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Cyclone Gervaise

Meteorological history
The origins of Cyclone Gervaise were in early February 1975 from a circular area of convection, or thunderstorms, located in the intertropical convergence zone southwest of Diego Garcia in the south-west Indian Ocean. The system organized as it moved generally to the southwest, a trajectory it would maintain for several days due to a subtropical ridge to its southeast, and an area of low pressure near the Mascarene Islands. On February 2, the Mauritius Meteorological Services named the storm Gervaise. Two days later, the storm attained hurricane status, or maximum sustained winds of at least 120 km/h (75 mph).

Late on February 5, Gervaise passed about 100 km (60 mi) southeast of St. Brandon. Continuing southwestward, the cyclone struck Mauritius on February 6, with the calm of the eye lasting for three hours. That day, the American-based Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) estimated peak winds of 130 km/h (85 mp). On February 7, Gervaise passed about 130 km (80 mi) southeast of Réunion. The track shifted to the south and southeast over time, steered by a passing cold front. On February 10, Gervaise dissipated within the cold front.

Preparations and impact
Gervaise first affected St. Brandon, producing wind gusts of over 100 km/h, along with heavy rainfall.

Cyclone Gervaise killed 10 people during its passage of Mauritius. Its strongest wind gusts occurred after the passage of the eye, peaking at 280 km/h at Mon Desert. This was the highest recorded wind gust recorded on Mauritius. Heavy rainfall affected the island for several days, reaching 674 mm at Grosse Roche. The high winds knocked down power lines, radio transmission with Vacoas for 24 hours, and many crops. About 25% of the island's sugar cane crop was lost. Gervaise destroyed about 13,000 houses, leaving thousands homeless.

The cyclone last affected Réunion, where it produced wind gusts of 180 km/h. Gervaise also dropped heavy rainfall on the island, reaching 548 mm at Plaine des Cafres.