Eye of the Storm

Storm history › South Indian Ocean

1979 South Indian Ocean cyclone season

The 1979 South Indian Ocean season had 11 storms of tropical-storm strength or more, 5 of them cyclones and 1 major (Category 3 or stronger).

The first storm was tracked from November 19, 1978 and the last ended on May 12, 1979. The strongest by wind was Cyclone Hazel (1979), at 115 mph (185 km/h). The season's accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) was 49.7.

Storms
11
Cyclones
5
Major
1
Category 5
0
ACE
49.7
Every storm of the season, coloured by strength.

DepressionTropical stormCat 1Cat 2Cat 3Cat 4Cat 5

Storms

StormDatesPeakPressureStrongest
Unnamed tropical storm 1, 1979 South Indian OceanNov 19 – Nov 2345 mph—Tropical storm
Cyclone AngeleDec 13 – Jan 595 mph941 mbCategory 1 cyclone
Unnamed tropical storm 3, 1979 South Indian OceanDec 20 – Dec 2665 mph—Tropical storm
Cyclone BenjamineJan 3 – Jan 1495 mph941 mbCategory 1 cyclone
Cyclone CelineJan 31 – Feb 12105 mph927 mbCategory 2 cyclone
Tropical Depression DoraFeb 4 – Feb 1430 mph997 mbTropical depression
Tropical Storm EstelleFeb 10 – Feb 1840 mph991 mbTropical storm
Tropical Depression FatouFeb 14 – Feb 1830 mph997 mbTropical depression
Cyclone HazelMar 7 – Mar 14115 mph936 mbCategory 3 cyclone
Tropical Depression GelieMar 7 – Mar 1430 mph997 mbTropical depression
Tropical Storm IvanMar 16 – Mar 2170 mph988 mbTropical storm
Tropical Depression HeliosMar 23 – Mar 3130 mph997 mbTropical depression
Cyclone IdylleApr 4 – Apr 20110 mph927 mbCategory 2 cyclone
Tropical Storm JaneApr 7 – Apr 1340 mph988 mbTropical storm
Tropical Storm KevinMay 2 – May 1260 mph986 mbTropical storm