Cyclone Kenneth Category 4, rapidly approaching Mozambique, Tanzania
Cyclone Kenneth is expected to bring with it in excess of 200 mm of rainfall and an oceanic storm surge of around 4 metres.
Tropical Cyclone Kenneth, which is hurtling towards the
northern regions of Mozambique, has been upgraded to a Category 4 storm.
The grim arrival of Cyclone Kenneth comes in the recent wake
of one of Southern Africa’s worst tropical disasters. Cyclone Idai ravaged
Mozambique in March, costing at least 1000 people their lives, leaving
thousands more destitute and damaging vital infrastructure, including
healthcare facilities and power generating units.
Mozambique still recovering from
Cyclone Idai
This is terrifying.
Cyclone Kenneth is growing rapidly and headed for Mozambique.
It's been barely more than a month since Cyclone Idai hit Mozambique — triggering the worst weather disaster in Southern Hemisphere history.
Kenneth will worsen an already horrific tragedy. pic.twitter.com/2zipiPY2sz
— Eric Holthaus (@EricHolthaus) April 23, 2019
Devastation also spread to Malawi and Zimbabwe, displacing and embattling almost 3 million people. Idai is on record as being one of the worst tropical cyclones to impact Africa and the Southern Hemisphere. It also ranks as the third-deadliest tropical cyclone ever recorded.
Read: Cyclone Idai: Mozambique receives $118m from IMF to rebuild
While Mozambique continues to count the cost of Cyclone
Idai, slowly sifting through the unparalleled destruction, housing the displaced
and attempting to contain a vicious Cholera outbreak, yet another storm is due
to impact the embattled nation later this week.
Cyclone Kenneth expected to make landfall on Thursday night
#CycloneKenneth is heading for northern Mozambique's Cabo Delgado province and will make landfall on Thursday evening.
Wind speeds of 150 km/h will lash the coastline upon landfall and >300 mm of rain is expected from Thurs. to Sat. over a large part of the province. #eNCA pic.twitter.com/XWkZt0PPrZ
— eNCAWeather (@eNCAWeather) April 24, 2019
Worryingly, Cyclone Kenneth, which began to form above the Indian
Ocean on 21 April, has recently been upgraded to Category 4, with wind speeds
estimated to exceed 215 km/h. Cyclone Idai made landfall at Category 3 and
resulted in unmitigated ruin.
Fearing the worst, evacuation procedures have already been implemented in northern Mozambique and Tanzania. According to Storm Report SA:
“Kenneth could possibly be one of the strongest cyclones to hit Eastern Africa that close to the equator. It will likely bring impact to Tanzania too – the country rarely receives any tropical cyclone impact.”
The island nation of Comoros has already felt the impact of Cyclone
Kenneth, which has forced the closure of all airports and schools.
Cyclone Kenneth is expected to bring with it in excess of 200 mm of rainfall and an oceanic storm surge of around 4 metres. These compounded conditions are likely to result in widespread flooding, particularly in coastal regions.
Intense Tropical Cyclone #Kenneth is still tracking west and is expected to move over the north-eastern parts of Mozambique later today. Wind in excess of 200km/h is expected with heavy rain and flooding as well as storm surge along the coast. #Mozambique pic.twitter.com/4QU74eKLBB
— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) April 25, 2019