Dangerous Category 4 Cyclone Funso
The eye of Cyclone Funso shows boldly in this visible satellite shot taken Jan. 24, 2012 (Joint Typhoon Warning Center)
Extremely dangerous Tropical Cyclone Funso has gained Category 4 status as it whirls southward off southern Africa.
The intense, slow-moving storm has left behind an unknown number of deaths and property damage since it formed off central Mozambique in the Mozambique Channel.
Tuesday, Funso was over open water of the southern Mozambique Channel, drifting southward, and was not an immediate threat to major land areas.
The hardest-hit area of the African nation may have been the province of Zambezia, whose coast was hammered by the storm's high winds, torrential rain and pounding waves between Friday and Monday. Disaster relief workers said that 12 people died in this province on Sunday, according to the Associated Press.
Since early last week, when Tropical Depression Dando landed with flooding rain and damaging winds near the country's capital of Maputo, Mozambique has suffered with at least 22 people killed and thousands abandoning their homes, multiple reports have said.
Tuesday morning, Eastern Time, the eye of Funso was between southern Madagascar and Mozambique and about 460 miles northeast of Maputo, according to the Tropical Cyclone Center on the island of La Reunion.
Highest sustained winds estimated by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center were above the 131-mph threshold for a Category 4 hurricane.
Official forecasts aim Funso southward, steering it well clear of both southeastern Africa and southwestern Madagascar during the next two to three days.
Forecast tools accessed by AccuWeather.com tend to concur. However, an approach to the southern coast of Mozambique cannot be ruled out.
More Weather News
-
Top Five Tornado Myths Debunked
Feb 23, 2012; 7:30 AM ET
Though everyone has seen a Hollywood tornado flick where a highway overpass has served as an effective shelter against an F-5 twister, officials say it's certainly not the recommended course of action.
-
Huge Contrast in East: Unusual Warmth vs. Snow
Feb 23, 2012; 5:10 AM ET
Whether or not warmth reaches you in the East Thursday into Friday will depend on which side of the meteorological fence you are on.
-
South, Tennessee Valley Severe Weather Risk
Feb 23, 2012; 5:09 AM ET
Locally severe thunderstorms will sweep through the Tennessee Valley and portions of the South.
-
Misconception: Mobile Homes are Hit More by Tornadoes
Feb 23, 2012; 5:08 AM ET
In the wake of a tornado, it's not uncommon to see images of devastating damage in mobile home communities while surrounding site-built homes appear relatively unscathed.
-
Winter Returns to the East Friday into Saturday
Feb 23, 2012; 5:07 AM ET
In a winter season that has been dominated by mild temperatures and lack of snow, the Great Lakes and the Northeast are in for a reminder that winter is not yet over.
-
Northern Plains Snowstorm May be Brewing
Feb 23, 2012; 5:06 AM ET
There is some indication a storm with wind and snow may crank up affecting the northern and central Plains later this weekend.
-
Snow May Reach Seattle Hills This Weekend
Feb 23, 2012; 5:05 AM ET
Snow could brush some of the hilltops around Seattle and will clog the Cascade passes this weekend.
-
Another Tropical Cyclone May Target Madagascar
Feb 23, 2012; 5:02 AM ET
Tropical Cyclone Giovanna stormed ashore in eastern Madagascar at mid month, packing 120-mph top winds.
-
Snowbound in. . . Africa?
Feb 23, 2012; 5:00 AM ET
Europe's extreme cold and heavy snow reached across Mediterranean waters to Africa, where severe winter weather was replicated in parts of Algeria and Tunisia.
-
Tornado Season Coming Soon
Feb 23, 2012; 4:58 AM ET
The tornado frequency increases in the spring as the warm and cold seasons battle it out in the U.S.
Daily U.S. Extremes
past 24 hours
| Extreme | Location | |
|---|---|---|
| High | 89° | Harlingen, TX |
| Low | 5° | Chama, NM |
| Precip | 2.56" | Stampede Pass, WA |
WeatherWhys®
Avalanches are caused by a number of factors. Thick layers of snow and ice of varying intensity along a mountainside are weakened by the force of gravity and changing weather conditions. At some point, this large mass of snow is released down the mountain in a form of an avalanche.
This Day In Weather History
New England (1802)
Great snowstorm raged over New England. 4 foot depths piled up north of Boston, three large Indiamen wrecked on Cape Cod.
S.W. Ohio (1962)
Severe glaze storm: Ice 1" thick, $1 million property damage.
Rough Weather
Comments
Comments left here should adhere to the AccuWeather.com Community Guidelines. Profanity, personal attacks, and spam will not be tolerated.