Tropical Cyclone “Hidaya” formed on May 1, 2024, north of Madagascar, Comoros, and Mayotte as the 9th named storm of the 2024/24 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season. The cyclone peaked around 00:00 UTC on May 3 at 148 km/h (92 mph) but is now starting to come down, albeit slowly. Widespread heavy rainfall is forecast in Tanzania, starting this evening, May 3, and continuing until Sunday morning, May 5. Severe flooding is likely.
Severe Tropical Storm “Filipo” made landfall on the northeastern coast of Inhambane Province, Mozambique, close to Inhassoro City around 03:00 UTC on March 12, 2024. The storm brought over 150 mm (5.9 inches) of rainfall in 12 – 18 hours, destroying homes, schools, and electrical infrastructure, and leaving many in urgent need of humanitarian aid.
Tropical Storm “Filipo” formed on March 10, 2024, as the 7th named storm of the 2023/24 South West Indian Ocean cyclone season. Filipo is expected to continue intensifying and make landfall between the extreme south of Sofala Province and Inhambane Province, north of Vilanculos, early morning UTC on March 12 as a severe tropical storm.
Tropical Storm “Eleanor” formed over the southern Indian Ocean on February 19, 2024, as the 6th named storm of the 2023/24 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season. The cyclone is strengthening as it turns southward toward Saint Brandon and Mauritius. The current forecast track takes its center very close to Mauritius on February 23.
Tropical Storm “Candice” formed close to Mauritius around 08:00 UTC on January 24, 2024, as the third named storm of the 2023/24 South-West Indian Ocean tropical cyclone season. Candice is currently a quasi-stationary system with it center located just north of Mauritius.
The eye of Tropical Cyclone “Belal” passed over the northern part of Reunion Island (population 870 000), shortly after 06:00 UTC on January 15, 2024, with maximum sustained winds of 148 km/h (92 mph), and gusts to 213 km/h (132 mph).
Residents of Mauritius and La Reunion are bracing for a possible significant impact from a developing tropical cyclone — Tropical Cyclone 05S, expected to rapidly intensify and pass between the islands on January 15, 2024, as a Category 3 hurricane equivalent. When named (Belal), this will be the second named storm of the 2023/24 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season.
Tropical Cyclone “Alvaro” made landfall near Morombe, Madagascar on January 1, 2024, affecting over 4 500 people and causing significant property damage.
