2016–17 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season

2016–17 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season
Season summary map
First system formed July 15, 2016
Last system dissipated Season ongoing
Strongest storm1 Abela – 987 hPa (mbar), 95 km/h (60 mph) (10-minute sustained)
Total disturbances 2
Total depressions 2
Total storms 1
Total fatalities None
Total damage None
1Strongest storm is determined by lowest pressure
South-West Indian Ocean tropical cyclone seasons
2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19
Related articles

The 2016–17 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season is a current event of the annual cycle of tropical cyclone and subtropical cyclone formation. It began on November 15, 2016, and will end on April 30, 2017, with the exception for Mauritius and the Seychelles, for which it will end on May 15, 2017. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical and subtropical cyclones form in the basin, which is west of 90°E and south of the Equator. Tropical and subtropical cyclones in this basin are monitored by the Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre in Réunion.

Seasonal outlook

On November 4, the Mauritius Meteorological Services (MMS) released their summer 2016–17 outlook. It is expected that six to eight cyclones will form in the Southwest Indian Ocean throughout the season from November through the first half of May. This is in addition to the two cyclones, Abela and Bransby, that formed before the outlook period. MMS also indicated that the region south of Diego Garcia would be a center of focus for cyclone formation.[1]

Seasonal summary

Storms

Severe Tropical Storm Abela

Severe tropical storm (MFR)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration July 15 – July 20
Peak intensity 95 km/h (60 mph) (10-min)  987 hPa (mbar)

On July 15, a tropical depression formed to the southwest of Diego Garcia.[2] This marked only the fourth occurrence of a tropical cyclone existing in the southwest Indian Ocean during the month of July, with the others being Moderate Tropical Storm Odette in 1971, Tropical Depression M2 in 1997 and Tropical Cyclone 01U in July 2007.[3][4] The next day, the depression acquired moderate tropical storm status as gale-force winds extended more than halfway around the center.[2] The system tracked west-southwest, organizing slowly in the face of moderate vertical wind shear. On the evening of July 17, RSMC La Réunion initiated warnings on the storm after a scatterometer pass revealed 75 kph (45 mph) winds. At the same time, Mauritius Meteorological Services named the storm Abela.[5] The small system briefly attained severe tropical storm strength the next day as a low-level eye developed.[2][6] Abela began to weaken quickly in the subsequent hours as it moved into a region with cool sea surface temperatures and low oceanic potential.[7] Abela became a remnant low on July 20 as it neared the coast of Madagascar.[2]

Abela did not cause any significant effects in Madagascar.

Subtropical Depression Bransby

Subtropical depression (MFR)
Duration October 2 – October 6
Peak intensity 95 km/h (60 mph) (10-min)  988 hPa (mbar)

A subtropical depression developed south of Madagascar on October 2.[8] Early on October 5, RSMC La Réunion began to operationally warn on the system, stating that it had 65 kph (40 mph) winds and Direction Generale de la Meteorologie (DGM) of Madagascar named it Bransby.[9] The storm went unmonitored by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center until the next day. Bransby developed a defined banding eye as it intensified and accelerated to the southeast.[10] Six hours later, Bransby attained its peak intensity. RSMC La Réunion noted that Bransby had developed winds of 95 kph (60 mph), equivalent to that of the severe tropical storm rating given to tropical cyclones of the same intensity.[8] Throughout the evening of October 6, organization of Bransby deteriorated rapidly as northwesterly wind shear took its toll, and Bransby weakened rapidly.[11] On October 7, Bransby became a remnant low with an elongated circulation devoid of convection while moving over 16 °C waters.[12]

Bransby had no effects on land.

Storm names

Within the South-West Indian Ocean, tropical depressions and subtropical depressions that are judged to have 10-minute sustained windspeeds of 65 km/h, (40 mph) by the Regional Specialized Meteorological Center on La Réunion Island, France (RSMC La Réunion) are usually assigned a name. However, it is the Sub-Regional Tropical Cyclone Advisory Centers in Mauritius and Madagascar who name the systems. The Sub-Regional Tropical Cyclone Advisory Center in Mauritius names a storm should it intensify into a moderate tropical storm between 55°E and 90°E. If instead a cyclone intensifies into a moderate tropical storm between 30°E and 55°E then the Sub-Regional Tropical Cyclone Advisory Center in Madagascar assigns the appropriate name to the storm. New name lists are used every year, and a name is normally only used once, so there are currently no retired names, however should a name go unused during a season, the name could be re-used in future seasons.[13]

