After reaching peak 10–minute winds of 185 km/h (115 mph), Daniella weakened and passed just southwest of Mauritius; there, the storm left heavy crop damage and indirectly caused three deaths.

During the season, the Météo-France office (MFR) based on Réunion island issued warnings in tropical cyclones within the basin, as part of its role as a Regional Specialized Meteorological Center.

In addition to the named storms in the year, the list included Maryse, Nelda, Ocline, Phyllis, Rolina, Sheryl, Thelma, Venyda, Wiltina, and Yolette.

With a large ridge to the south, the system tracked southwestward,[1] crossing into the south-west Indian Ocean as a tropical depression on October 17.

[3] On October 18, the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Antoinette after developing a well-defined central dense overcast, and began turning more to the west-southwest.

Antoinette began weakening steadily on October 20 due to increasing wind shear, and by that time it was moving quickly westward.

The next day, Antoinette passed about 200 km (120 mi) north of the northern tip of Madagascar, and dissipated on October 24 in the Mozambique Channel.

[1] A tropical low formed on October 28 within the Australian region, which initially failed to develop much due to persistent wind shear.

A strong approaching trough turned Bellamine to the southeast on November 8 and incurred rapid weakening due to wind shear.

The JTWC continued tracking the storm for several more days, and the remnants of Chantelle likely contributed to the formation of the subsequent Tropical Cyclone Daniella.

[1][9] After the previous Tropical Storm Chantelle lost its circulation near Diego Garcia on November 30, residual convection persisted and moved to the southwest due to a large ridge.

The eye, previously well-defined and 40 km (25 mi) in diameter at its peak, gradually became less organized due to decreasing water temperatures.

[1][9] Late in its duration, Daniella passed within 55 km (34 mi) of Mauritius,[1] producing wind gusts of 154 km/h (96 mph) and about 300 mm (12 in) of rainfall.

[1] Moving southwestward, the storm strengthened somewhat, reaching 10–minute winds of 85 km/h (55 mph) before making landfall on the Masoala Peninsula in eastern Madagascar.

[1] The next day, the MFR estimated peak 10–minute winds of 100 km/h (60 mph), and after turning to the southeast, Fabriola struck southwestern Madagascar near Morombe late on January 7.

[1] The cyclone produced wind gusts of over 220 km/h (140 mph) at Farafangana, Madagascar, along with heavy rainfall that washed away the local meteorological station.

[22] Overall, about 200 people were killed or left missing in Madagascar,[18] with 152 confirmed fatalities by two weeks after the storm,[23] and damage was estimated at $50 million (1997 USD).

[27] With warm waters and favorable upper-level conditions, Helinda attained cyclone status on February 1, and the MFR estimated peak 10–minute winds of 185 km/h (115 mph).

Due to a powerful ridge near Île Amsterdam, Helinda turned to the southeast on February 2, where cooler water temperatures induced weakening.

The system quickly developed an organized central dense overcast, but failed to become a tropical cyclone due to the lack of a circulation in the region.

Subsequently, increased wind shear weakened Iletta, and within 24 hours the storm had decreased from peak intensity to tropical depression status.

After the trough passed the storm, Iletta turned to the north under the influence of a ridge to the south, dissipating on January 30 about 305 km (190 mi) east-southeast of where it initially formed.

Subsequently, the storm moved across northern Madagascar and emerged into the Mozambique Channel on February 9 as a tropical depression, its structure deteriorated.

On February 11, Josie re-attained tropical storm status, and subsequently turned to the south due to a broad area of low pressure in the region.

An approaching cold front turned the cyclone to the southeast, bringing the storm over cooler waters and causing weakening due to increased wind shear.

Late on February 21, Karlette passed about 70 km (45 mi) south of Rodrigues, where wind gusts remained below 110 km/h (68 mph); also on the island, the storm dropped beneficial rainfall totaling around 100 mm (3.9 in).

On March 1, the MFR estimated peak 10–minute winds of 95 km/h (60 mph), making Lisette a severe tropical storm with an eye feature in the center.

[1] For several weeks in early August – the middle of winter in the southern hemisphere – an area of warm water temperatures of over 26 °C (79 °F) persisted in the northeast portion of the basin.

[42] Less than a month later, another area of convection developed within the near-equatorial trough near the Chagos archipelago, due to persistent warm water temperatures.

[1][45] On January 3, the BoM and the JTWC ceased issuing advisories on Tropical Cyclone Phil in the Australian region, which previously moved over Western Australia.