Cyclone Firinga

Tropical Cyclone Firinga

Tropical cyclone (SWIO scale)
Category 2 (Saffir–Simpson scale)
Cyclone Firinga near peak intensity
Formed	January 24, 1989
Dissipated	February 7, 1989
Highest winds	10-minute sustained: 135 km/h (85 mph) 1-minute sustained: 165 km/h (105 mph)
Lowest pressure	954 hPa (mbar); 28.17 inHg
Fatalities	11 total
Damage	$217 million (1989 USD)
Areas affected	Mauritius, Réunion
Part of the 1988–89 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season

Cyclone Firinga produced record-breaking rainfall on the French overseas department of Réunion. It was the sixth named storm of the season, having developed on January 24, 1989 in the south-west Indian Ocean. Given the name Firinga, it moved generally southwestward for much of its duration. While the cyclone was approaching Mauritius late on January 28, it attained peak winds of 135 km/h (85 mph). Firinga passed 50 km (31 mi) west of the island, producing 190 km/h (120 mph) wind gusts that destroyed 844 homes. Heavy crop damage occurred on the island, and damage nationwide was estimated at $60 million (1989 USD). One person was killed in Mauritius.

After passing Mauritius, Firinga struck Réunion early on January 29 with wind gusts as strong as 216 km/h (134 mph). The storm dropped torrential rainfall in the southern portion of the island, including 24‑hour totals of 1,309 mm (51.5 in) at Pas de Bellecombe and 1,199 mm (47.2 in) at Casabois, both of which set records for the locations. The rains caused widespread river flooding and resulted in 32 mudslides. Firinga isolated several towns due to flooding and left power and water outages. A total of 2,746 houses were damaged or destroyed, leaving 6,200 people homeless. Damage was estimated at around ₣1 billion (1989 francs, $157 million 1989 USD), and there were 10 deaths on the island. Firinga later dissipated on February 7 after having weakened and executed a loop to the southeast.

On January 24, both the Météo France office in Réunion (MFR) and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) began tracking a tropical disturbance in the south-west Indian Ocean, about halfway between the east coast of Madagascar and Diego Garcia; the latter agency designated it as Tropical Cyclone 08S. After initially moving to the southeast, the system later turned to the southwest and gradually intensified. Given the name Firinga, the system intensified into a moderate tropical storm on January 26. Two days later, the JTWC upgraded the storm to the equivalent of a minimal hurricane while Firinga was approaching Mauritius. Late on January 28, the cyclone passed about 50 km (31 mi) northwest of the island. Shortly thereafter, MFR upgraded Firinga to tropical cyclone status, estimating 10 minute maximum sustained winds of 135 km/h (85 mph). At the same time, the JTWC estimated 1 minute winds of 165 mph (105 mph).