2003–04 South West Indian Ocean cyclone season

Moderate Tropical Storm Abaimba

This early out-of-season storm formed on September 29 and dissipated on October 4. It formed at a very low latitude but threatened no land. The name was contributed by Tanzania.

Intense Tropical Cyclone Beni

It first formed on November 9 and intensified to an intense cyclone, winds reaching 100 kn. It weakened below tropical disturbance status on November 15. It intensified again on November 18 and reached a secondary peak of 70 kn, before dissipating on November 22.

Tropical Cyclone Cela

Formed on December 5 and became extratropical on December 21. It crossed Madagascar, but caused little if any damage. Throughout Madagascar at least 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain fell, with northern areas receiving totals in excess of 300 mm (12 in). Parts of Mozambique also recorded heavy rainfall in relation to Cela, with between 75 and 150 mm (3.0 and 5.9 in) falling in northern regions of the country.

Severe Tropical Storm Darius

Formed on December 29, 2003, and moved poleward while remaining east of La Reunion. The system was absorbed by a larger extratropical system on January 4, 2004. It passed close to Mauritius.

Tropical Disturbance 05R

Existed between January 22 and January 24.

Tropical Cyclone Elita

Elita developed on January 24 in the Mozambique Channel. It strengthened to become a strong tropical storm before striking northwestern Madagascar on January 28. Elita weakened to tropical depression status while crossing the island, and after turning to the west it restrengthened to a tropical storm before moving ashore on January 31. The cyclone intensified again after reaching waters, and Elita turned to the southeast to make its final landfall on February 3 near peak intensity. By February 5 it underwent extratropical transition, and the remnants of Elita drifted erratically before weakening further on February 12.

Elita dropped heavy rainfall of over 200 mm (8 inches), which damaged or destroyed thousands of houses in Madagascar. Over 50,000 people were left homeless, primarily in Mahajanga and Toliara provinces. Flooding from the storm damaged or destroyed more than 450 km² (170 sq mi) of agricultural land, including the staple foods of much of the population. Across the island, the cyclone caused at least 33 deaths, with its impact further compounded by Cyclone Gafilo about two months later. Elsewhere, the cyclone brought rainfall and damage to Mozambique and Malawi, while its outer circulation produced rough seas and strong winds in Seychelles, Mauritius, and Réunion.

Intense Tropical Cyclone Frank

On 25 January three areas of convection were being monitored in the south Indian Ocean. This system formed from the farthest eastward disturbance, about 700 nmi off the northeast coast of Madagascar. At 1200 UTC on the 27th, bulletins were started on Tropical Disturbance 07 with the 10-min avg MSW estimated at 25 kn, while located approximately 520 nmi west-southwest of Diego Garcia and drifting slowly to the south-southeastward. At 0600 UTC on 28 January it strengthened to a tropical storm. Steered by a low to mid-level ridge to the south and east, Tropical Storm Frank began to trot towards the south at 8 kn. It attained hurricane strength by 1800 UTC as Frank began the first leg of a cyclonic loop that it would transcribe over the following two to three days. Further strengthening occurred with Frank becoming a 90-kn storm, but there was no further intensification during the 29th as the system slowly moved southwestward, curving onto a west-northwesterly track by the end of the day. The next day, strengthening had resumed and winds increased to a 115 kn, an intensity that was maintained through 31 January and the 1st day of February. Enhanced infrared satellite imagery at 31/1800 UTC showed a distinct 15-nmi irregular eye.

Frank slowed and turned toward the south-southeast. A second intensification period began, culminating in a second peak of 115 kn (1-min avg) at 04/0600 UTC as it completed a hairpin turn, now moving slowly to the southwest. A gradual weakening set in, which would continue as the system tracked towards cooler SSTs and heavy shearing conditions. At 0600 UTC on 6 February Frank was barely at hurricane/cyclone strength. Frank began to accelerate toward the east-southeast as winds fell to tropical storm intensity. Deep convection surrounding the LLCC had all but dissipated and the remnant extratropical system joined up with a weak baroclinic boundary by 1200 UTC on 7 February.

Very Intense Tropical Cyclone Gafilo

A disturbance formed south of Diego Garcia on 29 February, and MFR upgraded it to a tropical disturbance on the next day. On 2 March, although the centre was exposed, JTWC issued a TCFA on the system. On 3 March, the system intensified into a moderate tropical storm named Galifo and reached category 1 strength on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale late on the same day. On 4 March, MFR upgraded Gafilo to a tropical cyclone because of a banding eye. Gafilo underwent rapid deepening and reached category 4 strength on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale on 5 March, as MFR also upgraded Gafilo to an intense tropical cyclone late on the same day. On 6 March, MFR upgraded Gafilo to a very intense tropical cyclone with a very well-defined circular eye at 06Z, when it also reached category 5 strength on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale. At 12Z, Gafilo attained its peak intensity, although microwave imagery showed that the eyewall replacement cycle has begun.

Gafilo made landfall over Antalaha, Madagascar early on 7 March, and it arrived at the Mozambique Channel as a moderate tropical storm before noon on 8 March. On 9 March, MFR upgraded the system to a severe tropical storm; however, JTWC analysed that the storm became below category 1 strength on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale. Late on 9 March, Gafilo made landfall north of Morombe, Madagascar, and the system started to make a three-day clockwise loop over the south part of Madagascar. JTWC analysed that Gafilo dissipated overland late on 11 March, but JTWC issued a TCFA on the overland remnants late on 12 March. Early on 13 March, Gafilo arrived at the Indian Ocean as a tropical disturbance, yet JTWC cancelled a TCFA. Gafilo transferred into a subtropical depression south of La Réunion on 14 March and then transferred into an extratropical depression on 15 March. The system completely dissipated on 18 March.

Severe Tropical Storm Nicky-Helma

Originally called Nicky by Perth's TCWC, it entered the region on March 10. It dissipated on March 13.

Tropical Disturbance 11

A continuation of Tropical Cyclone Evan from the Australian region. Persisted until March 28.

Severe Tropical Storm Oscar-Itseng

Originally called Oscar by Perth's TCWC, it entered the region on March 27, but dissipated by the next day.

Tropical Disturbance 13R

Existed on March 31.

Tropical Disturbance 14R

Existed on April 26.

Severe Tropical Storm Juba

Formed on May 5 and dissipated on May 15. Name was contributed by Swaziland.

Tropical Disturbance 16R

Existed between May 19 and May 24.

Storm names

A tropical disturbance is named when it reaches moderate tropical storm strength. If a tropical disturbance reaches moderate tropical storm status west of 55°E, then the Sub-regional Tropical Cyclone Advisory Centre in Madagascar assigns the appropriate name to the storm. If a tropical disturbance reaches moderate tropical storm status between 55°E and 90°E, then the Sub-regional Tropical Cyclone Advisory Centre in Mauritius assigns the appropriate name to the storm. A new annual list is used every year so no names are retired.