2019–20 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season
The 2019–20 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season was a slightly above-average season in tropical cyclone and subtropical cyclone formation west of 90°E. The season officially began on 15 November, however, the formation of the first system—Zone of Disturbed Weather 01—occurred on 22 July 2019, well before the official start of the season. This was the earliest start to a season since the 2016–17 season. The season then officially ended on 30 April 2020, with the exception of Mauritius and the Seychelles, for which it officially ended on 15 May 2020. 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 Specialized Meteorological Centre in Réunion.
| 2019–20 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season | |
|---|---|
Season summary map | |
| Seasonal boundaries | |
| First system formed | 22 July 2019 |
| Last system dissipated | 16 April 2020 |
| Strongest storm | |
| Name | Ambali |
| • Maximum winds | 220 km/h (140 mph) (10-minute sustained) |
| • Lowest pressure | 930 hPa (mbar) |
| Seasonal statistics | |
| Total disturbances | 12 |
| Total depressions | 11 |
| Total storms | 10 |
| Tropical cyclones | 6 |
| Intense tropical cyclones | 4 |
| Very intense tropical cyclones | 1 |
| Total fatalities | 46 total |
| Total damage | > $25 million (2020 USD) |
| Related articles | |
For the second consecutive year in a row, the first system formed before the official start of the season. Afterwards, three storms formed in the month of December: Tropical Cyclone Belna on 2 December, which brought flooding and strong wind to northwestern Madagascar, Very Intense Tropical Cyclone Ambali, which formed a day later and became the first very intense tropical cyclone in the basin since Fantala in 2016, and Tropical Cyclone Calvinia which stalled near Mauritius and brought heavy rain and moderate flooding to the island nation towards the end of the month, crossing into 2020. The rest of the year would remain quite weak until Intense Tropical Cyclone Herold formed in March, becoming the first major cyclone of 2020. Just weeks after, Intense Tropical Cyclone Irondro in April would become the third intense tropical cyclone of the season. The season would later conclude with the dissipation of Moderate Tropical Storm Jeruto on 16 April. The season had little impact on land with the fact that all storms that formed with the exception of Belna, Diane and Francisco did not make any direct impacts on land and stayed out to sea.