1999–2000 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season
The 1999–2000 South-West Indian Ocean tropical cyclone season was the first on record in which two storms – Leon–Eline and Hudah – struck Mozambique at tropical cyclone intensity, or with maximum sustained winds of at least 120 km/h (75 mph). The most notable storm of the season was Eline, which was the longest-lasting storm on record in the basin. It lasted for 29 days while traversing the southern Indian Ocean, making the strongest landfall in decades along eastern Madagascar in late February. The storm was the first in a series of three storms that struck the country in early 2000, along with Gloria in March and Hudah in April. Collectively, the three storms killed at least 316 people. The season started on November 1, 1999, and ended for most of the basin on April 30, 2000; for Mauritius and the Seychelles, the season continued until May 15. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the basin;
2002–03 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season
For several days in mid-December, tropical cyclone forecast models anticipated a storm to form to the southwest of Diego Garcia, which was proven true when an area of convection formed in that area, becoming a tropical disturbance on December 21, the fourth of the season. On December 23, MFR upgraded the disturbance to a tropical depression, and later that day to Tropical Storm Crystal. The storm moved southwestward toward Mauritius due to a ridge to the southeast. Strengthening was gradual, and the JTWC upgraded Crystal to the equivalent of a minimal hurricane late on December 24. The next day, an eye developed, although dry air initially prevented much further intensification. MFR upgraded Crystal to tropical cyclone status on December 26, and that day the cyclone passed just east of St. Brandon. Subsequently, Crystal intensified quickly after the eye became clearer, reaching peak winds of 150 km/h (90 mph) on December 27. Around that time, the storm passed east of Mauritius as it turned to the south while rounding the ridge. After maintaining peak winds for about 18 hours, Crystal weakened, gradually undergoing extratropical transition. The convection diminished over the center, and Crystal weakened to tropical storm status on December 28. The next day, the JTWC and MFR discontinued advisories, labeling the storm as extratropical. The remnants continued to the southeast, dissipating on January 3 after crossing into the Australian region.