Tropical cyclone Funso threat off Southeast Africa, Tropical cyclone Ethel forms in south Indian Ocean

A new tropical cyclone named Funso is forming between Mozambique and the island of Madagascar. A tropical depression has already landed in southern Mozambique near Maputo, triggering local flooding at start of this week. Moreover, torrential rain in northern Mozambique has been related to the present tropical low. Madagascar and Mozambique have already seen adverse tropical weather this month. Tropical Cyclone Chandra buffered western and southern Madagascar on the January 8-9th.


According to latest Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) warning bulletin,Tropical cyclone 08S (FUNSO) is now located 595 nm Northeast of Maputo, Mozambique (18.3S 39.3E), south of Maagascar. It is moving West-Southwestward at 8 knots over the past 6 hours. By now it has undergone a period of rapid intensification with a visible “eye” present.
Tropical cyclone 07S (ETHEL) is located 580nm East-NortEast of La Reunion and its moving Southwestward at 10 knots over the past 6 hours, JTWC reported. Maximum significant wave heights is 5.2 meters (17 feet).

Satellite Animations
- Meteosat 7 Infrared (Meteosat 7; CIMSS)
- Meteosat 7 Infrared (Color Background) (Meteosat 7; CIMSS)
- Meteosat 7 Infrared (NHC Color Enhancement) (Meteosat 7; CIMSS)
- Meteosat 7 Water Vapor (Meteosat 7; CIMSS)
- Meteosat 7 Water Vapor (Color Background) (Meteosat 7; CIMSS)
Featured image credit: LANCE/MODIS/EOSDIS/Aqua
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Hi Ethel
We are travelling on a cruise liner to Mozambique on Monday and returning to South Africa on Friday (having departed from Mozambique on Thursday.) Would this cyclone affect us in any way – even on our return trip, as it is believed that it would be travelling south by Thursday?
We are currently in Vilanculos and would like to find out if it will hit us at some point. We are experiencing bad weather this side and want to take precautionary measures.
This is an S shaped system and its predicted to turn southwestward and it could turn toward Madagascar. But I’m not sure will it affects your city hard but according to 5-day forecasts there is a pretty big chance that it will hit your area.. Maximum waves height is about 17 feet JTWC said. Here you can get latest forecast tracks: JTWC, Wunderground. I’m having trouble with opening Mozambique national weather services website. The best way is to listen local weather services and warnings and regulary check satellite imagery (here) Hope that it will stay at the sea