 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.
