The perturbation first appeared near the Seychelles archipelago as a weak disturbance on december the 28th. On december the 29th, it became a tropical storm named Bejisa. The track then followed a  southeastward direction until it passed in the vicinity of Reunion Island. The system evolved very quickly and reached the intensity of tropical cyclone in the afternoon of december the 30th. The peak of intensity was recorded on decembre the 31th when Bejisa was 900 km away from Reunion Island as an intense tropical cyclone. Then, the intensity decreased to turn back into a tropical cyclone stage. Bejisa passed a few kilometers away from Reunion Island on january the 2nd.

                                                                                         

                                                                                                    Trajectoire du cyclone Bejisa (source: Météo-France)

 

During the cyclone, the wave heights were remarkable on the north and the north-west coasts of the island. A maximum significant wave height of 7,5m was recorded on the 2nd of january. Concerning the water levels, the tide gauge situated in the Harbor (Le Port) recorded a storm surge of about 70cm. These conditions generated numerous damages in terms of coastal erosion and marine inundation in Saint-Paul, Le Port and Saint-Gilles.

The rainfalls affected the towns of La Possession (Cirque de Mafate), St-Paul, Trois-Bassins, St-Leu, Les Avirons, L'Etang Salé, l'Entre-Deux, St-Louis, St-Pierre, St-Joseph, Le Tampon, la Plaine des Palmistes et Cilaosbetween the 1st and the 3rd of january 2014. The heavy rainfalls induced several landslides during the days following the cyclone.

 

Sources:

B. Aunay, S. Bès de Berc, E. Chateauminois, A. Rey, L. Schuller, G. Thirard, C. Vincent (2014) – Impacts du cyclone BEJISA sur l’île de la Réunion. Compte rendu des observations réalisées en janvier 2014. Rapport final. Rapport BRGM/RP-63149-FR. 93 p., 24 fig., 2 tabl., 2 ann.

Rapport météorologique suite au passage à proximité de La réunion du cyclone tropical Bejisa. Météo-France