2025–26 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season

2025–26 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season
Season summary map
Seasonal boundaries
First system formed16 July 2025
Last system dissipatedSeason ongoing
Strongest storm
NameAwo
 • Maximum winds65 km/h (40 mph)
(10-minute sustained)
 • Lowest pressure1000 hPa (mbar)
Seasonal statistics
Total disturbances2
Total depressions2
Total storms1
Tropical cyclones0
Intense tropical cyclones0
Very intense tropical cyclones0
Total fatalities0
Total damage$0,000 (2026 USD)
Related articles

The 2025–26 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season is the current annual cycle of tropical cyclone and subtropical cyclone formation in the South-West Indian Ocean. It will begin on 15 November 2025, and will end on 30 April 2026, with the exception for Mauritius and the Seychelles, for which it will end on 15 May 2026. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical and subtropical cyclones form in the basin, which is west of 90°E and south of the Equator. However, tropical cyclones can form year-round with any cyclone forming between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026, such as 01 and , will be part of the season. Tropical and subtropical cyclones in this basin are monitored by the Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre in Réunion and unofficially by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center.

Seasonal summary

Pre-season/early season activity

The season began with the crossover of a tropical low from the Australian basin in the early pre-season. The low was designated Tropical Depression 01 by Météo-France, while the JTWC designated the depression as Tropical Storm 01S a little later.

Just under a month later on 7 August tropical storm Awo formed, affecting Agaléga. Awo is the first named storm to form in August within the South-West Indian Ocean basin since Severe Tropical Storm Aline in 1969, though Severe Tropical Storm Tony did enter the basin during August in 1979.

Systems

Tropical Depression 01

Tropical depression (MFR)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
Duration16 July (Entered basin) – 18 July
Peak intensity55 km/h (35 mph) (10-min);
1001 hPa (mbar)
See also: List of off-season South-West Indian Ocean tropical cyclones

On 16 July, a tropical low moved into the basin from the Australian Region where it was classified as Zone of Disturbed Weather 01 by Météo-France. On the same day, the JTWC upgraded it to a Tropical Storm, assigning it the notation 01S.[1][2] The system moved west-southwestwards into an increasingly unfavourable environment, dissipating on 18 July.

Moderate Tropical Storm Awo

Moderate tropical storm (MFR)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
Duration7 August – 8 August
Peak intensity65 km/h (40 mph) (10-min);
1000 hPa (mbar)
See also: List of off-season South-West Indian Ocean tropical cyclones

On 6 August, a tropical disturbance formed in the central Indian Ocean. A day later, the JTWC designated the system as Tropical Storm 02S. while MFR designated the system as Tropical Depression 02. Six hours later, Mauritius Meteorological Services upgraded it to moderate tropical storm status and named it Awo.[3] Awo is the first named storm to form in August within the South-West Indian Ocean basin since Severe Tropical Storm Aline in 1969, though Severe Tropical Storm Tony did enter the basin during August in 1979.[4]

Storm names

Main article: Tropical cyclone naming

Within the South-West Indian Ocean, tropical depressions and subtropical depressions that are judged to have 10-minute sustained windspeeds of 65 km/h (40 mph) by the Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre on Réunion island, France (RSMC La Réunion) are usually assigned a name. However, it is the Sub-Regional Tropical Cyclone Advisory Centres in Mauritius and Madagascar who name the systems. The Sub-Regional Tropical Cyclone Advisory Centre (Mauritius Meteorological Services) in Mauritius names a storm if it intensifies into a moderate tropical storm between 55°E and 90°E. If instead a cyclone intensifies into a moderate tropical storm between 30°E and 55°E then the Sub-Regional Tropical Cyclone Advisory Centre (Meteo Madagascar) in Madagascar assigns the appropriate name to the storm. Storm names are taken from three pre-determined lists of names, which rotate on a triennial basis, with any names that have been used automatically removed. New names this season are: Awo, Blossom, Chenge, Dudzai, Ewetse, and Fytia. They replaced Ashley, Balita, Cheneso, Dingani, Enala, Fabien during the 2022–23 season.[5]

  • Awo
  • Blossom (unused)
  • Chenge (unused)
  • Dudzai (unused)
  • Ewetse (unused)
  • Fytia (unused)
  • Gezani (unused)
  • Horacio (unused)
  • Indusa (unused)
  • Juluka (unused)
  • Kundai (unused)
  • Lisebo (unused)
  • Michel (unused)
  • Nousra (unused)
  • Olivier (unused)
  • Pokera (unused)
  • Quincy (unused)
  • Rebaone (unused)
  • Salama (unused)
  • Tristan (unused)
  • Ursula (unused)
  • Violet (unused)
  • Wilson (unused)
  • Xila (unused)
  • Yekela (unused)
  • Zaina (unused)

Season effects

This table lists all of the tropical cyclones and subtropical cyclones that were monitored during the 2025–2026 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season. Information on their intensity, duration, name, areas affected, primarily comes from RSMC La Réunion. Death and damage reports come from either press reports or the relevant national disaster management agency while the damage totals are given in 2025 or 2026 USD.

Name Dates Peak intensity Areas affected Damage
(USD) 		Deaths Refs
Category Wind speed Pressure
01 16 – 18 July Tropical depression 55 km/h (35 mph) 1001 hPa (29.56 inHg) None None None
Awo 7 – 8 August Moderate tropical storm 65 km/h (40 mph) 1000 hPa (29.53 inHg) Agaléga None None
Season aggregates
2 systems 16 July 2025 – Season ongoing 65 km/h (40 mph) 1000 hPa (29.53 inHg) None None

See also

Notes

References

  1. ^ "Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC)". www.metoc.navy.mil. Retrieved 2025-07-16.
  2. ^ "CYCLONE et ACTIVITE CYCLONIQUE par Météo-France La Réunion". meteofrance.re. Retrieved 2025-07-16.
  3. ^ http://metservice.intnet.mu/tropical-cyclone/cyclone-names.php
  4. ^ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1969%E2%80%9370_South-West_Indian_Ocean_cyclone_season#Severe_Tropical_Storm_Aline
  5. ^ RA I Tropical Cyclone Committee (2023). Tropical Cyclone Operational Plan for the South-West Indian Ocean (PDF) (Report). World Meteorological Organization. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2024-07-02.
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