Extremely dangerous Tropical Cyclone “Gati” rapidly intensifies before making historic landfall in Somalia
Featured image: Tropical Cyclone "Gati" at 11:30 UTC on November 22, 2020. Credit: EUMETSAT/Meteosat-8, RAMMB/CIRA, TW
Tropical Cyclone "Gati" has rapidly intensified to near Category 4 hurricane equivalent overnight November 22, 2020, and is now — 13:00 UTC on November 22 — making extremely dangerous landfall in Somalia. This is extremely dangerous, rapidly evolving situation leaving not much time for residents to prepare.
Gati formed early November 22 in the Arabian Sea, just east of Somalia, as the 3rd named storm of the 2020 North Indian Ocean cyclone season.
While the season is considered below average, with only six systems and 3 named ones, Somalia has never experienced such a powerful cyclone.
At 06:00 UTC on November 22, the center of Tropical Cyclone "Gati" was located approximately 380 km (235 miles) ESE of Bosaso, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC).
The storm had maximum sustained winds of 185 kph (115 mph), making it a Category 3 hurricane equivalent on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
Image credit: JTWC
Tropical Cyclone "Gati" at 11:30 UTC on November 22, 2020. Credit: EUMETSAT/Meteosat-8, RAMMB/CIRA, TW
The cyclone is expected to produce heavy rain and flooding across Somaliland and Puntland on November 22 and 23.
The potentially worst-affected areas include the Mudug, Nugaal and Bari in Puntland, and Sanaag in Somaliland.
The coast is of particular concern as the system makes landfall.
Gati has the potential to drop much more rainfall than the region experiences in an entire year — 100 mm (3.9 inches).
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Hope everybody in Somalia finds a safe place while the cyclone geti passes tomorrow morning.