Thursday, December 5, 2019

Tropical Cyclone Ambali forms in Indian Ocean: Could another soon follow?

Updated Dec. 5, 2019 11:36 AM





Satellite imagery shows the two tropical systems in the southern Indian Ocean on Dec. 5, 2019. Ambali, top right, was the first of the two systems to be named. (Image Cira RAAMB)
Two tropical threats are becoming better organized near Madagascar, but only one may bring significant impacts to the island country by this weekend.
The first tropical threat to form was Ambali, which strengthened to a severe tropical cyclone on Thursday.
Some strengthening is possible in the coming days as Ambali tracks toward the southwest.
This tropical threat is not expected to impact Madagascar but could approach Reunion and Mauritius this weekend or early next week.
Impacts ranging from locally damaging winds to flooding downpours are possible.
Another potential tropical cyclone may form west of Ambali in the next several days. The area forecasters are closely watching is a cluster of showers and thunderstorms currently centered near Seychelles.
A track toward the south or southwest is expected as this system attempts to become better organized.
This track would put Madagascar at risk for significant impacts ranging from damaging winds to flooding and mudslides.
RELATED:
A potential landfall is possible by Friday or Saturday in northern Madagascar as the storm likely tracks down the country's western coastline.
The hardest-hit locations across northern Madagascar can expect 150-300 mm (6-12 inches) of rainfall with an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 500 mm (20 inches).
If the tropical threat were to track just east of Madagascar instead, impacts would be possible for Reunion and Mauritius as early as this weekend.
The last named tropical cyclone in the Southwest Indian Ocean was Tropical Cyclone Lorna which was named on April 23.

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