User:Iune/SWIO9697

The 1996-97 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season officially began on November 1, 1996 and ended on June 30, 1997. These dates are when most tropical cyclones form in the Southern Hemisphere. During this season, 3 cyclones made landfall on Africa. Combined, all three of those storms did 312 deaths and 3 more deaths were from Cyclone Daniella. 2 cyclones, Cyclones Melanie-Bellamine and Pancho-Helinda crossed in from the Australian Region. The strongest storm of the year was tied between Cyclone Daniella and Cyclone Pancho-Helinda.

Intense Tropical Cyclone Melanie-Bellamine
On the morning of November 2, Tropical Cyclone Melanie from the Australian region crossed in with winds of 55 knots (65 miles per hour) and was designated Severe Tropical Storm Bellamine by RSMC La Reunion as it countinued to intensify. . At the same time, the JTWC assesed Melanie-Bellamine with winds of 75 mph (120 km/h). On the morning of November 3, the storm was upgraded to tropical cyclone intensity by RSMC La Reunion. The next morning, Bellamine was upgraded to intense tropical cyclone status, becoming the first intense tropical cyclone of the year. That day, Bellamine reached it's peak intensity of 110 mph (180 km/h) and 925 hPa (mbar). The system kept that peak for only 12 hours before deteriorating to a tropical cyclone as it turned southwest. Bellamine unexpectedly re-intensified back to it's peak intensity on November 7. This time, the storm kept this strength for 18 hours before weakening back to tropical cyclone strength for the last time on the 8th. The system quickly weakened becoming a severe tropical storm on the 9th and a moderate tropical storm later that same day. Bellamine weakened into a tropical disturbance on November 11 and the final advisory was issued. Melanie-Bellamine caused no reported damage or deaths.

Storm Names
A tropical disturbance is named when it reaches moderate tropical storm strength. If a tropical disturbance reaches moderate tropical storm status west of 55°E, then the Sub-regional Tropical Cyclone Advisory Centre in Madagascar assigns the appropriate name to the storm. If a tropical disturbance reaches moderate tropical storm status between 55°E and 90°E, then the Sub-regional Tropical Cyclone Advisory Centre in Mauritius assigns the appropriate name to the storm. A new annual list is used every year so no names are retired.