528:
177:
481:. The storm damaged 1,200 homes and destroyed 300 others, leaving about 1,000 people homeless. About 30 schools were wrecked. The storm damaged about 75% of the electrical network was damaged, which also disrupted water supply on the island, and about 30% of roads were damaged. Over 90% of the crops on the island were destroyed, with many livestock killed. Cyclone Bella killed about half of the
355:
286:
365:
29:
375:
425:
beginning to issue advisories. Around that time, the storm became visible on MFR satellite imagery. Following a lengthy period of minimal development, Bella subsequently intensified at a more regular rate as it slowed its forward motion. On
January 26, it turned more to the southwest, but the westward track resumed on the next day. Aided by warm
461:
on
January 31, with 10 minute winds of 135 km/h (85 mph). Shortly thereafter, the cyclone deteriorated into a tropical storm. The southeast trajectory was short-lived, as Bella turned more to the south-southwest on February 1. After a final turn to the southeast, Bella
424:
On
January 22, the disturbance intensified into a tropical depression. The JTWC upgraded the storm to tropical storm status on January 23, three days after classifying it as Tropical Cyclone 08S. On January 25, the MFR upgraded the depression to Tropical Storm Bella, a week after
269:. The storm was considered the worst on the island in 20 years. About 1,500 homes were damaged or destroyed, leaving 1,000 people homeless. Bella also severely damaged crops, roads, and the power grid on Rodrigues. The storm killed about half of the
429:
of 28 °C (82 °F), Bella began to intensify quickly. On
January 28, both the JTWC and the MFR upgraded the storm to the equivalent of a minimal hurricane, estimating winds of 120 km/h (75 mph); this made Bella a
496:
A 16,570 ton cargo ship traveling from
Madagascar to RĂ©union was lost on January 30 about 700 km (430 mi) to the south of the center of Bella. The ship likely sank due to the cyclone, with 36 people on board.
489:, decreasing the numbers from around 800 to around 400. The species had regrown from a minimum of around 70 in 1971, and the trend toward regrowth continued after the storm, reaching about 3,500 in 2002. The storm also affected the
421:
office in RĂ©union (MFR). On
January 20, the disturbance turned sharply to the south-southeast, although its westward motion resumed late the following day, influenced by a ridge to the south.
230:. For several days, the system remained weak as it moved generally west-southwestward. On January 25, it intensified to tropical storm status, but Bella took three more days to intensify to
959:
441:
After becoming a tropical cyclone, Bella continued to intensify, reaching peak winds on
January 29. The MFR estimated 10 minute winds of 155 km/h (95 mph), and assessed a
449:, was the highest the JTWC estimated for any Southern Hemisphere storm during the tropical cyclone year. On January 30, Bella turned to the southeast and began weakening, affected by
964:
219:
187:
756:
969:
509:
477:
While moving near
Rodrigues, Bella produced wind gusts of 210 km/h (130 mph), along with high tides that flooded the northern coastline, including the capital
445:
of 936 mbar (27.6 inHg) at that time. Meanwhile, the JTWC estimated 1 minute peak winds of 240 km/h (150 mph); this strength, equivalent to a
414:
588:
541:
592:
474:
Before Bella affected land, a class one warning, the lowest of four, was issued for RĂ©union, while a class four warning was issued for
Rodrigues.
788:
940:
887:
417:. Moving to the west-southwest, the system crossed into the south-west Indian Ocean on January 17, and the next day was tracked by the
504:
on
Rodrigues in relation to the storm. After Bella passed, the government of Mauritius noted the need for 4,500 m (15,000 ft) of
847:
688:
671:
764:
933:
570:
is a joint United States Navy – United States Air Force task force that issues tropical cyclone warnings for the region.
877:
398:
265:
While passing near Rodrigues, Bella produced strong winds and high tides, the latter of which caused flooding in the capital
486:
274:
246:). The cyclone attained peak intensity on January 29, officially reaching winds of 155 km/h (95 mph). The
567:
493:. The storm also injured nine people, and overall, Bella was considered the worst storm on the island in 20 years.
