Tag Archives: Tropical Cyclone Ana

Tropical Cyclone Ana Brings Wind and Rain to Northern Mozambique

Tropical Cyclone Ana brought wind and rain to northern Mozambique on Monday morning. At 7:00 a.m. EST on Monday the center of Tropical Cyclone Ana was located at latitude 16.4°S and longitude 38.6°E which put it about 35 miles (55 km) west of Moma, Mozambique. Ana was moving toward the west at 21 m.p.h. (33 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 992 mb.

The center of Tropical Cyclone Ana made landfall on the coast of northern Mozambique between Angoche and Moma on Monday morning. Ana was the equivalent of a tropical storm at the time of landfall. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 160 miles (260 km) in the eastern side of Ana’s circulation. The strongest winds were occurring over the Mozambique Channel. The winds were weaker over land. Thunderstorms in bands in the western half of Tropical Cyclone Ana were dropping heavy rain over parts of northern Mozambique.

Tropical Cyclone Ana will move around the northern side of a high pressure system over the Southwest Indian Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Ana toward the west during the next 36 hours. On its anticipated track the center of Tropical Cyclone Ana will move across northern Mozambique and southern Malawi. The center of Ana could pass near Mualama, Mucubela, and Mocuba. Tropical Cyclone Ana will weaken gradually as it moves farther inland. Ana will bring gusty winds and locally heavy rain to northern Mozambique, southern Malawi and northern Zimbabwe. Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations. Weather conditions over the Mozambique Channel should improve slowly as Tropical Cyclone Ana moves farther inland.

Tropical Cyclone Ana Strengthens over Mozambique Channel

Tropical Cyclone Ana strengthened over the Mozambique Channel on Sunday. At 10:00 p.m. EST on Sunday the center of Tropical Cyclone Ana was located at latitude 15.8°S and longitude 41.5°E which put it about 110 miles (175 km) east-northeast of Angoche, Mozambique. Ana was moving toward the west at 14 m.p.h. (22 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 991 mb.

A former tropical depression strengthened to Tropical Cyclone Ana over the Mozambique Channel on Sunday. The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the northern side of the center of Ana’s circulation on Sunday evening. Other bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of circulation. The strongest thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the northern and western parts of Ana. Bands in the southeastern part of the circulation consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. The air in that part of Tropical Cyclone Ana had passed over Madagascar and may have been sinking. Storms near the center of Ana generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away to the west of the tropical cyclone. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 160 miles (260 km) from the center of circulation.

Tropical Cyclone Ana will move through an environment favorable for intensification for the next few hours. Ana will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 30˚C. It will move under the northwestern part of an upper level ridge over the Southwest Indian Ocean. The ridge will produce easterly winds that will blow toward the top of the circulation. Those winds will cause some vertical wind shear, but the wind shear will not be strong enough to prevent intensification. Ana could get stronger before it reaches the coast of Mozambique on Monday.

Tropical Cyclone Ana will move around the northern side of a high pressure system over the Southwest Indian Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Ana toward the west during the next 36 hours. On its anticipated track the center of Tropical Cyclone Ana could make landfall on the coast of Mozambique near Angoche in a few hours. Ana will bring gusty winds and locally heavy rain to northern Mozambique, southern Malawi and northern Zimbabwe. Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations. Tropical Cyclone Ana could cause a storms surge of up to six feet (2 meters) along the northern coast of Mozambique.

Tropical Cyclone Bina Develops Northwest of Fiji

Tropical Cyclone Bina developed northwest of Fiji on Sunday. At 10:00 a.m. EST on Sunday the center of Tropical Cyclone Bina was located at latitude 14.0°S and longitude 175.7°E which put it about 315 miles (510 km) northwest of Labasa, Fiji. Bina was moving toward the southeast at 16 m.p.h. (26 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 994 mb.

As Tropical Cyclone Ana was moving away from Fiji, Tropical Cyclone Bina developed northwest of that nation. A low pressure system northwest of Fiji strengthened on Sunday and the Fiji Meteorological Service designated the system as Tropical Cyclone Bina. More thunderstorms formed near the center of Bina. Those storms generated upper level divergence which pumped mass away from the tropical cyclone. The circulation around Tropical Cyclone Bina was small. Winds to tropical storm force only extended out 80 miles (130 km) from the center of Bina.

Tropical Cyclone Bina will move through an environment marginally favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Bina will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 28°C. An upper level trough east of Australia will produce northwesterly winds which blow toward the top of the tropical cyclone. Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear and they will inhibit intensification. Tropical Cyclone Bina will likely maintain its intensity during the next 24 hours.

The upper level trough will steer Tropical Cyclone Bina toward the southeast during the next 36 hours. On its anticipated track Bina could reach Vanua Levu within 18 hours. Tropical Cyclone Bina will bring gusty winds and locally heavy rain to Fiji during the next 36 hours. The stormy conditions will make efforts on Viti Levu and Vanua Levu to recover from Tropical Cyclone Ana more difficult. Heavy rain could make floods caused by Ana to become worse.

Elsewhere over the Southwest Pacific Ocean, Tropical Cyclone Ana was moving away from Fiji and Tropical Cyclone Lucas was strengthening over the Coral Sea. At 10:00 p.m. EST on Sunday the center of Tropical Cyclone Ana was located at latitude 19.9°S and longitude 179.7°E which put it about 105 miles (17 km) south of Suva, Fiji. Ana was moving toward the south-southeast at 9 m.p.h. (15 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 80 m.p.h. (130 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 978 mb.

At 10:00 p.m. EST on Sunday the center of Tropical Cyclone Lucas was located at latitude 13.2°S and longitude 156.0°E which put it about 870 miles (1405 km) west-northwest of New Caledonia. Lucas was moving toward the east at 17 m.p.h. (28 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 80 m.p.h. (130 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 979 mb. Tropical Cyclone Lucas is forecast to strengthen into the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon. It could affect New Caledonia and Vanuatu in a few days.

Tropical Cyclone Ana Forms Northwest of Fiji

Tropical Cyclone Ana formed northwest of Fiji on Friday afternoon. At 1:00 p.m. EST on Friday the center of Tropical Cyclone Ana was located at latitude 15.3°S and longitude 175.4°E which put it about 215 miles (345 km) northwest of Nadi, Fiji. Ana was moving toward the east at 13 m.p.h. (20 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 992 mb.

A low pressure system northwest of Fiji strengthened on Friday afternoon and the Fiji Meteorological Service designated the system as Tropical Cyclone Ana. More thunderstorms developed near the center of Ana. Thunderstorms also formed in bands in the eastern half of the tropical cyclone. Bands in the western side of the circulation consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Storms near the center began to generate upper level divergence which pumped mass away to the north and east of the tropical cyclone.

Tropical Cyclone Ana will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Ana will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 29°C. It will move under the eastern end of an upper level ridge that is oriented from west to east. The ridge will produce southerly winds which will blow toward the top of the tropical cyclone. Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear which will inhibit intensification at times. Tropical Cyclone Ana is likely to intensify during the next 24 hours, but the wind shear could limit strengthening.

Tropical Cyclone Ana will move around the southwestern part of a high pressure system over the South Pacific Ocean. The high will steer Ana toward the southeast during the next 36 hours. On its anticipated track the center of Tropical Cyclone Ana could reach the northern coast of Vita Levu within 36 hours. Ana will bring gusty winds and heavy rain to the Yasawa Group of islands first and then it will bring stormy conditions to Vita Levu and Vanua Levu. Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations.