1978–79 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season

Tropical cyclone (MFR)
Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration	December 13 – December 29
Peak intensity	150 km/h (95 mph) (10-min); 941 hPa (mbar)

Angele form on December 13, while stationed in the middle of the Mozambique Channel. It traveled north and gradually organized into a tropical storm while performing a tight counter-clockwise loop. On December 18 Angele intensified into a tropical cyclone before making landfall on Mozambique. Angele weakened to a tropical storm while over land, but re-intensified back to a tropical cyclone as it re-emerged into the Mozambique channel. The cyclone moved south and quite abruptly, on December 23, moved to the northeast. On December 24 Angele reached a peak intensity as a category three cyclone. The system weakened slightly before making landfall on Madagascar two days later. The weak storm moved over the open Indian Ocean and translated into an extra-tropical storm.

Angele is responsible for four deaths and 2,500 people homeless in Mozambique. In Madagascar 70 people were killed by the storm's passage.[1]

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	December 24 (Entered basin) – December 26
Peak intensity	100 km/h (65 mph) (1-min);

03S entered the basin on December 24 and lasted until December 26.

Tropical cyclone (MFR)
Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration	January 3 – January 14
Peak intensity	150 km/h (95 mph) (10-min); 941 hPa (mbar)

Benjamine existed from January 3 to January 14. On January 7, the cyclone passed between Réunion and Mauritius. On the former island, the storm dropped heavy rainfall, reaching 665 mm (26.2 in) at Gite de Bellecombe, along with 126 km/h (78 mph) wind gusts at St. Denis. The storm damaged or destroyed 194 houses, while also damaging crops and power lines.[2]

Intense tropical cyclone (MFR)
Category 4 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration	January 31 – February 12
Peak intensity	170 km/h (105 mph) (10-min); 927 hPa (mbar)

Celine existed from January 31 to February 12. Celine looped near Mauritius while intensifying, and later passed just north of Rodrigues. Wind gusts on the latter island reached 216 km/h (134 mph).[3] The storm killed about half of the population of the critically endangered Rodrigues flying fox.[4]

Tropical depression (MFR)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	February 4 – February 12
Peak intensity	50 km/h (30 mph) (10-min); 997 hPa (mbar)

Dora existed from February 4 to February 12.

Moderate tropical storm (MFR)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	February 10 – February 18
Peak intensity	65 km/h (40 mph) (10-min); 991 hPa (mbar)

Estelle existed from February 10 to February 18. For several days, Estelle moved around the Mascarene Islands, with a peak rainfall total on Réunion of 544 mm (21.4 in) recorded at Petite Plaine.[5]

Tropical depression (MFR)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	February 14 – February 16
Peak intensity	50 km/h (30 mph) (10-min); 997 hPa (mbar)

Fatou existed from February 14 to February 16.

Tropical depression (MFR)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	March 8 – March 14
Peak intensity	50 km/h (30 mph) (10-min); 997 hPa (mbar)

Gelie existed from March 8 to March 14.

Tropical depression (MFR)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	March 26 – March 28
Peak intensity	50 km/h (30 mph) (10-min); 997 hPa (mbar)

Helios existed from March 26 to March 28.

Intense tropical cyclone (MFR)
Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration	April 4 – April 13 (Exited basin)
Peak intensity	175 km/h (110 mph) (10-min); 927 hPa (mbar)

Idylle developed on April 4 and left the basin on April 13.