Tropical cyclone ‘Giovanna’ had us all guessing this week – and it’s not over yet!
She made landfall in Madagascar on Tuesday the 14th of February with heavy rain and strong winds causing damage to many buildings. We had many observers sending us photographs of heavy seas along the coast and we had access to many sites giving us a graphic illustration of her path.
Reports of winds up to 180kph were reported and the capital Antananarivo and from densely populated areas around the capital. Two deaths have been reported so far and as the cyclone moved south westward over the Island, it turned in to category 1 tropical storm.
Measurements taken when it was still a category 4 cyclone showed winds reaching 230kph.
Power was shut down and communications were disrupted, schools and business closed their doors and people were sent home.
In some areas, 7 of every 10 houses have been destroyed and the Red Cross have their hands full with people looking for shelter, food and clothing.
However, once over the Indian Ocean, it could gather moisture and strength but now it seems to be headed back on itself – yet weathermen are still not sure which path it is going to follow.
The South African Weather Service, SAWS have indicated that if it moves back into the Mozambique Channel it could cause rain over Mozambique and northern KZN.
We will continue to keep an eye on this cyclone and this time around, Hamnet and other amateurs were kept informed of the situation and many were on stand by should it become necessary.
To crown it all, Cyclone ‘thirteen’ – it has no name yet, is gathering strength over the Indian Ocean but is still far away from Madagascar and it’s path shows that is may pass the southern tip of Madagascar. That may sound ominous if it continues that way – but time will tell how strong it becomes and in which direction it eventually goes.
Reporting for Hamnet, this is Francois Botha – ZS6BUU.
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