Tropical Cyclone Filipo brought wind and rain to Mozambique on Monday night. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Monday the center of Tropical Cyclone Filipo was located at latitude 21.1°S and longitude 35.5°E which put it about 50 miles (80 km) northeast of Machanga, Mozambique. Filipo was moving toward the southwest at 8 m.p.h. (13 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 990 mb.
Tropical Cyclone Filipo strengthened to near the threshold for a hurricane/typhoon as it approached the coast of Mozambique on Monday night. A small circular eye appeared intermittently on microwave satellite images of Tropical Cyclone Filipo. The eye was surrounded by a ring of thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 130 miles (210 km) in the southern half of Filipo’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 50 miles (80 km) in the northern half of Tropical Cyclone Filipo.
Bands in the western half of Tropical Cyclone Filipo were bringing wind and rain to parts of eastern Mozambique on Monday night. The strongest winds and heaviest rain were occurring along the portion of the coast from Divinhe to Vilankulo. Heavy rain was falling near Machanga, Mambone and Macovane. A storm surge of up to 7 feet (2 meters) was possible along the coast from Divinhe to Vilankulo.
Tropical Cyclone Filipo will move around the western end of a high pressure system over the Southwest Indian Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Filipo toward the south-southwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, the center of Tropical Cyclone Filipo will move inland near Machanga and Mambone during the next few hours. The center of Filipo’s circulation will pass west of Inhambane and Maputo. Tropical Cyclone Filipo will weaken gradually when it moves inland. However, Filipo will continue to cause strong winds and to drop locally heavy rain over eastern Mozambique. Heavy rain is likely to cause flash floods in some locations.