Cyclone Gafilo
South-West Indian cyclone in 2004 / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Very Intense Tropical Cyclone Gafilo was both the most intense tropical cyclone ever recorded in the South-West Indian Ocean and the most intense tropical cyclone worldwide in 2004. Being unusually large and intense, Gafilo was the deadliest and most destructive cyclone of the 2003–04 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season. According to the EM-DAT International Disaster Database, Gafilo killed at least 363 people.[1] Gafilo also caused about $250 million (2004 USD) damages in Madagascar, which makes it one of the most devastating storms to hit the country on reliable record.
Meteorological history | |
---|---|
Formed | 1 March 2004 |
Extratropical | 15 March 2004 |
Dissipated | 18 March 2004 |
Very intense tropical cyclone | |
10-minute sustained (MFR) | |
Highest winds | 230 km/h (145 mph) |
Lowest pressure | 895 hPa (mbar); 26.43 inHg (Record low in the South-West Indian Ocean, Third-lowest in Southern Hemisphere) |
Category 5-equivalent tropical cyclone | |
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC) | |
Highest winds | 260 km/h (160 mph) |
Lowest pressure | 898 hPa (mbar); 26.52 inHg |
Overall effects | |
Fatalities | 363 |
Missing | +181 |
Damage | $250 million (2004 USD) |
Areas affected | Madagascar |
IBTrACS | |
Part of the 2003–04 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season |
Forming south of Diego Garcia, it intensified into a moderate tropical storm on 3 March. One day later, Gafilo became a tropical cyclone, and it ultimately intensified into a very intense tropical cyclone on 6 March, prior to making landfall over Madagascar early on the next day. After crossing the island, Gafilo emerged into the Mozambique Channel and made landfall over Madagascar again on 9 March. After a three-day loop overland, the system arrived at the Indian Ocean on 13 March, and it transitioned into a subtropical depression on 14 March. Gafilo then became extratropical on the next day and weakened, before dissipating on 18 March.