Tag Archives: Botswana

Tropical Cyclone Eloise Makes Landfall in Mozambique

Tropical Cyclone Eloise made landfall on the coast of Mozambique on Friday night. At 11:00 p.m. EST on Friday the center of Tropical Cyclone Eloise was located at latitude 20.4°S and longitude 34.6°E which put it about 45 miles (75 km) south-southwest of Beira, Mozambique. Eloise was moving toward the west-southwest at 14 m.p.h. (22 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 110 m.p.h. (175 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 967 mb.

The center of Tropical Cyclone Eloise made landfall on the coast of Mozambique just to the south of Beira on Friday night. Eloise continued to intensify until the center made landfall. A small circular eye was evident on satellite images when Tropical Cyclone Eloise approached the coast. The eye was surrounded by a ring of strong thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Winds to hurricane/typhoon force extended out 20 miles (30 km) from the center of E;poise. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 125 miles (200 km) from the center.

It is likely that the northern eyewall of Tropical Cyclone Eloise produced winds of near hurricane/typhoon force in Beira. Southerly winds blowing water toward the coast may have caused a storm surge of up to 6 to 9 feet (2 to 3 meters). Eloise was continuing to produce gusty winds and heavy rain in the region around Beira. The tropical cyclone will weaken gradually as it moves inland over central Mozambique.

Tropical Cyclone Eloise will move around the northwestern part of a high pressure system over the Southwest Indian Ocean and southern Africa. The high will steer Eloise toward the west-southwest during the next 36 hours. On its anticipated track Tropical Cyclone Eloise will drop heavy rain over parts of central Mozambique, southern Zimbabwe, northern South Africa and eastern Botswana. Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations.

Tropical Cyclone Eloise Intensifies to Equivalent of Hurricane/Typhoon

Tropical Cyclone Eloise intensified to the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon on Friday. At 4:00 a.m. EST on Friday the center of Tropical Cyclone Eloise was located at latitude 19.0°S and longitude 37.5°E which put it about 190 miles (305 km) east-northeast of Beira, Mozambique. Eloise was moving toward the west-southwest at 17 m.p.h. (28 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 974 mb.

Tropical Cyclone Eloise intensified to the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon near the coast of Mozambique on Friday morning. The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the center of Eloise and an eye was visible on satellite images. A ring of strong thunderstorms surrounded the eye want the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Winds to hurricane/typhoon force extended out 30 miles (50 km) from the center of Tropical Cyclone Eloise. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 125 miles (200 km) from the center of circulation.

Tropical Cyclone Eloise will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next few hours. Eloise will move over water in the Mozambique Channel where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 29°C. It will move under the northern portion of an upper level ridge over the Southwest Indian Ocean and southern Africa. The ridge will produce easterly winds which will blow toward the top of the tropical cyclone. Those winds will cause some vertical wind shear but the shear will not be strong enough to prevent intensification. Tropical Cyclone Eloise is likely to get stronger today.

Tropical Cyclone Eloise will move around the northwestern part of a high pressure system over the Southwest Indian Ocean during the next two days. The high will steer Eloise toward the west-southwest. On its anticipated track Tropical Cyclone Eloise will make landfall on the coast of Mozambique near Beira in less than 12 hours. Eloise will be the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon when it approaches the coast.

Tropical Cyclone Eloise will bring winds to hurricane/typhoon force to the area around Beira, Mozambique. Eloise will weaken after it moves inland, but it will drop heavy rain over parts of central Mozambique, southern Zimbabwe, southern Botswana, and northern South Africa. Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations.

Tropical Cyclone Dineo Makes Landfall in Mozambique

Tropical Cyclone Dineo made landfall on the coast of Mozambique near Massinga on Wednesday.  Dineo intensified prior to landfall.  The maximum sustained wind speed at the time of landfall was 85 m.p.h. (135 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 105 m.p.h. (170 km/h).  Tropical Cyclone Dineo was capable of causing minor wind damage.  It may have produced a storm surge near and to the south of where the center made landfall.  Tropical Cyclone Dineo is producing locally heavy rain as it moves inland over Mozambique.

At 10:00 p.m. EST on Wednesday the center of Tropical Cyclone Dineo was located at latitude 23.3°N and longitude 33.6°E which put it about 125 miles (205 km) west-northwest of Inhambane, Mozambique.  Dineo was moving toward the west at 11 m.p.h. (17 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 70 m.p.h.  (110 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 85 m.p.h. (135 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 981.

Even though it has moved inland the structure of Tropical Cyclone Dineo is still very well organized.  The remnants of the eye and the eyewall are still visible on satellite imagery.  There are several rainbands rotating around the core of Tropical Cyclone Dineo.  The strongest winds are occurring in thunderstorms in the bands that are still offshore over the Indian Ocean.  The thunderstorms near the center of Dineo are still generating upper level divergence which is pumping mass away from the core of the tropical cyclone.

Tropical Cyclone Dineo will continue to weaken slowly as it moves farther inland.  The atmospheric environment is favorable for a tropical cyclone.  The upper level winds are weak and there is little vertical wind shear.  However, now that the core of Dineo is inland, it is away from the warm water of the Indian Ocean which fueled the tropical cyclone’s intensification.  So, Tropical Cyclone Dineo will spin down, but at a slower rate than occurs with some landfalling tropical cyclones.

A subtropical ridge is steering Tropical Cyclone Dineo toward the west and that general motion is expected to continue.  On its anticipated track the center of Tropical Cyclone Dineo could pass near Dindiza, Chigubo and Mapai in Mozambique.  Dineo could produce locally heavy rain when it moves over those areas.  Tropical Cyclone Dineo or its remnants could also bring locally heavy rain to parts of northern South Africa, southern Zimbabwe and eastern Botswana.