Tag Archives: Zambezi River

Tropical Cyclone Desmond Brings Wind and Rain to Mozambique

Tropical Cyclone Desmond brought wind and rain to Mozambique on Monday.  At 4:00 p.m. EST on Sunday the center of Tropical Cyclone Desmond was located at latitude 18.8°S and longitude 36.3°E which put it about 25 miles (40 km) west of Conceicao, Mozambique.  Desmond was moving toward the west-northwest at 12 m.p.h. (19 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 1000 mb.

Tropical Cyclone Desmond made landfall in Mozambique near Ponta Timbue on Monday.  Thunderstorms developed on the western side of the circulation where the winds were blowing toward the land.  Those thunderstorms were dropping heavy rain over parts of Mozambique.  The strongest winds were occurring along the coast of Mozambique and over the Mozambique Channel.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out about 100 miles (160 km) on the eastern side of Tropical Cyclone Desmond.  Wind speeds were slower over land.

Tropical Cyclone Desmond will move around the eastern end of a subtropical high pressure system over southern Africa.  The high will steer Desmond toward the north-northwest.  On its anticipated track Tropical Cyclone Desmond will move farther inland over the Zambezi River toward southern Malawi.  Desmond will drop locally heavy rain over parts of the lower Zambezi River basin and flooding could occur in some locations.