2007-2008 South Indian Ocean Tropical Cyclones (West of 90°E)

Tropical Cyclone Cyclogenesis Date Cyclolysis Date Saffir-Simpson Category Maximum 6-hr Sustained Wind (kt) Maximum 6-hr Wind Gust (kt) Estimated Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE*) Index (kt2) Landfall Information (date, location and sustained winds)
01S 7/29/07 7/30/07 TS 35 45 .3675 x 104
Lee-Ariel 11/14/07 11/18/07 Cat 1 65 80 4.0200 x 104
Bongwe 11/18/07 11/23/07 Cat 1 65 80 5.6513 x 104
Celina 12/13/07 12/17/07 TS 35 45 1.8375 x 104
Dama 12/18/07 12/21/07 TS 50 65 2.5750 x 104
Elnus 01/01/08 01/02/08 TS 40 50 .7238 x 104
Fame 01/25/08 02/01/08 Cat 1 80 100 5.9150 x 104 01/27/08 - Northwestern Madagascar (75 kt)
Gula 01/27/08 02/01/08 Cat 2 85 105 8.3363 x 104
Hondo 02/05/08 02/12/08 Cat 4 125 150 26.2744 x 104
Ivan 02/07/08 02/18/08 Cat 4 115 140 23.6800 x 104 02/16/08 - Island of Madagascar (100 kt)
Jokwe 03/05/08 03/14/08 Cat 2 100 125 19.8600 x 104
Kamba 03/07/08 03/12/08 Cat 1 80 100 9.8160 x 104
Durga 04/22/08 04/24/08 TS 40 50 1.0063 x 104
*The (ACE) Index calculations are based on preliminary data.

*The Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) Index is calculated by summing the squares of the estimated 6-hourly maximum sustained wind speed in knots (Vmax2) for all periods in which the tropical cyclone is a tropical storm or greater intensity (sustained winds of 34 kt or greater). Note that the official NOAA definition of the ACE Index does not include those periods when the system is characterized as sub-tropical. However, we are including this information to allow for comparison between individual cyclones across all basins, many of which contain records which inadequately distinguish between tropical and subtropical cyclones. For a complete description of the ACE Index see Bell and Chelliah (2006), Journal of Climate (19) 590-612.


The Saffir-Simpson Scale for Tropical Cyclones

Category Miles Per Hour (mph) Knots (kt) Kilometers Per Hour (km hr-1)
Tropical Storm (TS)
 39-73 34-63 63-118
Cat 1
 74-95 64-82 119-153
Cat 2
 96-110 83-95 154-177
Cat 3
 111-130 96-113 178-209
Cat 4
 131-155 114-135 210-249
Cat 5
 156 or greater 136 or greater 250 or greater