Tanzanian Met says Cyclone Hidaya to decrease in strength within 12 hours

The Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA) now says that the Tropical Cyclone Hidaya is decreasing in strength as it approaches the neighbouring country’s Coastal areas.

TMA, in a statement released on Friday, announced that despite the typhoon continuously gaining momentum and edging closer to the Coastline over the past few days, it is expected to decrease in strength within the next 12 hours.

The Authority revealed that as of Friday 9am, the cyclone was approximately 342 kilometers off the Mtwara Coast, going at a speed of up to 140 kilometres per hour.

“Typhoon ‘Hidaya’ has continued to strengthen and move towards the Coastal areas of our country where until three o'clock in the morning of May 3, 2024 it was approximately 342 Kilometers east of the Mtwara coast. During this period, cyclone Hidaya has continued to strengthen with wind speed increasing up to 140 kilometres per hour,” TMA stated.

“The trend of sea weather systems shows the possibility of Typhoon ‘Hidaya’ decreasing in strength in the next 12 hours as it continues to move very close to the coast of Tanzania.”

The Tanzanian weatherman noted that the cyclone would be experienced from Friday up to Sunday, after which it would begin subsiding.

It added that the cyclone would result in heavy rainfall, large waves and strong winds along the Tanzanian Coast.

“The presence of typhoon ‘Hidaya’ near the coast of our country is expected to dominate and affect the weather patterns in this country including causing periods of heavy rain and strong winds in some areas of the regions of Mtwara, Lindi, Pwani (including the Mafia islands), Dar es Salaam, Tanga, Morogoro, na Unguja Pemba islands and surrounding areas,” TMA noted.

The department further revealed that some of the effects were already being felt in the areas of Lindi and Mtwara up to around 3pm. 

TMA also noted that as the typhoon subsides, the clouds accompanying it may lead to heavy rainfall in other areas along the Coast.

The development comes as President William Ruto reiterated caution to Kenyans living in the Coastal regions of the effects of Cyclone Hidaya.

Scientists say that Cyclone Hidaya comes due to low pressure which is associated with strong winds and heavy rainfall.

According to the World Meteorological Organization, a tropical cyclone - also referred to as a hurricane or typhoon - is a rapidly rotating storm that begins over tropical oceans.

Tropical Cyclone Hidaya is said to have developed over the South Indian Ocean, east of Tanzania and north-northeast of Comoros, on Wednesday.