South-Western Indian Ocean
| Southwest Indian Ocean Tropical Cyclone Intensity Scale |
|
|---|---|
| Category | Sustained winds |
| Very Intense Tropical Cyclone |
>115 kt >212 km/h |
| Intense Tropical Cyclone |
90–115 kt 166–212 km/h |
| Tropical Cyclone |
64–89 kt 118–165 km/h |
| Severe Tropical Storm |
48–63 kt 89–117 km/h |
| Moderate Tropical Storm |
34–47 kt 63–88 km/h |
| Tropical Depression |
28–33 kt 51–62 km/h |
| Tropical Disturbance |
<28 kt <50 km/h |
Any tropical cyclone that forms within the Southern Indian Ocean to the west of 90°E is monitored by Météo-France who run the Regional Specialized Meteorological Center in La Reunion. RSMC La Reunion uses seven different categories to measure the wind speed of a tropical cyclone. It is based on a 10-minute average maximum sustained winds, rather than 1-minute maximum sustained winds, which is what the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale uses.
A tropical disturbance is the lowest category on the South-west Indian Ocean Tropical Cyclone scale, and has wind speeds of 28 knots (50 km/h, 32 mph). A tropical disturbance is designated as a tropical depression when the disturbance reaches wind speeds above 28 knots (32 mph, 50 km/h). Should a tropical depression reach wind speeds of 35 knots (65 km/h, 40 mph) then it will be classified as a moderate tropical storm and assigned a name by either the Sub Regional Center in Mauritius or Madagascar.
Should the named storm intensify further and reach winds speeds of 48 knots (89 km/h, 55 mph), then it will be classified as a severe tropical storm. A severe tropical storm is designated as a tropical cyclone when it reaches wind speeds of 64 knots (118 km/h, 74 mph). Should a tropical cyclone intensify further and reach wind speeds of 90 knots (166 km/h, 103 mph), it will be classified as an intense tropical cyclone. A very intense tropical cyclone is the highest category on the South-West Indian Ocean Tropical Cyclone scale, and has winds of over 115 knots (212 km/h, 132 mph).
Read more about this topic: South Pacific Ocean Tropical Cyclone Intensity Scale
Famous quotes containing the words indian and/or ocean:
“I am not sure but all that would tempt me to teach the Indian my religion would be his promise to teach me his.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“There is no sea more dangerous than the ocean of practical politics—none in which there is more need of good pilotage and of a single, unfaltering purpose when the waves rise high.”
—Thomas Henry Huxley (1825–1895)