it as Tropical Disturbance 8. The shear gradually decreased, allowing the thunderstorms to organize as it moved westward. On February 28, the JTWC classified the system as Tropical Cyclone 15S, and on February 29 the MFR upgraded it to tropical depression status. The depression turned west-northwestward before rounding a ridge and turning to the southwest. The thunderstorms organized into a central dense overcast on March 1, prompting the MFR to upgrade it to Moderate Tropical Storm Gloria only from the northeast coast of Madagascar. Gloria continued quickly to the southwest, gradually intensifying and developing an eye feature; on that basis, the MFR estimated peak 10‑minute winds of , or severe tropical storm status, by the time it made landfall north of Sambava. Operationally, the JTWC upgraded Gloria to the equivalent of a minimal hurricane, with 1‑minute winds of , although the agency downgraded the storm to the same peak as the MFR. The structure initially remained well-defined, although the circulation became difficult to locate as it progressed through the country. On March 4, the system exited Madagascar into the Mozambique Channel with scattered thunderstorms slowly reforming. On the next day, the JTWC discontinued advisories, although the MFR continued monitoring the system, labeling it as a tropical disturbance on March 8. Later that day, Gloria made landfall near Inhambane in southeastern Mozambique before turning to a southward drift, dissipating on March 10. As a developing disturbance, Gloria produced winds approaching gale-force on St. Brandon. Similar conditions were reported on Tromelin. When Gloria struck Madagascar, it produced sustained winds of at Antalaha, about south of Sambava. The storm brought heavy rainfall, with Mananjary reporting a two‑day total of . The rains from Gloria occurred less than two weeks after Cyclone Leon–Eline struck the country, bringing additional flooding, landslides, and damage. In Sambava, near where Gloria moved ashore, the storm killed 18 people, destroyed hundreds of homes, and damaged a road connecting the area to the capital of Madagascar, Antananarivo. Farther inland, the cyclone killed 40 people at Andapa. Overall, Gloria killed at least 66 people, although the exact toll was initially unknown due to disrupted communications. Before Gloria emerged into the Mozambique Channel, various news outlets noted the potential for the storm to affect storm-ravaged Mozambique. However, minimal rainfall accompanied Gloria's final landfall. The rains were enough to delay flights for a day, which were transporting relief aid following Eline's devastating landfall