Cyclone Dineo Explained

Tropical Cyclone Dineo
Formed:12 February 2017
Dissipated:17 February 2017
Winds:75
Gusts:105
Pressure:955
Winds:85
Pressure:959
Year:2017
Damages:217000000
Fatalities:280
Affected:Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Botswana, South Africa
Refs:[1]
Season:2016–17 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season

Tropical Cyclone Dineo was one of the deadliest tropical cyclones on record in the South-West Indian Ocean and Southern Hemisphere as a whole.[2] It was the first tropical cyclone to hit Mozambique since Cyclone Jokwe in 2008.

Meteorological history

The origins of Dineo can be tracked back to a cluster of thunderstorms that organized into an area of low pressure in the Mozambique Channel on 11 February. Over the next two days, the system gradually drifted in a generally southern track as it gained intensity and prompted the JTWC to issue a TCFA.[3] On 13 February, RSMC La Réunion declared that a Tropical Disturbance had formed in the area and began issuing advisories.[4] Located in a very favorable environment, the depression quickly increased in intensity and both the RSMC and JTWC noted winds of at least 65round=5NaNround=5 later that day, with the RSMC subsequently naming the storm Dineo. Dineo intensified to a tropical cyclone later on. It reached its peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and a low barometric pressure of 955 hPa (mbar); 28.20 inHg on 15 February. Dineo made landfall on the coast of Mozambique, and it started weakening after landfall on the same day. On 17 February after making landfall, the JTWC issued the final advisory on Dineo. Dineo later dissipated after a few hours on the same day.[5] [6]

Impact

Dineo struck Mozambique on 15 February as a tropical cyclone, bringing torrential rain and damaging winds.[7] Dineo was the first tropical cyclone to hit Mozambique since Cyclone Jokwe in 2008.[8] Satellite-derived estimates indicated up to 200mm of rain fell in Inhambane. At least seven people were killed across the country,[9] including a child crushed by a fallen tree in Massinga.[10] An estimated 20,000 homes were destroyed and approximately 130,000 people were directly affected. Widespread flooding took place in Zimbabwe, with Mutare, Chiredzi, and Beitbridge particularly hard-hit.[11] At least 271 people were killed by the storm and damage exceeded US$200 million.[12] [13] [14] The storm's remnants triggered destructive floods in Botswana.[15] In the month following the storm, a cholera outbreak in Mozambique and Malawi infected more than 1,200 people and claimed 2 lives.[16] [17]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: DINEO : 2017-02-11 TO 2017-02-17 . Météo-France La Réunion . 24 July 2023.
  2. Web site: Tropical Cyclone Idai's Death Toll in Mozambique May Exceed 1,000 by Dr. Jeff Masters Category 6. Weather Underground. 2019-03-21.
  3. Web site: Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (TCFA) - Cyclone Dineo. https://archive.today/20240521234845/https://www.webcitation.org/6oEAzKmfo?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/WTXS21-PGTW_201702121300.htm. dead. 21 May 2024. Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC). 20 October 2017.
  4. Web site: Tropical Cyclone Warning 001 (RSMC) - Cyclone Dineo. https://archive.today/20240521235053/https://www.webcitation.org/6oryyuQbD?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/WTIO24-FMEE_201702130015.htm. dead. 21 May 2024. RSMC La Réunion. 20 October 2017.
  5. Web site: Tropical Cyclone Warning (RSMC) 003 - Cyclone Dineo. https://archive.today/20240521235009/https://www.webcitation.org/6oHEQJsLq?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/WTIO24-FMEE_201702131224.htm. dead. 21 May 2024. RSMC La Réunion. 20 October 2017.
  6. Web site: Tropical Cyclone Warning (JTWC) 001 - Cyclone Dineo. https://archive.today/20240521234926/https://www.webcitation.org/6oFnlEtBb?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/WTXS31-PGTW_201702131500.htm. dead. 21 May 2024. Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 20 October 2017.
  7. News: Dineo lashed Mozambique with 200mm of rain. Shenaaz Jamal. February 16, 2017. February 16, 2017. Times Live.
  8. Web site: Tropical Cyclone Dineo hits Mozambique. February 15, 2017. ReliefWeb. February 16, 2017. World Meteorological Organization.
  9. News: Storm Dineo kills at least seven people in Mozambique - govt. February 16, 2017. February 16, 2017. Times Live. Reuters.
  10. News: Child 'killed by falling tree', as cyclone Dineo hits Mozambique. February 16, 2017. February 16, 2017. News 24.
  11. News: Cyclone Dineo Hits Zimbabwe. February 16, 2017. February 16, 2017. NewsdzeZimbabwe.
  12. Web site: Companion Volume to Weather, Climate & Catastrophe Insight. 24 January 2018. Aon Benfield. 18 March 2019. 2 March 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180302001946/http://thoughtleadership.aonbenfield.com/Documents/20180124-ab-if-annual-companion-volume.pdf. dead.
  13. Web site: Urgent call for assistance to flood victims - Zimbabwe. 7 March 2017 .
  14. Web site: Zimbabwe Flood Snapshot (As of 09 March 2017) - Zimbabwe. 9 March 2017 .
  15. http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/MDRBW003.pdf
  16. Web site: Malawi Registers New Cases of Cholera. March 18, 2017. ReliefWeb. March 21, 2017. Voice of America.
  17. Web site: Aid agencies in Mozambique call for support for Cyclone Dineo response - Mozambique. ReliefWeb. 6 March 2017 . en. 2019-03-18.