Mozambique: Maputo parking silo is in operation since Monday
Photo: Twitter / @CateTurton
A powerful tropical cyclone could hit Mozambique by the end of the week, says the South African Weather Service (SAWS).
Tropical Cyclone Idai has developed in strength and is forecast to make landfall by Saturday, March 16.
“When it makes landfall, it weakens slightly but the impact is still there. The winds are still strong – about 50 knots or 100km/h,” SAWS forecaster Venetia Phakula told News24 on Monday.
The cyclone is expected to lash the country with heavy rain and strong winds in the northern parts.
“Most of the rain is in the northern parts of Mozambique. It’s forecast to be 90mm in 24 hours on the 16th of March,” said Phakula.
#CARE #Mozambique #Flooding #Cyclone Eighteen. Storm already caused flooding in Mozambique and Malawi. 32,222 people affected , 4,242 people are displaced and 7 death in Zambezia and Tete provinces. Still worst to come for coastal regions as storms develops into cyclone. pic.twitter.com/FHTKKGG65c
— Marc Nosbach (@NosbachMarc) March 10, 2019
Mozambican authorities alerted
Idai is expected to produce about triple the amount of rain that fell during the devastating October 2018 Gauteng storms.
SAWS said that it was in communication with Mozambican authorities through its national joint operations centre (NATJOC).
“We even have a NATJOC – they come together and distribute information to all relevant countries. There is communication between us and the Mozambican people,” said Phakula.
Data from the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOOA) showed a strong storm system over the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique and west of Madagascar.
According to Windy.com, the cyclone will travel in a southerly direction and weaken substantially by Friday when peak wind speed is expected to drop to 70km/h.
News24 reported that Tropical Storm Dineo, with winds in excess of 166km/h, hit Mozambique in February last year. It followed Tropical Storm Desmond, which hit in January of the same year.
“This is typical weather for this time of year,” said Phakula.
Pending #Mozambique #Cyclone now named #Idai as storm gains strength. Landfall still expected as CAT 3 – north of #Beira / #Zambezia. #CARE teams on standby for assistance pic.twitter.com/pO2T6ieQ5T
— Marc Nosbach (@NosbachMarc) March 10, 2019
Unpredictable
In 2000, 800 people in Mozambique died as a result of floods caused by heavy rains.
Phakula warned that storms can be unpredictable.
“You might expect it to make landfall in one area and then it changes direction.”
The system is not expected to have a significant impact on the weather in South Africa.
Tropical Cyclone #Idai continues to strengthen and now has 115 mph winds – making it 7th major #hurricane of 2018/19 South Indian Ocean (SIO) cyclone season to date. Average to date for the SIO is 3 major #hurricanes. Idai forecast to head SW and make landfall in Mozambique pic.twitter.com/UthQOUJ5K4
— Philip Klotzbach (@philklotzbach) March 11, 2019
#Mozambique #Flooding reported from Tete. Worst to come for coastal areas of Nampula and Zambezia as storm expected to gain strength in channel of Mozambique pic.twitter.com/yjRhsFjFPO
— Marc Nosbach (@NosbachMarc) March 8, 2019
#Mozambique #Flooding at Rio Lualua in Derre (zambezia) pic.twitter.com/ngt3YSyzCY
— Marc Nosbach (@NosbachMarc) March 8, 2019
#HappeningNow: @WFP transport, storage and distribution #emergency team unload 45 tons of cereals and 6 tons of dried beans and peas in Caia, to support #INGC-led assistance to more than 62,000 people affected by #MozambiqueFloods2019 in the center and north of the country. pic.twitter.com/ec86ycGugE
— WFP Mozambique (@wfp_mozambique) March 11, 2019
So proud of WFP teams in Tete and Quelimane supporting INGC in flood response from the very outset. Coordination is ?? too! Here they are in Tete with INGC to sort all relief supplies already being distributed. Unfortunately more bad weather ? and floods on its way #frontline pic.twitter.com/CZafk93ZDl
— Karin R Manente (@redaellimanente) March 9, 2019
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