402:
247:
125:
250:
unofficially estimated winds of 240 km/h (150 mph), the highest the agency estimated for any storm in the
458:
207:
761:
The International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS): Unifying tropical cyclone best track data
717:
299:
121:
533:
621:
254:
in the year. Bella later turned to the southeast and weakened, passing about 50 km (30 mi) west of
516:) to Mauritius to help in the aftermath. France, the United Kingdom, and India also donated to the country.
431:
426:
231:
215:
235:
463:
390:
378:
277:. Elsewhere, Bella was believed to have sunk a Madagascar cargo ship, with its 36 people on board.
259:
258:
on January 31. The storm turned to the south-southwest and back to the southeast again, becoming
513:
482:
442:
270:
755:
Kenneth R. Knapp; Michael C. Kruk; David H. Levinson; Howard J. Diamond; Charles J. Neumann (2010).
795:
368:
251:
239:
580:
418:
172:
73:
883:
490:
692:
358:
200:
546:
176:
102:
394:
243:
223:
953:
505:
501:
478:
435:
266:
94:
289:
Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
879:
Lost Land of the Dodo: The Ecological History of Mauritius, RĂ©union and Rodrigues
434:, the first of the season. Around this time, the storm developed a well-defined
285:
584:
523:
450:
405:(JTWC) began monitoring a system about 660 km (410 mi) southwest of
165:
98:
910:
855:
819:
794:(Report). Joint Typhoon Warning Center. p. iii, 183–185. Archived from
454:
255:
211:
204:
161:
157:
28:
713:
763:(Report). Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. Archived from
672:
Cyclonic Phenomena in Indian Ocean Watched by Meteosat (Season 1990-1991)
453:
in the region. The cyclone passed about 50 km (30 mi) west of
446:
410:
227:
397:
spawned what would become Tropical Cyclone Bella, associated with the
406:
222:, Bella originated in the middle of January 1991 from a surge in the
848:"Mauritius - Cyclone Bella Feb 1991 UNDRO Information Report No. 1"
620:
Darwin Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre (January 1991).
284:
911:"Significant Data on Major Disasters Worldwide 1900-present"
313:
Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
308:
Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
909:
Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (August 1993).
508:
pipes to assist in rebuilding, as well as generators. The
381:, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression
333:
Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
328:
Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
323:
Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
627:(Report). Vol. 10. Bureau of Meteorology. p. 1
318:
Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
500:
In the aftermath of the storm, seven people contracted
393:
that had formed in early January 1991, a surge in the
691:. Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 2011. Archived from
338:
Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
153:
145:
140:
132:
109:
88:
80:
61:
53:
45:
38:
820:"Bella Cyclone tropical intense, saison 1990/1991"
510:United States Agency for International Development
852:United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs
689:"Joint Typhoon Warning Center Mission Statement"
960:1990–91 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season
188:1990–91 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season
549:– similar storm in 2003 that struck Rodrigues
8:
21:
965:Tropical cyclones in the Mascarene Islands
589:Regional Specialized Meteorological Center
542:Tropical cyclones in the Mascarene Islands
175:
27:
20:
970:South-West Indian Ocean tropical cyclones
939:. OFDA Annual Report FY 1991 (Report).
607:
559:
876:Anthony Cheke; Julian P. Hume (2008).
783:
781:
665:
663:
661:
615:
613:
611:
111:Category 4-equivalent tropical cyclone
941:Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance
842:
840:
838:
836:
750:
748:
746:
744:
742:
740:
738:
736:
734:
659:
657:
655:
653:
651:
649:
647:
645:
643:
641:
438:60 km (35 mi) in diameter.
7:
622:Darwin Tropical Diagnostic Statement
16:Category 4 South-West Indian Cyclone
677:(Report). Météo-France. p. 80.
714:Worldwide Tropical Cyclone Centers
14:
934:"Other Declared Africa Disasters"
33:Cyclone Bella near peak intensity
670:Patrick Donguy (November 1992).
