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Cyclone Funso

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Intense Tropical Cyclone Funso
Intense tropical cyclone (SWIO scale)
Category 4 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Cyclone Funso on January 23
FormedJanuary 19, 2012 (2012-01-19)
DissipatedStill active
Highest winds10-minute sustained: 195 km/h (120 mph)
1-minute sustained: 220 km/h (140 mph)
Lowest pressure936 hPa (mbar); 27.64 inHg
FatalitiesAt least 40
Areas affectedMozambique, Malawi
Part of the 2011–12 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season

Intense Tropical Cyclone Funso is an active tropical cyclone located offshore Mozambique.

Meteorological history

Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

The origins of Cyclone Funso were from an area of convection in the Mozambique Channel. On January 17, a low-level circulation developed in the area as the convection organized into intense rainbands. An upper-level anticyclone provided favorable conditions for development, including weak wind shear and good outflow.[1] The system encountered warm sea surface temperatures, and favorable inflow from the south of its circulation was expected to increase after Subtropical Depression Dando dissipated over southern Africa.[2] Late on January 18, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) issued a tropical cyclone formation alert, indicating a high chance of the system becoming a tropical cyclone.[3] At 0000 UTC the next day, Météo-France (MF) classified it as Tropical Disturbance 8 about halfway between Mozambique and Madagascar in the northern Mozambique Channel.[4] About six hours later, the agency upgraded the disturbance to a tropical depression, after the convection became better organized.[5] The JTWC had also begun issuing advisories on the system by that time, labeling it Tropical Cyclone 08S.[6]

Upon forming on January 19, the depression was moving to the southwest along the northern edge of a ridge.[5] Though the system's low-level structure was disorganized, it gradually improved over the course of the day;[6] MF upgraded the system to Moderate Tropical Storm Funso at 1200 UTC on January 19, or about 12 hours after its formation. Around that time, there was a warm spot, or a precursor to an eye, in the middle of a circular area of convection.[7] Funso rapidly intensified after the eye became better established, and the MF upgraded the storm to a tropical cyclone – the equivalent of a 120 km/h (75 mph) hurricane – early on January 20.[8] By that time, the outflow had increased significantly, partly due to an upper-level trough providing ventilation to the southeast.[9] Shortly after Funso intensified into a tropical cyclone, the eye disappeared on satellite imagery,[10] although this was due to the small size of the eyewall. Further intensification was forecast to be limited by the cyclone's interaction with the coast of Mozambique, as well as upwelling from its slow movement.[11]

On January 20, Funso turned to the west and slowed, due to its position between a ridge to the northwest of Madagascar and another ridge near the Mozambique-South Africa border.[12] The convection to storm's west over land diminished while the center remained well-organized.[13] Despite land interaction, Funso intensified further, and the JTWC assessed 1 minute winds of 185 km/h (115 mph) early on January 21, based on the appearance of a well-defined eye 15 km (9 mi) in diameter.[14] Around the same time, MF estimated the storm attained 10 minute maximum sustained winds of 165 km/h (105 mph), making Funso an intense tropical cyclone. At the time, the storm was located about 110 mi (70 mi) east of Quelimane, Mozambique,[15] and its movement was nearly stationary.[14] By late on January 21, however, Funso weakened due to land disrupting the convection. A building ridge to the north forced the cyclone to the southeast into an area favorable for re-intensification.[16] As the storm moved away from the Mozambique coastline, the convection became better organized,[17] and the eye gradually reformed.[18] Minimal wind shear, excellent outflow, and water temperatures of at least 28 °C (82 °F) allowed for significant strengthening.[19] Late on January 23, the JTWC estimated 1 minute sustained winds of 215 km/h (135 mph), and the agency forecast further strengthening to 260 km/h (160 mph).[20] Early the next day, MF estimated 10 minute sustained winds of 195 km/h (120 mph) about 330 km (200 mi) southeast of Quelimane, Mozambique.[21]

After reaching peak intensity, Funso turned toward the southwest due to a building ridge to its east.[22] Late on January 24, the cyclone began an eyewall replacement cycle, which initiated a brief weakening trend.[23] MF remarked that Funso weakened below intense tropical cyclone intensity early on January 25.[24] At the same time, the JTWC estimated the cyclone intensified further to peak 1 minute sustained winds of 220 km/h (140 mph), based on estimates via the Dvorak technique. The agency noted that the eyewall replacement cycle finished and produced a well-defined eye 28 km (17 mi) in diameter.[25] At 1200 UTC on January 25, MF again upgraded Funso to an intense tropical cyclone,[26] and later that day the cyclone began another eyewall replacement cycle.[27]

Impact

During the overnight hours of January 18, a ship carrying 54 people sank on its way from Anjouan to Mayotte amidst rough seas produced by Funso. At least 15 passengers drowned while dozens remain missing.[28]

Although the core of the storm remained offshore of Mozambique, over three million people were affected by tropical storm-force winds.[29] The most affected area was Zambezia Province, where 2,571 families were directly affected as of January 23. There were 16 deaths in the province.[30] Seven of the fatalities occurred in the Maganja da Costa District and one was in the provincial capital Quelimane. More than 5000 people were displaced by the weather conditions.[31] Later, Funso brushed the coastline of the Inhambane Province with rains and winds of 70 km/h (40 mph). The cyclone affected the country about a week after Subtropical Depression Dondo struck southern Mozambique, causing flooding and deaths.[30]

