Tropical cyclone Gezani, which made landfall to Madagascar’s east coast on Tuesday, killing 31 people, has reintensified over the Mozambican Channel.

According to the Severe Weather and Information Centre SA (SwaicSA), the system is nearing Mozambique’s southern coastline, particularly the Inhambane region.

“Tonight [Friday] into tomorrow, it may approach the coast closely or make landfall, bringing significant to severe impacts including very heavy rain, destructive winds, storm surge, possible mud and landslides, and flooding,” said SwaicSA.

At this stage, the system is then forecast to move away from the coast into the southern Mozambique Channel, in a south-east to easterly direction over the weekend.

“But uncertainty increases beyond Saturday.”

However, the system is not expected to make landfall to South Africa.

According to the SA Weather Service (SAWS), the system remains well defined, with organised connective cloud bands concentrated around its centre.

“In South Africa, cloudy and cool conditions are observed in the east, with active isolated to scattered thunder showers,” said SAWS.

“There remains no direct threat to South Africa at this stage. Gezani, which developed over the south-west Indian Ocean to the east of Madagascar, made landfall over Madagascar as a tropical cyclone on Tuesday afternoon.

“After moving inland, it weakened to an overland depression before entering the Mozambique Channel.

“Upon entering the Mozambique Channel, where environmental conditions are favourable, the system intensified to tropical storm status and subsequently to tropical cyclone stage this afternoon,” said the SAWS on Thursday.

Don’t have the ZO app? Download it to your Android or Apple device here:

HAVE YOUR SAY