Hidaya has made landfall as per Kenya Met Department; but another depression is developing behind it

Cyclone Hidaya, which was barrelling its way towards the Tanzanian coast on May 3 night, has made landfall on May 4, according to the Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD). But the Department said there was another depression following the storm.

“Current observations indicate that Tropical Cyclone Hidaya has made landfall on the coast of Tanzania. However, there is another depression developing behind it, which the Department is monitoring closely,” the KMD said in a statement on May 4.

The Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA), in its last bulletin at 12.01 on May 4, said Hidaya was approximately 125 km from the coast of Kilwa, 93 km from the coast of Mafia and 128 km from the coast of Dar es Salaam. It had an air pressure of 985 hPa (hectopascal) and a wind speed of 120 kilometres per hour.

“…in the weather stations of Mtwara, Kilwa, Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam, strong winds exceeding 50 kilometres per hour have been measured at different times from last night until this morning,” the bulletin added.

During that time, the coast — especially in Lindi and Mtwara towns — witnessed heavy rainfall. The Mtwara station reported a total of 75.5 millimetres of rain within 12 hours until 9 pm on May 3.

“This amount of rain within 12 hours is very high considering that the average rainfall for the month of May for Mtwara station is only 54 millimetres. Thus, the amount of rain that fell within 12 hours in Mtwara station is approximately 140 percent of the average rainfall for the month of May for Mtwara station,” said TMA.

Hidaya was expected to continue moving closer to the coastal zone of Tanzania while gradually decreasing its strength towards the night of May 5, 2024.

Read Cyclone Hidaya to slam into Tanzania south of Dar es Salaam; Ruto puts Kenya on alert

The regions of Lindi, Mtwara, Pwani and Dar es Salaam as well as the island of Unguja and neighbouring areas would see heavy rains and strong winds in the coastal areas, the bulletin noted.

Meteo Reunion, French meteorlogical service Meteo France’s centre in the Indian Ocean French Overseas Department of La Reunion, is also monitoring the cyclone.

“The system has, as expected, undergone a very rapid weakening since last night under the effect of shear and dry air intrusion,” it said in its bulletin at 4:00 pm local time on May 4.

Hidaya was currently along the Tanzanian coastline, with a very likely dissipation shortly, the bulletin added.

The service warned that there would be continuous heavy precipitation until May 5 morning in southeastern Tanzania.

“Expect additional cumulations of 100 to 150 mm during the next 24 hours (mainly tonight) on the central and southern coast, mainly between Dar es Salaam and Mtwara but also inland,” it warned.

KMD said the effects of the cyclone were already being felt offshore, with strong winds exceeding 40 knots and large waves surpassing two metres.

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