WCS Joins Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi to advance conservation efforts
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Tropical cyclone Chalane was located about half way between Madagascar and Mozambique on Tuesday morning, generating winds of 45 knots (83 kilometres an hour).
#Chalane is now a severe TS over the Mozambique Channel and can become a tropical cyclone or category 1 hurricane equivalent before striking central #Mozambique on Wednesday. The storm can be problematic for areas still trying to recover from #Idai back in March 2019. pic.twitter.com/VD2IUydkDG
— Jason Nicholls (@jnmet) December 29, 2020
At 09.00 the cyclone was about 290 kilometres north of the French possession of Europa Island.
According to the Joint Typhoon Warning Centre (JTWC), operated by the United States navy, Chalane is now heading almost due west, on a course that ensures it will make landfall very near the central Mozambican city of Beira early on Wednesday morning. By then the wind speed may have increased to over 90 kilometres an hour.
Speaking at a Maputo press conference on Monday, the assistant national director of the National Emergency Operational Centre (CENOE), Antono Beleza, said the provincial emergency centres in Sofala and Manica in the centre of the country, and Inhambane and Gaza in the south, have been activated.
“The local risk and disaster management committees have also been activated”, he said, “and messages have been sent out urging people to evacuate areas at risk of flooding”.
Em época ciclónica, é importante saber se preparar para choques climáticos intensos e prevenir eventuais danos. Algumas medidas devem ser tomadas para garantir a segurança de todas e todos.#Chalane #ODS11 pic.twitter.com/OVNT3blscV
— UN-Habitat Moçambique (@UNHabitatMoz) December 29, 2020
The head of the weather forecasting department in the National Meteorological Institute (INAM), Acacio Tembe, said that the surface temperatures of the Mozambique Channel are warm – 30 to 31 degrees centigrade – “and this will ensure that the storm system gains energy and intensifies”.
The cyclone is generating waves in the Mozambique Channel that are currently up to four metres high, and are likely to reach heights of five to six metres by Tuesday afternoon.
When the cyclone hits land, INAM predicts winds of 90 kilometres an hour, with gusts of 110 kilometres an hour. It will bring rainfall of 100 millimetres in 24 hours to much of Sofala province. But by the time the storm crosses the provincial boundary into Manica, the rainfall will have declines to around 50 millimetres in 24 hours.
Watch the visit to Beira, Sofala province, of INGC director Luisa Meque, in the TV Miramar report below.
The Ministry of the Sea, Inland Waters and Fisheries has warning all fishing companies and artisanal fishermen not to put out to sea, and to move their boats and fishing gear to safe areas.
Tropical Cyclone Chalane strengthens east of Mozambique, max wind 50 mph (80 km/h), moving west at 18 mph (30 km/h). pic.twitter.com/0Fe98flRCE
— Jay Hobgood (@jayhobgood) December 29, 2020
View of Africa and the Indian Ocean basin featuring TC #Chalane today 12/29 real-time #Meteosat8 SEVIRI Full Disk Visible and Infrared products with the #UWSSEC derived Rain Rate satellite composite. See a hi-res version here-> https://t.co/lX9JmT6kw6 #RealEarth™ #UWCIMSS pic.twitter.com/TB85ZTLhYm
— Russell Dengel (@RussellDengel) December 29, 2020
Chalane gradually strengthening in the Mozambique channel. Appears that poor divergence aloft will likely cap off its peak intensity at ~Cat 1. Chalane is anticipated to reach tropical cyclone status prior to landfall tmr morning in the vicinity of Beira: pic.twitter.com/B3GAZu92Ae
— Weathe☈ Whiz Kid (@Themeteoguy) December 29, 2020
29/12 16h00: Windy’s past 6 hours animated satellite image of tropical storm ‘Chalane’ gaining strength off the Mozambique coast. pic.twitter.com/Qf4Suzdzy1
— Dullstroom Weather Station (@Dullsweather) December 29, 2020
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