Tropical Cyclone Dineo was one of the deadliest tropical cyclones on record in the South-West Indian Ocean and Southern Hemisphere as a whole.[2] It was the first tropical cyclone to hit Mozambique since Cyclone Jokwe in 2008.
Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression
The origins of Dineo can be tracked back to a cluster of thunderstorms that organized into an area of low pressure in the Mozambique Channel on 11 February. Over the next two days, the system gradually drifted in a generally southern track as it gained intensity and prompted the JTWC to issue a TCFA.[3] On 13 February, RSMC La Réunion declared that a Tropical Disturbance had formed in the area and began issuing advisories.[4] Located in a very favorable environment, the depression quickly increased in intensity and both the RSMC and JTWC noted winds of at least 65 km/h (40 mph) later that day, with the RSMC subsequently naming the storm Dineo. Dineo intensified to a tropical cyclone later on. It reached its peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and a low barometric pressure of 955 hPa (mbar); 28.20 inHg on 15 February. Dineo made landfall on the coast of Mozambique, and it started weakening after landfall on the same day. On 17 February after making landfall, the JTWC issued the final advisory on Dineo. Dineo later dissipated after a few hours on the same day.[5][6]
Impact
Dineo struck Mozambique on 15 February as a tropical cyclone, bringing torrential rain and damaging winds.[7] Dineo was the first tropical cyclone to hit Mozambique since Cyclone Jokwe in 2008.[8] Satellite-derived estimates indicated up to 200 mm (7.9 in) of rain fell in Inhambane.[7] At least seven people were killed across the country,[9] including a child crushed by a fallen tree in Massinga.[10] An estimated 20,000 homes were destroyed and approximately 130,000 people were directly affected.[9] Widespread flooding took place in Zimbabwe, with Mutare, Chiredzi, and Beitbridge particularly hard-hit.[11] At least 271 people were killed by the storm and damage exceeded US$200 million.[12][13][14] The storm's remnants triggered destructive floods in Botswana.[15] In the month following the storm, a cholera outbreak in Mozambique and Malawi infected more than 1,200 people and claimed 2 lives.[16][17]
Cyclone Jokwe (2008) – The most recent tropical cyclone to hit Mozambique prior to Dineo
Cyclone Idai (2019) – A similar, but stronger and deadlier tropical cyclone which affected similar areas
References
^"DINEO : 2017-02-11 TO 2017-02-17". Météo-France La Réunion. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
^"Tropical Cyclone Idai's Death Toll in Mozambique May Exceed 1,000 by Dr. Jeff Masters | Category 6". Weather Underground. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
^"Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (TCFA) - Cyclone Dineo". Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC). Archived from the original on 21 May 2024. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
^"Tropical Cyclone Warning 001 (RSMC) - Cyclone Dineo". RSMC La Réunion. Archived from the original on 21 May 2024. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
^"Tropical Cyclone Warning (RSMC) 003 - Cyclone Dineo". RSMC La Réunion. Archived from the original on 21 May 2024. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
^"Tropical Cyclone Warning (JTWC) 001 - Cyclone Dineo". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Archived from the original on 21 May 2024. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
^ abShenaaz Jamal (16 February 2017). "Dineo lashed Mozambique with 200mm of rain". Times Live. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
^"Tropical Cyclone Dineo hits Mozambique". ReliefWeb. World Meteorological Organization. 15 February 2017. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
^ ab"Storm Dineo kills at least seven people in Mozambique - govt". Times Live. Reuters. 16 February 2017. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
^"Child 'killed by falling tree', as cyclone Dineo hits Mozambique". News 24. 16 February 2017. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
^"Cyclone Dineo Hits Zimbabwe". NewsdzeZimbabwe. 16 February 2017. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
^"Companion Volume to Weather, Climate & Catastrophe Insight" (PDF). Aon Benfield. 24 January 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 March 2018. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
^"Urgent call for assistance to flood victims - Zimbabwe". 7 March 2017.
^"Zimbabwe Flood Snapshot (As of 09 March 2017) - Zimbabwe". 9 March 2017.
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Tropical cyclone
Subtropical cyclone
Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression
