Mozambique: Meteorologists warn of possible formation offshore of tropical storm – Lusa

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Mozambique: Meteorologists warn of possible formation offshore of tropical storm – Lusa

7:01 CAT | 11 Jan 2024

Image: Meteo France

The National Institute of Meteorology of Mozambique (INAM) this Thursday warned of the formation near Madagascar of a low pressure system with the potential to develop into a tropical storm in the coming days.

“A low atmospheric pressure system formed northeast of the island of Madagascar, in the southwest Indian Ocean basin, with the potential to evolve into a Moderate Tropical Storm near the east coast of Madagascar on January 14, 2024,” a statement from INAM reports.

However, INAM adds that the system, “still does not pose a danger either to the Mozambique Channel or to the mainland” of Mozambique, and concludes: “INAM continues to monitor the evolution of this system and calls on the population to continue following meteorological information and warnings disseminated by the competent national authorities.”

🌀In the SW Indian Ocean, RSMC La Reunion has started issuing forecasts on tropical system n°02 this Thursday 12UTC
It is forecast to develop into Tropical Storm #BELAL on Saturday then keep intensifying while moving near #Mauritius/LaReunion around Mondayhttps://t.co/4bCTHA15Vq https://t.co/yfQhGJU254 pic.twitter.com/68PCsjJ4yo

— Etienne Kapikian (@EKMeteo) January 11, 2024

The President of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, called at the end of September for Mozambicans and relevant entities to prepare for the expected effects of the ‘El Ninõ’ weather phenomenon in the country in the coming months, with associated forecasts of above-normal rainfall or drought.

“History repeats itself. So, we have to create conditions of resilience. In this sense, the Government will issue regular warnings to keep the population informed and prepared for weather conditions that may not be favourable to life, production or infrastructure,” the head of state stated.

President Nyusi warned that forecasts indicate that the country will once again “record the ‘El Ninõ’ phenomenon”, which “could bring normal rains with a tendency to above normal in the centre and north of the country, and normal rains with a tendency to below normal, which could lead to some outbreaks of drought in the southern region”.

“This requires us all to be cautious and prepared to face this challenge caused by climate change. Let us organise ourselves. I call on you to save and reserve water for consumption and for our livestock,” he further warned.

“This is an appeal that I make to the entire country. Therefore, let us be attentive and follow the guidelines to mitigate the impact, avoiding or minimising damage and losses, including human lives, on the one hand, on the other, that we carry out adequate management and responsibility for water, especially in times of scarcity,” he added in the same message.

Mozambique is considered one of the countries most severely affected by climate change in the world, cyclically facing floods and tropical cyclones during the rainy season, which runs between October and April.
The 2018-2019 rainy season in Mozambique was one of the most severe in living memory. Seven hundred and fourteen people died, including 648 victims of cyclones Idai and Kenneth, two of the biggest ever to hit the country.

In the first quarter of last year, intense rains and the passage of Cyclone Freddy caused 306 deaths, affecting more than 1.3 million people in the country and destroying 236,000 homes and 3,200 classrooms, according to official figures.

A tropical low NNE of the #Mascarene Islands can become Moderate TS #Belal as it track S over the next couple of days. System will bring heavy rain, areas of flooding & gusty winds to the archipelago Saturday through Monday. pic.twitter.com/4fIl2xi5tq

— Jason Nicholls 💙 (@jnmet) January 11, 2024

We now have #Invest97S and MFR has already dropped the first forecast cone for what is expected to become #Belal. Forecast shows a Tropical #Cyclone (118-166 km/h 10 min mean) landfall on #Réunion Monday before a brief peak as an Intense Tropical Cyclone. #tropicswx #storm pic.twitter.com/dofxLnjIcc

— Sausiuswx (@Sausius_wx) January 11, 2024

Source: Lusa