Northern Mozambique faces its third cyclone in four months, with Cyclone Jude making landfall and causing no reported casualties yet. The country has experienced severe weather and significant destruction from previous cyclones. Cyclone season typically runs from November to April, with expectations of potential further intensification of Cyclone Jude as it moves inland.
Northern Mozambique experienced severe weather on Monday as Cyclone Jude made landfall, marking the region’s third cyclone in just four months. According to the National Institute of Meteorology (INAM), the cyclone initially arrived with winds reaching 140 kilometers per hour, with gusts of up to 195 kilometers per hour. It subsequently downgraded to a severe tropical storm accompanied by thunderstorms, although no casualties were reported by Monday afternoon.
Typically, the cyclone season in the southwestern Indian Ocean runs from November to April, with approximately twelve storms occurring annually. Cyclone Chido struck the region in December, resulting in the deaths of at least 120 individuals and the destruction of nearly 120,000 homes. Additionally, Cyclone Dikeledi hit in mid-January, which claimed five lives and damaged around 3,500 homes.
Forecasts indicate that Cyclone Jude is expected to weaken as it progresses inland and may circulate near the Mozambique-Malawi border. Moreover, the regional cyclone center in La Reunion suggests that the cyclone could potentially intensify as it moves southwest towards Madagascar.
Northern Mozambique is grappling with the repercussions of Cyclone Jude, its third cyclone encounter within four months. Previous cyclones, Chido and Dikeledi, have already caused significant casualties and destruction. The meteorological forecasts highlight a potential weakening of Jude, but there remains concern for further intensification in the subsequent days, particularly as it approaches Madagascar.
Original Source: www.ecr.co.za