Tropical Cyclone Hidaya: What we know so far

The government of Kenya on Thursday warned that the Coastal region is likely to be hit by a tropical cyclone now christened ‘Hidaya’ within the next few days.

A Cabinet despatch seen by Citizen Digital indicated that the cyclone may bring with it heavy rainfall, large waves and strong winds that could affect marine activities in the Indian Ocean.

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

It was designated the name ‘Hidaya’ by the Meteo France La Reunion, with forecast models tracking it west-northwestward between May 2-4, 2024.

This as the Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA) predicted that Cyclone Hidaya would be also approaching the country’s Coast between Thursday and Monday.

According to Crisis24 publication, the tropical storm will become moderate while passing north of Tanzania’s Mafia Island, before taking a “turn to track north-northwestward as it approaches the eastern Tanzania coast late May 4 and will likely dissipate into a zone of disturbed weather as it passes between Unguja Island and the mainland May 5.”

The TMA has since issued an advisory to residents of Coastal areas likely to be affected by the cyclone, noting that there will be heavy rains and strong winds.

"The presence of ‘Hidaya' near our country's coast is expected to dominate and affect the weather systems of the country, including causing periods of heavy rain and strong winds in some regions of the Mtwara, Lindi, and Pwani (including the Mafia Islands),” the TMA said in a statement.

“Dar es Salaam, Tanga, Morogoro, Ugunja, and Pemba regions and neighboring areas, especially on May 3, 2024, for the southern coastal areas (Lindi and Mtwara) and spreading to other coastal areas from May 4 to 6, 2024.”