Tropical Storm Dineo to bring heavy rain to Lim
The tropical weather system is expected to affect parts of Limpopo and Mpumalanga later this week says the South African Weather Service.
POLOKWANE – The South African Weather Service has warned that Tropical Storm Dineo is set to reach Tropical Cyclone stage with further intensification by Wednesday.
DINEO expected 2 reach Tropical Cyclone Stage, further intensification is expected & storm 2 reach Intense Tropical Cyclone midday Wednesday pic.twitter.com/0H66I6L6KS
— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) February 14, 2017
On Monday, the Weather Service stated they had been monitoring the development of a tropical weather system in the Mozambique Channel, saying the weather system has the potential to result in severe weather impacts over the north eastern parts of the country later this week.
Photo: SA Weather Service
“Weather conditions in the Mozambique Channel continue to be hot and humid‚ with light winds in the atmosphere‚ whilst sea-surface temperatures exceed 30°C over the eastern part of this region‚ adjoining the Mozambique Channel. These are all favourable ingredients for the growth and intensification of tropical lows.”
Further intensification is expected and the storm will reach the Intense Tropical Cyclone (winds of up to 166-212 km/h) around midday (Wednesday), before making landfall at midnight near Inhambane in southern Mozambique.
South Africa will only start to experience the rain from this tropical system on Thursday over the Lowveld, spreading westwards by Friday.
Whilst there is much uncertainty regarding the location and timing of the storm’s impact within South Africa, the most likely areas to be affected include the Ehlanzeni district (including the Kruger National Park) in Mpumalanga as well as Mopani and Vhembe districts in Limpopo, before spreading to other districts in Limpopo.
