Cyclone Jude has wreaked havoc along Mozambique’s Indian Ocean coast, bringing fierce winds, torrential rains, and widespread destruction. This marks the third cyclone to hit Mozambique this season, disrupting lives and infrastructure across the region.
Jude first emerged as a depression on March 14 near Diego Garcia before intensifying into a moderate tropical storm, hitting northern Madagascar on March 15. The storm has already caused six fatalities and damaged 900 houses before reaching Mozambique.
Fueled by sea surface temperatures near 30°C, Jude strengthened into a tropical cyclone over the Mozambique Channel. It made landfall early this morning, delivering sustained winds of 120 km/h and gusts up to 193 km/h, comparable to a Category 1 hurricane. Coastal areas, including Memba, Monapo, Mossuril, Mozambique Island, and Nacala, bore the brunt of the storm, with over 200mm of rain triggering severe flooding. Flights were cancelled, and 40,000 people were left without electricity.
Though Jude has weakened, forecasts indicate it may regain cyclone strength over the Mozambique Channel and strike southern Madagascar by Friday night, raising fears of further devastation.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province was placed on Level 6 alert after intense thunderstorms on March 13 dumped 100mm of rain in 24 hours, causing flash floods. Meteorologists linked the storms to a cold front lifting warm air, which rapidly condensed into severe weather.
With Jude’s potential resurgence, both Mozambique and Madagascar remain on high alert as authorities brace for further impacts.