 Well away from land, the JTWC reported that a tropical disturbance developed on January 1. Initially, the storm remained weak, but later on January 11, the JTWC noted that the system had intensified into a tropical storm. Continuing to intensify, the storm moved towards the southwest. On January 12, MFR first classified the system; within six hours, it was declared a moderate tropical storm. As Celestina made a turn towards the south-southwest, MFR estimated that Celestina attained peak intensity as a severe tropical storm at 0600 UTC on January 13. According to the JTWC, the storm briefly developed hurricane-force winds; however, Celestina began to weakened thereafter. Moving south, Celestina was situated roughly 350 mi (565 km) east of Madagascar. Furthermore, on January 15, Celestina briefly re-intensified while undergoing a counterclockwise loop. By January 18, Celestina resumed a weakening trend; by that night, MFR downgraded the system into a tropical depression as it was now moving south-southwest. The storm was re-upgraded into a moderate tropical storm three days later, on January 21. However, this trend was short lived and that evening, the JTWC stopped monitoring the system. MFR followed suit at 0600 UTC on January 23. During its lifetime, Severe Tropical Storm Celestina brought rains to Reunion, peaking at 600 mm (25 in) in Trois-Bassins.
