'Weakened' Tropical Storm Ana Makes Landfall In Mozambique
Tropical Storm Ana made landfall over the Nampula province of Mozambique on Monday after crossing the Mozambique Channel from Madagascar amid indications that it was starting to lose energy.
A tropical storm ranks above a tropical depression but below a tropical cyclone.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a tropical depression has maximum sustained winds of 38 mph or less, a tropical storm has maximum sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph, while a tropical cyclone has maximum sustained winds of 74 mph.
Tropical Storm Ana lost energy over Madagascar, then as a depression, it picked up more energy as it moved west across the Mozambique Channel, and was reclassified as a moderate tropical storm.
However, by last night, Ana was starting to lose energy again and fairly soon, it will degenerate back into a tropical depression before fading out.
Meanwhile, the Department of Civil Protection (DCP) said that it had put in place what are now the normal precautions to deal with flooding or other effects emanating from heavy rainfall and strong winds.
DCP director, Nathan Nkomo, on Monday said his department had engaged the Grain Marketing Board to release 50 tonnes of maize per province for people who may be affected by floods.
He also said two Air Force of Zimbabwe helicopters were put on standby for transport or to evacuate people who may be marooned by floods. Said Nkomo:
If there is a need for evacuations, ZUPCO will be on standby to move people into evacuation centres.
Since school children are not in school, we will use the schools to accommodate those in need.
Manicaland Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Edgars Seenza, said all district civil protection units were spreading information to people about Tropical Storm Ana. Said Seenza:
We are also using texts and WhatsApp messages so that many people are aware of the heavy rains expected.
We are urging people in flood-prone areas to move to higher grounds and identified evacuation centres across the province.
Those moving to evacuation centres should carry food that will last for three or four days, bedding and their medication.
So far, we have not received any reports of areas receiving very high rainfall, save for Nyanga which received 11mm today (yesterday).
