Météo-France's meteorological office in Réunion (MFR) is the official Regional Specialized Meteorological Center for the South-West Indian Ocean, tracking all tropical cyclones from the east coast of Africa to 90° E. At the beginning of the season, the MFR moved the tropical cyclone year from August 1 to July 1.
The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC), which is a joint United States Navy – United States Air Force task force that issues tropical cyclone warnings for the region, also issued advisories for storms during the season.

During the season, MFR issued advisories on 16 systems, of which 13 intensified to reach tropical storm force winds, meaning conditions were generally favorable for tropical cyclogenesis.
The 13 systems with tropical storm force winds is only one short of the most such storms since the beginning of satellite-tracking in the 1967–68 season, set in the 1993–94 season.
This is four more than the average of nine named storms.
In this season, there were 24 days on which tropical cyclones were active, slightly above normal, but only one storm – Kalunde – remained at that intensity for more than three days.
By contrast, there were 68 days in which a tropical storm was active in the basin, which is 15 days above normal.
The season began early and ended late; only four seasons began earlier and four ended later than this season since the start of satellite-coverage in the basin.


In addition to the named storms and an unnamed tropical storm in September, there was one non-developing tropical depression.
On December 25, Tropical Depression 05 developed in the northeastern portion of the basin.
It moved to the south and later southeast, crossing into the Australian region on December 27.
A day later, the JTWC issued its last advisory.
Météo-France's meteorological office in Réunion (MFR) is the official Regional Specialized Meteorological Center for the South-West Indian Ocean, tracking all tropical cyclones from the east coast of Africa to 90° E. At the beginning of the season, the MFR moved the tropical cyclone year from August 1 to July 1. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC), which is a joint United States Navy – United States Air Force task force that issues tropical cyclone warnings for the region, also issued advisories for storms during the season.
During the season, MFR issued advisories on 16 systems, of which 13 intensified to reach tropical storm force winds, meaning conditions were generally favorable for tropical cyclogenesis. The 13 systems with tropical storm force winds is only one short of the most such storms since the beginning of satellite-tracking in the 1967–68 season, set in the 1993–94 season. This is four more than the average of nine named storms. In this season, there were 24 days on which tropical cyclones were active, slightly above normal, but only one storm – Kalunde – remained at that intensity for more than three days. By contrast, there were 68 days in which a tropical storm was active in the basin, which is 15 days above normal. The season began early and ended late; only four seasons began earlier and four ended later than this season since the start of satellite-coverage in the basin.

In addition to the named storms and an unnamed tropical storm in September, there was one non-developing tropical depression. On December 25, Tropical Depression 05 developed in the northeastern portion of the basin. It moved to the south and later southeast, crossing into the Australian region on December 27. A day later, the JTWC issued its last advisory.
2002–03 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season