  • Abela
  • Bransby
  • Carlos (unused)
  • Dineo (unused)
  • Enawo (unused)
  • Fernando (unused)
  • Gabekile (unused)
  • Herold (unused)
  • Irondro (unused)
  • Jeruto (unused)
  • Kundai (unused)
  • Lisebo (unused)
  • Michel  (unused)
  • Nousra (unused)
  • Olivier (unused)
  • Pokera (unused)
  • Quincy (unused)
  • Rebaone (unused)
  • Salama (unused)
  • Tristan (unused)
  • Ursula (unused)
  • Violet (unused)
  • Wilson (unused)
  • Xila (unused)
  • Yekela (unused)
  • Zania (unused)

Seasonal effects

This table lists all of the tropical cyclones and subtropical cyclones that were monitored during the 2016–2017 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season. Information on their intensity, duration, name, areas affected, primarily comes from RSMC La Réunion. Death and damage reports come from either press reports or the relevant national disaster management agency while the damage totals are given in 2016 or 2017 USD.

Name Dates active Peak classification Sustained
wind speeds		 Pressure Land areas affected Damage
(USD)		 Deaths Refs
Abela July 15 – 20 Severe tropical storm 95 km/h (60 mph) 987 hPa (29.15 inHg) None None None
Bransby October 2 – 6 Subtropical depression 95 km/h (60 mph) 988 hPa (29.18 inHg) None None None
Season Aggregates
2 systems July 15 – Present 95 km/h (60 mph) 987 hPa (29.14 inHg) None None

See also

References

  1. ↑ Rajan Mungra (November 4, 2015). "Summer 2016–2017 Outlook for the Republic of Mauritius". Mauritius Meteorological Services. Archived from the original on November 13, 2015. Retrieved November 13, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "ABELA : 12/07/2016 AU 20/07/2016". Météo France. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  3. ↑ Soulan, Alain; Remois, Paul; Caroff, Philippe; Le Bris, Gerard (1997). 1996-1997 Tropical Cyclone Season (PDF). Meteo France. p. 69. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
  4. ↑ Joe Courtney (August 16, 2007). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Unnamed Tropical Cyclone" (PDF). Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved January 26, 2009.
  5. ↑ "TROPICAL CYCLONE FORECAST WARNING (SOUTH-WEST INDIAN OCEAN) WARNING NUMBER: 3/1/20162017 MODERATE TROPICAL STORM 1 (ABELA)" (PDF). Météo France. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  6. ↑ "TROPICAL CYCLONE FORECAST WARNING (SOUTH-WEST INDIAN OCEAN) WARNING NUMBER: 7/1/20162017 MODERATE TROPICAL STORM 1 (ABELA)" (PDF). Météo France. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  7. ↑ "TROPICAL CYCLONE FORECAST WARNING (SOUTH-WEST INDIAN OCEAN) WARNING NUMBER: 9/1/20162017 MODERATE TROPICAL STORM 1 (ABELA)" (PDF). Météo France. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  8. 1 2 "BRANSBY : 02/10/2016 AU 06/10/2016". Météo France. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
  9. ↑ "TROPICAL CYCLONE FORECAST WARNING (SOUTH-WEST INDIAN OCEAN) WARNING NUMBER: 1/2/20162017 SUBTROPICAL DEPRESSION 2 (BRANSBY)" (PDF). Météo France. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  10. ↑ "TROPICAL CYCLONE FORECAST WARNING (SOUTH-WEST INDIAN OCEAN) WARNING NUMBER: 5/2/20162017 SUBTROPICAL DEPRESSION 2 (BRANSBY)" (PDF). Météo France. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  11. ↑ "TROPICAL CYCLONE FORECAST WARNING (SOUTH-WEST INDIAN OCEAN) WARNING NUMBER: 8/2/20162017 SUBTROPICAL DEPRESSION 2 (BRANSBY)" (PDF). Météo France. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  12. ↑ "BULLETIN FOR CYCLONIC ACTIVITY AND SIGNIFICANT TROPICAL WEATHER IN THE SOUTHWEST INDIAN OCEAN 2016/10/07" (PDF). Météo France. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  13. ↑ Regional Association I Tropical Cyclone Committee (2016). "Tropical Cyclone Operational Plan for the South-West Indian Ocean" (PDF). World Meteorological Organization. Retrieved 2016-10-05.

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