526:
373:
363:
353:
789:Annual Tropical Cyclone Report
399:Intertropical Convergence Zone
197:Intense Tropical Cyclone Bella
22:Intense Tropical Cyclone Bella
1:
487:critically endangered species
275:critically endangered species
568:Joint Typhoon Warning Center
512:donated $ 25,000 (1991
403:Joint Typhoon Warning Center
248:Joint Typhoon Warning Center
136:240 km/h (150 mph)
84:215 km/h (130 mph)
986:
757:1991 Bella (1991013S04096)
401:. On January 13, the
718:National Hurricane Center
183:
171:
116:
68:
26:
822:(in French). Firinga.com
716:(Report). United States
534:Tropical cyclones portal
427:sea surface temperatures
63:Intense tropical cyclone
236:maximum sustained winds
232:tropical cyclone status
386:
281:Meteorological history
234:, with 10 minute
40:Meteorological history
882:. T & AD Poyser.
464:extratropical cyclone
379:Extratropical cyclone
288:
203:that passed near the
483:Rodrigues flying fox
470:Impact and aftermath
466:on February 4.
300:Saffir–Simpson scale
271:Rodrigues flying fox
262:on February 4.
226:to the southwest of
89:Lowest pressure
443:barometric pressure
369:Subtropical cyclone
252:Southern Hemisphere
240:kilometres per hour
70:10-minute sustained
23:
387:
199:was a destructive
133:Highest winds
118:1-minute sustained
81:Highest winds
889:978-0-7136-6544-4
491:Rodrigues warbler
194:
193:
977:
945:
944:
938:
930:
924:
923:
921:
920:
915:
906:
900:
899:
897:
896:
873:
867:
866:
864:
863:
844:
831:
830:
828:
827:
816:
810:
809:
807:
806:
800:
793:
785:
776:
775:
773:
772:
752:
729:
728:
726:
725:
710:
704:
703:
701:
700:
685:
679:
678:
676:
667:
636:
635:
633:
632:
626:
617:
596:
587:is the official
577:
571:
564:
536:
531:
530:
529:
432:tropical cyclone
415:Australian basin
377:
376:
367:
366:
359:Tropical cyclone
357:
356:
342:
337:
332:
327:
322:
317:
312:
307:
201:tropical cyclone
179:
112:
105:
64:
57:February 4, 1991
49:January 18, 1991
41:
31:
24:
985:
984:
980:
979:
978:
976:
975:
974:
950:
949:
948:
936:
932:
931:
927:
918:
916:
913:
908:
907:
903:
894:
892:
890:
875:
874:
870:
861:
859:
846:
845:
834:
825:
823:
818:
817:
813:
804:
802:
798:
791:
787:
786:
779:
770:
768:
754:
753:
732:
723:
721:
712:
711:
707:
698:
696:
687:
686:
682:
674:
669:
668:
639:
630:
628:
624:
619:
618:
609:
605:
600:
599:
578:
574:
565:
561:
556:
547:Cyclone Kalunde
532:
527:
525:
522:
472:
385:
384:
383:
382:
374:
371:
364:
361:
354:
351:
345:
344:
340:
339:
335:
334:
330:
329:
325:
324:
320:
319:
315:
314:
310:
309:
305:
303:
294:
290:
283:
184:
141:Overall effects
110:
92:
62:
39:
34:
17:
12:
11:
5:
983:
981:
973:
972:
967:
962:
952:
951:
947:
946:
943:. p. 109.
