 Toward the middle of January , the Intertropical Convergence Zone ( ITCZ ) spawned an area of convection between Diego Garcia and St. Brandon . A tropical disturbance formed the next day , characterized by spiral rainbands around a circulation . The JTWC classified the system as Tropical Cyclone 09S on January 16 . The system moved to the southeast , intensifying into tropical storm status on January 17 , whereupon it was named Alinina by the Mauritius Meteorology Service . Later that day , the JTWC upgraded the storm to the equivalent of a minimal hurricane due to the storm 's quick organization while passing east of Rodrigues . On January 18 , the MFR estimated peak 10 minute winds of 95 km / h ( 60 mph ) , while the JTWC assessed peak 1 minute winds of 140 km / h ( 85 mph ) . Subsequently the storm weakened , and Alinina turned sharply westward on January 20 due to a building ridge to the south . On that day , the storm weakened to tropical depression status , and the JTWC discontinued advisories . However , Alinina quickly retained tropical storm status . Once the ridge turned to the east , the storm turned to the southeast , the same day that the JTWC reissued advisories . Shortly thereafter , the agency upgraded Alinina to the equivalent of a hurricane for a second time . This was short @-@ lived , as Alinina rapidly weakened while accelerating to the southeast , dissipating on January 23 as it was absorbed by the westerlies . 
