Tropical cyclones in the Mascarene Islands

In 1968, Cyclone Monique produced the highest wind gust on Rodrigues – 276 km/h (171 mph) at a station in the mountainous interior.

The highest recorded wind gust on Mauritius – 280 km/h (170 mph) at Montacute Desert – occurred when Cyclone Gervaise struck the island in February 1976; the cyclone killed 10 people on the island and caused about US$20 million in damage.

In 2002, Cyclone Dina produced the highest wind gusts on Réunion, reaching 277 km/h (172 mph).

The French settled nearby Réunion in 1655, and colonized Mauritius in 1715, naming it Isle de France.

The British also briefly took possession of Réunion from 1810 to 1815, until it was returned to France, which operates the island as an overseas department.

Satellite image of Cyclone Bheki , the most recent tropical cyclone to pass near the Mascarene Islands
Damage from a cyclone in 1892 in Mauritius
Satellite image of Tropical Storm Kathleen in 1965, part of the first complete view of Earth from satellite imagery. The storm would affect Rodrigues three days later.
Satellite image of Cyclone Geraise in 1975
Washed out road in Saint-Pierre, Réunion from Cyclone Hyacinthe
Satellite image of Cyclone Hollanda
Flooding on Réunion from Cyclone Dina
Bridge on Réunion damaged by Cyclone Gamede
Cyclone Bejisa striking Réunion on January 2, 2014
Satellite image of Cyclone Batsirai passing near Mauritius in February 2, 2022
Cyclone Belal passing over Réunion on January 15, 2024.