Mozambique to be hit by another tropical storm

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Mozambique to be hit by another tropical storm

6:52 CAT | 18 Feb 2021

Image: Twitter / @jnmet

A tropical storm likely to intensify into a cyclone is approaching Mozambique, South Africa’s Weather Services (SAWS) said on Wednesday, battering an area hit by cyclone Eloise less than a month back.

Tropical storm Guambe is strengthening in the southern half of the Mozambique Channel with a high likelihood of torrential rain, strong winds and flooding along southern Mozambique’s coast and adjacent interior regions, especially from Beira through Vilanculos and southward to Inhambane, SAWS said in a statement.

This will be the third storm to hit Mozambique’s coast in as many months as climate change warms up sea water, making the low-lying areas in the country, whose ports are a gateway to land-locked African countries, particularly vulnerable.

Moderate Tropical Storm #Guambe has formed over the Mozambique Channel & can reach TC intensity this weekend. Landfall not expected but heavy rain & gusty winds possible along the S coast of #Mozambique late Thursday into Saturday. pic.twitter.com/dtPdB4aUdI

— Jason Nicholls (@jnmet) February 17, 2021

In January, Cyclone Eloise slammed into Mozambique’s central port city of Beira and surrounding districts, which were hit by tropical storm Chalane in December. The area is still recovering from the devastation of Cyclone Idai in 2019.

Cyclone Eloise weakened to a tropical storm but caused heavy rain and flooding across southern Africa. Homes, crops and infrastructure in Mozambique, Zimbabwe, eSwatini and South Africa were destroyed, with tens of thousands of people displaced.

The weather service said at this stage it was unlikely that Guambe would hit South Africa.

Source: Reuters