The storm struck Madagascar and moved across the island, later crossing the Mozambique Channel and striking eastern Mozambique. The storm recurved to the east, passing south of Madagascar.[1]
On February26, Cyclone Jenny was first observed to the northeast of Rodrigues. The storm moved west-southwestward between Rodrigues and St. Brandon. On February28, Jenny passed about 30km (20mi) north of Mauritius, where the storm produced wind gusts of 235km/h (146mph).[2][3] On the island, the storm killed 17people and left thousands of people homeless. Later on February28, the storm struck Réunion, killing 36people; wind gusts at the Roland Garros Airport reached 250km/h (160mph). Jenny destroyed 3,851homes on Réunion and severely damaged another 2,619, many of them wooden, leaving about 20,000people homeless. The storm also destroyed crops, and wrecked about 80% of the island's telephone lines. After the close succession of Carol and Jenny, officials rebuilt most homes with concrete to withstand future storms.[4]
A tropical depression briefly existed in the northeast portion of the basin from January 19–21. At the time, it was part of the neighboring Australian basin, east of 80°.[7] On January22, a system named Emily existed briefly west of that general region.[8]
