1976–77 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season

Severe tropical storm (MFR)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
	<img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/35/Temporary_cyclone_south.svg/150px-Temporary_cyclone_south.svg.png" decoding="async" width="150" height="125" class="mw-file-element" data-file-width="180" data-file-height="150"> <img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c5/Brigitta_1976_track.png/150px-Brigitta_1976_track.png" decoding="async" width="150" height="93" class="mw-file-element" data-file-width="2700" data-file-height="1669">
Duration	November 16 – December 1
Peak intensity	100 km/h (65 mph) (10-min);; 1000 hPa (mbar)

Moderate tropical storm (MFR)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
	<img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/35/Temporary_cyclone_south.svg/150px-Temporary_cyclone_south.svg.png" decoding="async" width="150" height="125" class="mw-file-element" data-file-width="180" data-file-height="150"> <img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e3/Agathe_1976_track.png/150px-Agathe_1976_track.png" decoding="async" width="150" height="93" class="mw-file-element" data-file-width="2700" data-file-height="1669">
Duration	October 3 – October 14
Peak intensity	65 km/h (40 mph) (10-min);; 995 hPa (mbar)

1976–77 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season
1976–77 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season
	Season summary map
Seasonal boundaries
First system formed	3 October 1976
Last system dissipated	2 March 1977
Strongest storm
Name	Jack-Io
• Maximum winds	165 km/h (105 mph); (10-minute sustained)
• Lowest pressure	935 hPa (mbar)
Seasonal statistics
Total depressions	9
Total storms	8
Tropical cyclones	3
Intense tropical cyclones	1
Total fatalities	301
Total damage	Unknown
Related articles
	1976–77 Australian region cyclone season; 1976–77 South Pacific cyclone season;
	South-West Indian Ocean tropical cyclone seasons; 1974–75, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1977–78, 1978–79

The 1976–77 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season was a below-average cyclone season. The season officially ran from November 1, 1976, to April 30, 1977.

Systems

Moderate Tropical Storm Agathe

Severe Tropical Storm Brigitta

This system formed west of Diego Garcia on November 15. For the next eleven days, Brigitta meandered southward as a tropical depression. After assuming a westward course, Brigitta strengthened into a tropical storm on November 26. The system reached its peak intensity as it passed by the northern tip of Madagascar. The system moved through the Comoros Islands, and then turned southward into Mozambique.^[1]

Cyclone Clarence

Tropical cyclone (MFR)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)

Duration	January 1 (Entered basin after January 5) – January 13
Peak intensity	130 km/h (80 mph) (10-min); 960 hPa (mbar)

On January 8, Clarence passed near St. Brandon, producing high waves that destroyed four boats and several homes. Wind gusts on the island reached 169 km/h (105 mph). For several days moved in a counterclockwise track around the Mascarene Islands, producing high waves and beneficial rainfall on Réunion.^[2]

Moderate Tropical Storm Domitile

Moderate tropical storm (MFR)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)

Duration	January 18 – January 23
Peak intensity	65 km/h (40 mph) (10-min); 992 hPa (mbar)

Severe Tropical Storm Emilie

Severe tropical storm (MFR)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)

Duration	January 28 – February 5
Peak intensity	100 km/h (65 mph) (10-min); 980 hPa (mbar)

Cyclone Emilie struck the east coast of Mozambique and northeastern South Africa in February 1977. Heavy flooding in the Limpopo Valley killed at least 300 people.^[3]^[4]

Tropical Cyclone Fifi

Tropical cyclone (MFR)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)

Duration	January 29 – February 10
Peak intensity	120 km/h (75 mph) (10-min); 985 hPa (mbar)

Cyclone Fifi passed west of Réunion on February 6, bringing four days' of rainfall that reached 656 mm (25.8 in). Flooding damaged crops and roads, and one person died while attempting to cross an inundated road.^[5]^[6]

Tropical Depression Gilda

Tropical depression (MFR)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)

Duration	February 4 (Entered basin) – February 9
Peak intensity	55 km/h (35 mph) (10-min); 1000 hPa (mbar)

Severe Tropical Storm Hervea

Severe tropical storm (MFR)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)

Duration	February 10 – March 3
Peak intensity	110 km/h (70 mph) (10-min); 970 hPa (mbar)

The storm passed just south of Agaléga, dropping 147 mm (5.8 in) of rainfall.^[7]

Intense Tropical Cyclone Jack–Io

Intense tropical cyclone (MFR)
Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)

Duration	February 20 (Entered basin) – March 2
Peak intensity	165 km/h (105 mph) (10-min); ≤935 hPa (mbar)

References

^ Dick DeAngelis (March 1977). "Hurricane Alley". Mariners Weather Log. 21 (2). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: 92.
^ Hurricane Clarence, 1-16 January. National Climatic Data Center (Report). Global tropical/extratropical cyclone climatic atlas. 1996. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
^ Shugart, H. H.; Macko, S. A.; Lesolle, P.; Szuba, T. A.; Mukelabai, M. M.; Dowty, P.; Swap, R. J. (2004). "The SAFARI 2000 - Kalahari Transect Wet Season Campaign of year 2000". Global Change Biology. 10 (3): 273–280. Bibcode:2004GCBio..10..273S. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2486.2004.00732.x. S2CID 85391768.
^ Grobler, Roger R. (2003). A framework for modelling losses arising from natural catastrophes in South Africa (MCom thesis). University of Pretoria. hdl:2263/23749. Retrieved 2022-11-17.
^ Hurricane Fifi, 25 January-10 February. National Climatic Data Center (Report). Global tropical/extratropical cyclone climatic atlas. 1996. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
^ "Le "club des 500 mm"" (in French). Meteo-France. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
^ Hurricane Hervea, 10 February-3 March. National Climatic Data Center (Report). Global tropical/extratropical cyclone climatic atlas. 1996. Retrieved February 7, 2019.

[MWLMar1977-1] Dick DeAngelis (March 1977). "Hurricane Alley". Mariners Weather Log. 21 (2). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: 92.

[2] Hurricane Clarence, 1-16 January. National Climatic Data Center (Report). Global tropical/extratropical cyclone climatic atlas. 1996. Retrieved January 31, 2019.

[3] Shugart, H. H.; Macko, S. A.; Lesolle, P.; Szuba, T. A.; Mukelabai, M. M.; Dowty, P.; Swap, R. J. (2004). "The SAFARI 2000 - Kalahari Transect Wet Season Campaign of year 2000". Global Change Biology. 10 (3): 273–280. Bibcode:2004GCBio..10..273S. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2486.2004.00732.x. S2CID 85391768.

[4] Grobler, Roger R. (2003). A framework for modelling losses arising from natural catastrophes in South Africa (MCom thesis). University of Pretoria. hdl:2263/23749. Retrieved 2022-11-17.

[5] Hurricane Fifi, 25 January-10 February. National Climatic Data Center (Report). Global tropical/extratropical cyclone climatic atlas. 1996. Retrieved January 31, 2019.

[6] "Le "club des 500 mm"" (in French). Meteo-France. Retrieved January 31, 2019.

[7] Hurricane Hervea, 10 February-3 March. National Climatic Data Center (Report). Global tropical/extratropical cyclone climatic atlas. 1996. Retrieved February 7, 2019.

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