Cyclone Gafilo
| cyclone | |
|---|---|
 Cyclone Gafilo at peak intensity | |
| Formed | March 3, 2004 |
| Dissipated | March 11, 2004 |
| Highest winds | 1-minute sustained: 260 km/h (160 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 895 hPa (mbar); 26.43 inHg |
| Fatalities | 363 direct |
| Damage | $250 million (2004 USD) |
| Areas affected | Madagascar |
| Part of the 2003-04 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season | |
Cyclone Gafilo was a powerful tropical cyclone which struck Madagascar in March 2004, causing devastating damage. It is the most intense cyclone ever to form in the south-western Indian Ocean.
Storm history
Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
Unknown
Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depressionGafilo began as a tropical disturbance on February 29 2004 in the central Indian Ocean, south of Diego Garcia. First advisories for Tropical Disturbance 09 were issued on March 2 by the Tropical Cyclone Warning Center on La Réunion and Joint Typhoon Warning Center. At this point, it was moving to west-northwest at fairly rapid pace. Development became quicker, and next day it was named Tropical Storm Gafilo. Its forward motion also slowed, and it began to turn southwards. On March 4, Gafilo was upgraded to tropical cyclone. Next day, March 5, Gafilo began a cycle of rapid deepening with winds increasing to 145 mph (230 km/h) making it a Category 4 cyclone. It was now moving west-southwest heading straight for Madagascar. The next day, March 6 2004 saw it reach its estimated peak intensity of 895 hPa and sustained windspeed of 160 mph (260 km/h). After midnight, Gafilo struck the northeast coast of Madagascar near to the town of Antalaha as a Category 5 cyclone, the highest possible rating.
After landfall, Gafilo continued its track to southwest, and emerged into the Mozambique Channel still at Category 1 strength. The storm then weakened as it turned southeast and made a second landfall at southwest Madagascar as a strong tropical storm. Gafilo dissipated on March 11 over southern Madagascar, with remnant low emerging over the ocean, but hostile conditions prevented regeneration.
Impact
At least 363 people were killed by the cyclone, with over 200,000 left homeless. Damage totaled $250 million (2004 USD).[1] The greatest single loss of life came on March 7 when the ferry 'Le Samson' sank in heavy seas off Comoros carrying 112 people; only two survived. The storm also caused significant crop losses. Damage might have been even worse, but the fast forward motion of the storm likely lessened the impact. Nevertheless, with Cyclone Elita hitting Madagascar just little over a month earlier, strain to the economy of the country was considerable.