As predicted by the South African Weather Service (SAWS) yesterday, the weak, embryonic tropical low-pressure system located between Madagascar and mainland southern Africa (Mozambique Channel) experienced significant intensification overnight, attaining a ‘Moderate Tropical Storm’ status, which is associated with average winds of 63 to 89kph.
“Consequently, it has now been elevated to a ‘named’ system, namely Moderate Tropical Storm ‘Filipo’. The storm is expected to affect mostly the southern parts of Mozambique, but some of its effects will also be felt over the extreme north-eastern parts of South Africa,” the SAWS said in a press release.
A tropical low-pressure system can be defined as a less-dense air mass that is usually wetter and warmer than the surrounding air. Such a system can cause the formation of clouds and storms.
Recent modelling estimates by the Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre (RSMC) in La Réunion suggest that storm surge is likely to…