Authorities in Malawi were concerned about the fate of more than 450 families that lost their homes in the southern Nsanje District due to the effects of Funso, which mostly affected Bangula and Phokela, as three rivers overflowed. Heavy rains destroyed more than 320 houses and flooded 125 more and local crops were devastated, leaving whole communities at risk of starvation. With a death toll of at least 40, it is the third deadliest tropical cyclone to hit Mozambique, only behind Severe Tropical Storm Delfina from the 2002-03 season, and Cyclone Leon-Eline from the 1999-00 season.[32]


References

  1. ^ "Significant Tropical Weather Advisory for the Indian Ocean". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 2012-01-17. Retrieved 2012-01-23.
  2. ^ "Bulletin for Cyclonic Activity and Significant Tropical Weather in the Southwest Indian Ocean". Météo-France. 2012-01-17. Retrieved 2012-01-23.
  3. ^ "Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 2012-01-18. Retrieved 2012-01-24.
  4. ^ "Tropical Disturbance 8 Warning Number 1". Météo-France. 2012-01-19. Retrieved 2012-01-24.
  5. ^ a b "Tropical Depression 8 Warning Number 2". Météo-France. 2012-01-19. Retrieved 2012-01-24.
  6. ^ a b "Tropical Cyclone 08S (Eight) Warning NR 001". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 2012-01-19. Retrieved 2012-01-24.
  7. ^ "Moderate Tropical Storm 8 (Funso) Warning Number 3". Météo France. 2012-01-19. Retrieved 2012-01-24.
  8. ^ "Tropical Cyclone 8 (Funso) Warning Number 5". Météo-France. 2012-01-20. Retrieved 2012-01-25.
  9. ^ "Tropical Cyclone 08S (Funso) Warning NR 003". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 2012-01-20. Retrieved 2012-01-25.
  10. ^ "Tropical Cyclone 8 (Funso) Warning Number 6". Météo-France. 2012-01-20. Retrieved 2012-01-25.
  11. ^ "Tropical Cyclone 8 (Funso) Warning Number 7". Météo-France. 2012-01-20. Retrieved 2012-01-25.
  12. ^ "Tropical Cyclone 08S (Funso) Warning NR 004". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 2012-01-20. Retrieved 2012-01-25.
  13. ^ "Tropical Cyclone 08S (Funso) Warning NR 005". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 2012-01-20. Retrieved 2012-01-25.
  14. ^ a b "Tropical Cyclone 08S (Funso) Warning NR 006". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 2012-01-21. Retrieved 2012-01-25.
  15. ^ "Intense Tropical Cyclone 8 (Funso) Warning Number 10". Météo-France. 2012-01-21. Retrieved 2012-01-25.
  16. ^ "Tropical Cyclone 08S (Funso) Warning NR 007". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 2012-01-21. Retrieved 2012-01-25.
  17. ^ "Intense Tropical Cyclone 8 (Funso) Warning Number 17". Météo-France. 2012-01-22. Retrieved 2012-01-25.
  18. ^ "Tropical Cyclone 08S (Funso) Warning NR 009". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 2012-01-22. Retrieved 2012-01-25.
  19. ^ "Tropical Cyclone 08S (Funso) Warning NR 010". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 2012-01-23. Retrieved 2012-01-25.
  20. ^ "Tropical Cyclone 08S (Funso) Warning NR 011". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 2012-01-23. Retrieved 2012-01-25.
  21. ^ "Intense Tropical Cyclone 8 (Funso) Warning Number 25". Météo-France. 2012-01-24. Retrieved 2012-01-25.
  22. ^ "Intense Tropical Cyclone 8 (Funso) Warning Number 27". Météo-France. 2012-01-24. Retrieved 2012-01-25.
  23. ^ "Intense Tropical Cyclone 8 (Funso) Warning Number 28". Météo-France. 2012-01-24. Retrieved 2012-01-25.
  24. ^ "Tropical Cyclone 8 (Funso) Warning Number 30". Météo-France. 2012-01-25. Retrieved 2012-01-25.
  25. ^ "Tropical Cyclone 08S (Funso) Warning NR 014". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 2012-01-25. Retrieved 2012-01-25.
  26. ^ "Intense Tropical Cyclone 8 (Funso) Warning Number 31". Météo-France. 2012-01-25. Retrieved 2012-01-25.
  27. ^ "Intense Tropical Cyclone 8 (Funso) Warning Number 32". Météo-France. 2012-01-25. Retrieved 2012-01-25.
  28. ^ Template:Fr icon http://www.linfo.re/-Faits-divers,372-/Le-naufrage-d-un-kwassa-kwassa-fait-15-morts-a-Anjouan
  29. ^ Feeds, Newsroom America (January 24, 2012). "Automatic impact report (JRC) FUNSO-12 in SWIndian". Newsroom America GDACS Daily Newsletter. Retrieved 25 January 2012. {{cite news}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  30. ^ a b "Simultaneous storms leave 25 dead". ReliefWeb. Integrated Regional Information Networks. 2012-01-25. Retrieved 2012-01-25.
  31. ^ AFP, Sapa (2012-01-23). "Cyclone Funso kills 12 in Mozambique". Times Live. Retrieved 2012-01-25.
  32. ^ "Malawi faces Cyclone Funso as floods displace 450 families". Nyasa Times. 2012-01-23. Retrieved 2012-01-23.
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