The eighth tropical disturbance of the season, Ernest formed from a persistent area of thunderstorms in the central Indian Ocean.

Ernest weakened slightly before striking the southwest portion of that country on January 23, producing widespread flooding and gusty winds.

An area of convection persisted on January 16 to the west of Diego Garcia,[1] and that day Météo-France (MF) classified the system as Tropical Disturbance 08.

It developed outflow and gradually organized, prompting the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) to issue a tropical cyclone formation alert on January 17.

[4] By late on January 20, the storm rapidly intensified over warm waters into a tropical cyclone – the equivalent of a 120 km/h (75 mph) hurricane.

[3] While at peak intensity, Ernest was a small cyclone with gales extending 130 km (80 mi) outward from the well-defined eye.

[1] Early the next day, MF declared Ernest extratropical, and continued tracking it until the storm dissipated on January 25 in the southern Indian Ocean.

[4] Portions of the country faced shortages of rice due to crop damage from Ernest, as well as from Cyclone Gafilo in the previous year.

[6] As a result, the World Food Programme provided 45 tons of rice to affected residents, although persistent flooding disrupted relief work.

[7] Madagascar's National Emergency Centre deployed workers to do search and rescue missions and provide water to storm victims.