 While Eline was making landfall on Madagascar , another area of convection formed to its east on February 17 within the ITCZ . Its structure was similar to a monsoon depression , due to a large circulation with weak winds near the center . However , it was organized enough to be classified as a tropical disturbance on February 18 to the southeast of Diego Garcia . It moved southeastward with increasing convection , prompting the Mauritius Meteorological Service to name it Felicia while still as a tropical depression on February 20 . The convection however remained disorganized , and there were several small circulations within the broad gyre . After turning to the southwest due to a nearby trough , Felicia 's circulation became more compact , as evidenced by a QuikSCAT pass . Outflow increased as wind shear decreased , and Felicia became a moderate tropical storm on February 21 . On the same day , the JTWC initiated advisories on the storm as Tropical Cyclone 12S . 
