2010–11 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season

The 2010–11 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season was the least active cyclone season on record in the basin, tied with 1982–83, producing only three systems of gale intensity. This was due to cooler than normal water temperatures and the Walker circulation – a broad atmospheric circulation – causing unusually moist conditions in the eastern Indian Ocean and unusually dry conditions in the western Indian Ocean. The basin includes the waters of the ocean south of the equator and west of 90º E to the eastern coast of Africa.

There were nine tropical or subtropical cyclones during the season, including five weak tropical disturbances or depressions, mostly in the northeastern portion of the basin or to the east of Madagascar. The first of these systems developed on 25 October 2010, which had its origins in the northeastern portion of the basin. On 29 November, the first named storm – Abele – also formed in the same area, strengthening to become one of the season's two tropical cyclones – storms with maximum sustained winds of at least 120 km/h (75 mph). The strongest system of the season was Cyclone Bingiza, which attained peak winds of 160 km/h (100 mph) off the northeastern coast of Madagascar in February. Bingiza was also the only storm to cause severe effects on land, causing heavy damage and 34 fatalities across Madagascar. Moderate Tropical Storm Cherono developed in March and traversed much of the ocean, only brushing by the island of Rodrigues. The final system was a subtropical depression that intensified south of Madagascar, becoming extratropical on 16 April to end the season.