Tropical Cyclone Gombe – Mar 2022

Tropical storm GOMBE formed on 7 March over the Indian Ocean well off the coast of Madagascar, made landfall over southern Antsiranana Province (north-eastern Madagascar) in the late evening (UTC) of 7 March, with maximum sustained winds up to 65 km/h. On 8 March at 6.00 UTC, its centre was located inland in northern Toamasina Province, with maximum sustained winds of 55 km/h (tropical depression) […] Meteo Madagascar has issued a warning for strong wind over the whole coastal area of northern Madagascar. (ECHO, 8 Mar 2022)

Tropical cyclone GOMBE continued westward and passed over northern Madagascar (particularly northern Toamasina, and Mahajanga Provinces) on 8 March, as a tropical depression. On 9 March at 6.00 UTC, its centre was located over the Mozambique Channel, approximately 580 km east of the coastal area of southern Nampula Province (northern Mozambique), with maximum sustained winds of 95 km/h (tropical storm). GOMBE is forecast to continue westward over the Mozambique Channel on 9-11 March, further strengthening. After that, it is forecast to made landfall over the southern Nampula Province (south of Liupo Town) on 11 March in the morning (UTC), with maximum sustained winds up to 210 km/h (tropical cyclone). Over the next 48 hours, heavy rainfall is expected to continue over northern Madagascar. Very heavy rainfall, strong wind and storm surge are forecast over northern and central Mozambique starting from 10 March. (ECHO, 9 Mar 2022)

Tropical cyclone GOMBE continued over the Mozambique Channel toward northern Mozambique on 9 March, as a tropical storm, further strengthening. On 10 March at 6.00 UTC, its centre was located approximately 250 km east of the coastal area of central Nampula Province, with maximum sustained winds of 137 km/h (tropical cyclone). GOMBE is forecast to make landfall over the central Nampula Province (approximately 35 km south of Mozambique City) in the late evening (UTC) of 10 March. Over the next 72 hours, very heavy rainfall is expected to continue over most of Madagascar, except over southern area. Very heavy rainfall, strong wind and storm surge are forecast over northern and central Mozambique over 10-14 March. The Mozambique National Institute of Meteorology (INAM) has issued a red warning for tropical cyclone over most of Nampula and Zambezia Provinces. According to the Global Flood Awareness System (GloFAS), approximately 55,000 people are estimated to be exposed to fluvial floods in Mozambique. Population exposed to the broader hazards will be larger due to flash, pluvial and coastal flooding as well as exposure to intense wind speeds. (ECHO, 10 Mar 2022)

Affected Countries

Madagascar
Mozambique