Weakened Tropical Cyclone Chido Brings Rainfall To Zimbabwe

Tropical Cyclone Chido, which caused significant damage in Mayotte, a French territory in the Indian Ocean, on Saturday, made landfall in Mozambique on Sunday, bringing destructive winds exceeding 200 km/h. The cyclone has since weakened into an overland depression.

According to the Meteorological Service Department (MSD) of Zimbabwe, the cyclone’s movement over land has resulted in reduced wind speeds and rainfall intensity due to increased frictional forces. Said the MSD:

On Sunday, December 15, 2024, at 0615hrs, Tropical Cyclone Chido (named by Zimbabwe) made landfall over northern Mozambique near Pemba in the Cabo Delgado Province.

The cyclone brought destructive winds exceeding 200km/hr and heavy rains with rainfall rates reaching 30mm per hour.

This resulted in flash flooding in the coastal area. Fortunately, Chido (no longer a cyclone but an overland depression) continued its west-south-westward movement into Tete Province still in northern Mozambique.

Buy Samsung, itel, Redmi smartphones in Zimbabwe

WhatsApp: +263715068543

As of Monday, the residual moisture from the overland depression led to cloudy conditions in the northeastern parts of Zimbabwe, bringing light to moderate rainfall to Manicaland and Mashonaland East provinces as early as 9 AM.

These remnants of moisture are expected to combine with the usual influx from the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone, which typically brings rainfall to Zimbabwe starting in mid-December, along with a cloud band moving in from Botswana.

This combination is projected to result in moderate rainfall, ranging from 30 to 80 mm, across much of the country.

More: Pindula News