Cyclone Jude has wreaked havoc in Mozambique, dumping over 200mm of rain in just one day, destroying 900 homes, and cutting power to 40,000 residents. This marks the third cyclone to strike Mozambique this season. Initially identified as a depression last Friday near Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, Jude evolved into a moderate tropical storm, impacting northern Madagascar on Saturday and resulting in at least one fatality.
As Jude moved west across the Mozambique Channel, warm sea temperatures nearing 30°C fueled its transformation into a tropical cyclone. It made landfall in Mozambique early Monday, unleashing sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and gusts reaching 120 mph, akin to a category 1 hurricane. The coastal areas of Memba, Monapo, Mossuril, Mozambique Island, and Nacala experienced severe flooding due to the heavy rainfall, grounding flights and leaving 40,000 people without electricity. So far, six deaths have been attributed to the cyclone, and 900 homes have been destroyed.
Though Jude has weakened, forecasts indicate it may loop back over the Mozambique Channel and head east toward southern Madagascar later this week. Some predictions suggest it could regain tropical cyclone strength by the time it approaches Madagascar on Friday night, potentially causing further damage.
Meanwhile, South Africa experienced intense thunderstorms on Thursday, with KwaZulu-Natal province under a level 6 alert for heavy rain and flooding. A cold front moving through the area caused warm air to rise and condense, triggering the storms. Approximately 100mm of rain fell within 24 hours, and while thunderstorms are expected to persist on Friday, they are likely to be less severe.
In Western Australia, Perth was hit by a powerful thunderstorm on Thursday, with wind gusts reaching 70 mph (113 km/h), leading to power outages for thousands. At Culford weather station, 41.2mm of rain was recorded in three hours, while Barberton East and Maxon Farm stations reported 30.8mm and 30.4mm of rain, respectively, in just 30 minutes, causing localized flooding.