
Tropical cyclone (MFR)
Category 2 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration
February 14 – February 26
Peak intensity
155 km/h (100 mph) (10-min);
On February 21, Jessy struck Rodrigues, bringing heavy rainfall and 221 km/h (137 mph) wind gusts, causing power outages.[6][7]
Severe Tropical Storm Isis
Severe tropical storm (MFR)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration
February 15 – February 19
Peak intensity
100 km/h (65 mph) (10-min);
Severe Tropical Storm Kitty
Severe tropical storm (MFR)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration
February 27 – March 5
Peak intensity
110 km/h (70 mph) (10-min);
On March 1, Kitty struck Rodrigues, causing power outages.[8][7]
On March 10, Lydie passed west of Réunion, producing wind gusts of 162 km/h (101 mph) in the mountainous peaks. For four days, the storm dropped heavy rainfall on the island, reaching 655 mm (25.8 in). Flooding killed 10 people on the island, and caused crop damage.[9][10]
^Hurricane Ariane, 26 November-2 December. National Climatic Data Center (Report). Global tropical/extratropical cyclone climatic atlas. 1996. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
^Hurricane Charlotte, 2-12 January. National Climatic Data Center (Report). Global tropical/extratropical cyclone climatic atlas. 1996. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
^Tropical Storm Dorothee, 11-15 January. National Climatic Data Center (Report). Global tropical/extratropical cyclone climatic atlas. 1996. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
^Hurricane Gertrude, 22 January-3 February. National Climatic Data Center (Report). Global tropical/extratropical cyclone climatic atlas. 1996. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
^Hurricane Hortense, 24-5 February. National Climatic Data Center (Report). Global tropical/extratropical cyclone climatic atlas. 1996. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
^Hurricane Jessy, 14-27 March. National Climatic Data Center (Report). Global tropical/extratropical cyclone climatic atlas. 1996. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
^Hurricane Kitty, 25 February-5 March. National Climatic Data Center (Report). Global tropical/extratropical cyclone climatic atlas. 1996. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
^Hurricane Lydie, 4-15 March. National Climatic Data Center (Report). Global tropical/extratropical cyclone climatic atlas. 1996. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
