 An area of thunderstorms formed on January 22 east of the northern tip of Madagascar , organizing into a tropical disturbance three days later . By late on January 25 , the MFR upgraded the system to Tropical Storm Connie , and on the same day the JTWC initiated advisories on the storm as Tropical Cyclone 08S . With favorable conditions , Connie gradually organized while initially stationary , later beginning a steady southeast motion on January 26 . The JTWC upgraded the storm to the equivalent of a minimal hurricane on January 27 , around the same time that the MFR upgraded Connie to tropical cyclone status . The storm 's eye became well @-@ defined as the winds increased , and the MFR estimated peak 10 ‑ minute winds of 185 km / h ( 115 mph ) on January 28 ; on the same day , the JTWC estimated peak 1 ‑ minute winds of 220 km / h ( 140 mph ) . Increased shear weakened the storm as it curved southwestward , and late on January 29 Connie passed about 130 km ( 80 mi ) northwest of Réunion . The storm turned to the southeast again and became extratropical on February 1 , dissipating the next day . 
