1967–68 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season

The 1967–68 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season was an above average cyclone season.

1967–68 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season
Season summary map
Seasonal boundaries
First system formed	December 30, 1967
Last system dissipated	April 15, 1968
Strongest storm
Name	Monique
• Maximum winds	230 km/h (145 mph) (1-minute sustained)
• Lowest pressure	933 hPa (mbar)
Seasonal statistics
Total depressions	8
Total storms	7
Tropical cyclones	4
Total fatalities	38
Total damage	Unknown
Related articles
1967–68 Australian region cyclone season 1967–68 South Pacific cyclone season
South-West Indian Ocean tropical cyclone seasons 1965–66, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70

Systems

Moderate Tropical Storm Anita

Moderate tropical storm (MFR)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	October 30 – November 2
Peak intensity	65 km/h (40 mph) (10-min);

Tropical Cyclone Belinda

Tropical cyclone (MFR)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration	December 8 – December 23
Peak intensity	120 km/h (75 mph) (10-min);

Tropical Cyclone Carmen

Tropical cyclone (MFR)
Category 2 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration	December 19 – December 28
Peak intensity	140 km/h (85 mph) (10-min); 978 hPa (mbar)

On December 23, Cyclone Carmen passed just west of Rodrigues, producing heavy rainfall and wind gusts of 216 km/h (134 mph). The storm also dropped rainfall on Réunion.^[1]

Tropical Depression Debby

Tropical depression (MFR)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	December 30 – January 2
Peak intensity	55 km/h (35 mph) (10-min);

Tropical Cyclone Elspeth

Tropical cyclone (MFR)
Category 2 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration	December 29 – January 9
Peak intensity	150 km/h (90 mph) (10-min);

Severe Tropical Storm Flossie

Severe tropical storm (MFR)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration	January 7 – January 14
Peak intensity	110 km/h (70 mph) (10-min);

Intense Tropical Cyclone Georgette

Intense tropical cyclone (MFR)
Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration	January 9 – February 1
Peak intensity	165 km/h (105 mph) (10-min);

Prior to Cyclone Freddy in 2023, Cyclone Georgette was the longest-lasting tropical cyclone in the South-West Indian Ocean basin since the advent of satellite imagery.^[2] It formed on January 10, 1968, well to the northeast of the Mascarene Islands. Tracking generally westward, Georgette struck northern Madagascar on January 15 as a tropical storm. It moved southwestward in the Mozambique Channel, crossing over eastern Mozambique on January 19. It quickly reached open waters while gradually intensifying, executing a loop off of eastern Mozambique. Georgette continued to the southeast, passing over southern Madagascar on January 28.^[3] It was last noted on February 2 after lasting for 24 days.^[2]

Georgette killed one person in the Comoros, eight in Mozambique, and 23 in Madagascar. The storm brought heavy, but beneficial rainfall to Réunion.^[4]

Tropical Cyclone Henriette

Tropical cyclone (MFR)
Category 2 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration	January 17 – January 28
Peak intensity	150 km/h (90 mph) (10-min);

On January 21, Cyclone Henriette passed just east of Rodrigues, producing 165 km/h (103 mph) wind gusts.^[5]

Severe Tropical Storm Ida

Severe tropical storm (MFR)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	February 10 – February 15
Peak intensity	95 km/h (60 mph) (10-min);

Ida affected Réunion and Mauritius.^[6]

Intense Tropical Cyclone Gina–Janine

Intense tropical cyclone (MFR)
Category 2 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration	February 13 – March 2
Peak intensity	165 km/h (105 mph) (10-min);

Moderate Tropical Storm Karine

Moderate tropical storm (MFR)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	March 6 – March 13
Peak intensity	75 km/h (45 mph) (10-min);

The storm passed near Réunion, bringing heavy rainfall that caused river flooding. Six people drowned on the island during the storm's passage.^[7]

Moderate Tropical Storm Lottie

Moderate tropical storm (MFR)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	March 26 – March 27
Peak intensity	65 km/h (40 mph) (10-min);

Tropical Cyclone Monique

Tropical cyclone (MFR)
Category 4 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration	March 26 – April 3
Peak intensity	130 km/h (80 mph) (10-min); 933 hPa (mbar)

The eye of Cyclone Monique passed just northwest of Rodrigues, producing a minimum pressure of 933 mbar (27.6 inHg), as well as wind gusts of 276 km/h (171 mph) in the island's interior; this was the highest wind gust on record for the island. The winds wrecked most of the island's crops and destroyed many houses while also causing severe erosion. The outskirts of Monique also produced high waves and dropped rainfall in Réunion.^[8][9][10]

Tropical Cyclone Noreen

Tropical cyclone (MFR)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration	April 5 – April 15
Peak intensity	130 km/h (80 mph) (10-min);

See also

• Tropical cyclones portal

• Atlantic hurricane seasons: 1967, 1968
• Eastern Pacific hurricane seasons: 1967, 1968
• Western Pacific typhoon seasons: 1967, 1968
• North Indian Ocean cyclone seasons: 1967, 1968