Tropical Cyclone Funso Threatens Southeast Africa
By Evan Duffey, Meteorologist
Jan 23, 2012; 8:47 AM ET
Tropical Cyclone Funso in the Mozambique Channel Sunday, Jan 22, 2012. (Navy Research Lab Monterrey)
A tropical cyclone in the Mozambique Channel will menace the southeastern coast of Africa with potentially damaging winds and flooding rain this weekend and heading into next week.
Tropical Cyclone Funso is currently within 75 miles of the Mozambique coastline. The compact system is displaying a well-defined low-level circulation, and has sustained winds of over 105 mph.
The showers and thunderstorms from Funso have already triggered localized flooding downpours on both sides of the Channel. Funso's slow-moving nature has added to the problem, bringing a continuous stream of rain into some places.
Funso is expected to turn away from land and continue to strengthen as it gains some distance from land. The current forecast has the systems sustained winds approaching 125 mph later this week.
However, the system will be moving away from land, south through the channel during the week. Once it begins moving southward, it shouldn't pose as much of a threat to land as it currently does.
The area has already had significant adverse tropical weather this month. Tropical Cyclone Chandra made landfall in western Madagascar early in the month.
Next, Tropical Depression Dando landed in southern Mozambique near Maputo. Almost 500 people were left homeless in Maputo, the nation's capital, in the aftermath of Dando's flooding rain and damaging winds, the Associated Press reported on Wednesday.
Torrential rain triggered by Dando also reached into northeastern South Africa.
Also in the Indian Ocean right now is Tropical Cyclone Ethel, which is weaker and possess little threat to land.
For more information check out the Accuweather.com Tropical Page
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