925:
901:
888:
868:
832:
811:
777:
730:
705:
680:
637:
606:
604:
601:
598:
597:
572:
558:
557:
555:
552:
551:
550:
544:
538:
537:
521:
518:
471:
468:
457:at 03:00
395:monsoon trough
391:Cyclone Alison
372:
362:
352:
347:
346:
304:
297:
296:
295:
292:
291:
282:
279:
244:miles per hour
224:monsoon trough
192:
191:
181:
180:
169:
168:
155:
154:Areas affected
151:
150:
147:
143:
142:
138:
137:
134:
130:
129:
114:
113:
107:
106:
101:); 27.02
90:
86:
85:
82:
78:
77:
66:
65:
59:
58:
55:
51:
50:
47:
43:
42:
36:
35:
32:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
982:
971:
968:
966:
963:
961:
958:
957:
955:
942:
935:
929:
926:
912:
905:
902:
891:
885:
881:
880:
872:
869:
857:
853:
849:
843:
841:
839:
837:
833:
821:
815:
812:
801:on 2012-09-15
797:
790:
784:
782:
778:
767:on 2015-12-22
766:
762:
758:
751:
749:
747:
745:
743:
741:
739:
737:
735:
731:
719:
715:
709:
706:
695:on 2007-07-26
694:
690:
684:
681:
673:
666:
664:
662:
660:
658:
656:
654:
652:
650:
648:
646:
644:
642:
638:
623:
616:
614:
612:
608:
602:
594:
590:
586:
582:
576:
573:
569:
563:
560:
553:
548:
545:
543:
540:
539:
535:
524:
519:
517:
515:
511:
507:
503:
502:Typhoid fever
498:
494:
492:
488:
484:
480:
479:Port Mathurin
475:
469:
467:
465:
460:
456:
452:
448:
447:super typhoon
444:
439:
437:
433:
428:
422:
420:
416:
412:
408:
404:
400:
396:
392:
380:
370:
360:
350:
302:
301:
287:
280:
278:
276:
272:
268:
267:Port Mathurin
263:
261:
260:extratropical
257:
253:
249:
245:
241:
237:
233:
229:
225:
221:
217:
214:. The second
213:
209:
206:
202:
198:
190:
189:
182:
178:
174:
170:
167:
163:
159:
156:
152:
148:
144:
139:
135:
131:
127:
123:
119:
115:
108:
104:
100:
96:
91:
87:
83:
79:
75:
71:
67:
60:
56:
52:
48:
44:
37:
30:
25:
19:
928:
917:. Retrieved
904:
893:. Retrieved
878:
871:
860:. Retrieved
858:. 1991-02-08
851:
824:. Retrieved
814:
803:. Retrieved
796:the original
769:. Retrieved
765:the original
760:
722:. Retrieved
720:. 2011-09-11
708:
697:. Retrieved
693:the original
683:
629:. Retrieved
581:Météo-France
575:
562:
499:
495:
476:
473:
440:
423:
419:Météo France
388:
348:
298:
264:
238:of 120
208:outer island
196:
195:
186:
185:Part of the
117:
69:
18:
389:Similar to
216:named storm
954:Categories
919:2014-06-10
895:2014-06-10
862:2014-06-10
826:2014-06-10
805:2014-01-31
771:2014-06-09
724:2012-08-27
699:2012-07-25
631:2014-06-09
603:References
583:office in
506:galvanized
462:became an
451:wind shear
349:Storm type
54:Dissipated
856:ReliefWeb
455:Rodrigues
256:Rodrigues
242:(75
212:Rodrigues
205:Mauritius
162:Mauritius
158:Rodrigues
591:for the
520:See also
343:Unknown
585:RĂ©union
413:in the
411:Sumatra
293:Map key
228:Sumatra
218:of the
173:IBTrACS
166:RĂ©union
146:Missing
886:
407:Padang
341:
336:
331:
326:
321:
316:
311:
306:
220:season
46:Formed
937:(PDF)
914:(PDF)
799:(PDF)
792:(PDF)
675:(PDF)
625:(PDF)
593:basin
554:Notes
122:SSHWS
884:ISBN
579:The
566:The
485:, a
273:, a
126:JTWC
103:inHg
99:mbar
93:915
514:USD
459:UTC
436:eye
210:of
95:hPa
74:MFR
956::
854:.
850:.
835:^
780:^
759:.
733:^
640:^
610:^
409:,
164:,
160:,
149:36
922:.
898:.
865:.
829:.
808:.
774:.
727:.
702:.
634:.
595:.
128:)
124:/
120:(
97:(
76:)
72:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.