1975–76 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season

The 1975–76 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season was a below-average cyclone season. The season officially ran from November 1, 1975, to April 30, 1976.

1975–76 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season
Season summary map
Seasonal boundaries
First system formed	17 November 1975
Last system dissipated	12 April 1976
Strongest storm
Name	Terry-Danae
• Maximum winds	175 km/h (110 mph) (10-minute sustained)
• Lowest pressure	964 hPa (mbar)
Seasonal statistics
Total disturbances	8
Total depressions	6 (record low, tied with 2010–11)
Total storms	6
Tropical cyclones	1
Intense tropical cyclones	1
Total fatalities	Unknown
Total damage	Unknown
Related articles
1975–76 Australian region cyclone season 1975–76 South Pacific cyclone season
South-West Indian Ocean tropical cyclone seasons 1973–74, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1977–78

Systems

Moderate Tropical Storm Audrey

Moderate tropical storm (MFR)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	November 17 – November 29
Peak intensity	85 km/h (50 mph) (10-min); 995 hPa (mbar)

Moderate Tropical Storm Audrey developed on November 17. Audrey struck Madagascar shortly before dissipating on November 29.

Tropical Cyclone Barbara

Tropical cyclone (MFR)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration	December 3 – December 19
Peak intensity	150 km/h (90 mph) (10-min); 980 hPa (mbar)

Severe Tropical Storm Barbara developed on December 3. It made landfall in Madagascar twice before dissipating on December 19.

Very Intense Tropical Cyclone Clotilde

Very intense tropical cyclone (MFR)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration	January 7 – January 21
Peak intensity	250 km/h (155 mph) (10-min); 980 hPa (mbar)

Very Intense Tropical Cyclone Clotilde developed on January 7. It struck Madagascar and continued southeastward in the Indian Ocean before dissipating on January 21.

Very Intense Tropical Cyclone Terry–Danae

Very intense tropical cyclone (MFR)
Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration	January 10 – January 29
Peak intensity	260 km/h (160 mph) (10-min); 955 hPa (mbar)

Cyclone Danae first affected Agaléga, where the storm destroyed the wind gauge. Winds were estimated at over 240 km/h (150 mph). The storm also produced high waves that affected the northern coast of Réunion, flooding coastal roads.^[1] Cyclone Danae later struck Madagascar and then hit the east coast of Mozambique and South Africa in late January 1976. 50 people were killed in the flooding that resulted from the heavy rainfall of Cyclone Danae.^[2]

In South Africa, rainfall totals reached over 250 mm (9.8 in) in the northeastern portion of the country, which caused widespread river flooding.^[3]

Moderate Tropical Storm Ella

Moderate tropical storm (MFR)
Tropical depression (SSHWS)
Duration	March 9 – March 12
Peak intensity	75 km/h (45 mph) (10-min); 995 hPa (mbar)

Moderate Tropical Storm Ella developed on March 9. It struck Mozambique shortly before dissipating on March 12.

Moderate Tropical Storm Frederique

Moderate tropical storm (MFR)
Tropical depression (SSHWS)
Duration	March 25 – March 26
Peak intensity	75 km/h (45 mph) (10-min); 1005 hPa (mbar)

Tropical Disturbance Frederique existed from March 25 to March 26. It formed shortly before dissipating.

Moderate Tropical Storm Gladys

Moderate tropical storm (MFR)
Duration	March 27 – April 10
Peak intensity	85 km/h (50 mph) (10-min); 998 hPa (mbar)

Moderate Tropical Storm Gladys developed on March 27. It struck Madagascar and later Mozambique. Gladys then moved erratically in the Mozambique Channel before dissipating on April 10.

Moderate Tropical Storm Bert–Heliotrope

Moderate tropical storm (MFR)
Duration	April 3 – April 12
Peak intensity	85 km/h (50 mph) (10-min); 1000 hPa (mbar)

Moderate Tropical Storm Bert–Heliotrope existed from April 3 to April 12. It caused no damage or casualties and did not make landfall.

Season effects

Name	Dates	Peak intensity			Areas affected	Damage (USD)	Deaths	Refs
		Category	Wind speed	Pressure
Audrey	November 17 – 29, 1975	Moderate tropical storm	85 km/h (50 mph)	995 hPa (29.38 inHg)	None	None	None	[4]
Barbara	December 3 – 19, 1975	Tropical cyclone	175 km/h (110 mph)	980 hPa (28.94 inHg)	None	None	None	[4]
Clotilde	January 7 – 21, 1976	Very Intense Tropical cyclone	250 km/h (155 mph)	980 hPa (28.94 inHg)	None	None	None	[4]
Terry–Danae	January 10 – 29, 1976	Very Intense Tropical cyclone	260 km/h (160 mph)	955 hPa (28.20 inHg)	None	None	None	[4]
Elsa	March 9 - 12, 1976	Moderate tropical storm	85 km/h (50 mph)	995 hPa (29.38 inHg)	None	None	None	[4]
Frederique	March 25 – 26, 1976	Moderate tropical storm	75 km/h (45 mph)	1005 hPa (29.68 inHg)	None	None	None	[4]
Gladys	March 27 – April 10, 1976	Moderate tropical storm	85 km/h (50 mph)	998 hPa (29.47 inHg)	None	None	None	[4]
Bert–Heliotrope	April 3 – 12, 1976	Moderate tropical storm	85 km/h (50 mph)	1000 hPa (29.53 inHg)	None	None	None	[4]
Carol	May 3 – 9, 1976	Moderate tropical storm	85 km/h (50 mph)	992 hPa (29.29 inHg)	None	None	None	[5]
Season aggregates
8 systems			260 km/h (160 mph)	955 hPa (28.20 inHg)

See also

• Atlantic hurricane seasons: 1975, 1976
• Eastern Pacific hurricane seasons: 1975, 1976
• Western Pacific typhoon seasons: 1975, 1976
• North Indian Ocean cyclone seasons: 1975, 1976