By Lauryne Akoth
The Kenya Meteorological Department has issued a warning that the Tropical Cyclone Hidaya has landed on Tanzania’s coast.
The Met Department, in a report to the cabinet, suggested that Kenya could face its inaugural cyclone, named Hidaya, expected to make landfall soon.
The Cyclone is predicted to cause torrential rain, strong winds, and dangerous waves that may affect marine activities and settlements along the Kenyan Coast.
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The department however noted that they are monitoring the situation and will continue to provide updates.
“Current observations indicate that Tropical Cyclone Hidaya has made landfall on the coast of Tanzania. However, there is another depression developing behind it, which the Department is monitoring closely,” said the Met Department.
As per the weatherman, the Kenyan Coast is already experiencing the effects of the cyclone with strong winds of about 40 knots.
“The effects of the cyclone are already being felt offshore, with strong winds exceeding 40 knots (20.6 m/s) and large waves surpassing two meters. We will continue monitoring the situation and issue updates as necessary,” read the Kenya Met’s statement in part.
Kenyans have also been cautioned that heavy rainfall along the coastal strip is expected from Sunday, May 5th, intensifying on Monday, May 6th, to Tuesday, May 7th, 2024.
However, the department emphasized that Kenya will not bear the full brunt of the cyclone due to its proximity to the equator.
“The physics laws governing cyclone formation remain unchanged. Indeed, we will feel the effects from the fringes of the tropical cyclone, but it will weaken to become a depression. The eye of the cyclone will make landfall just about or below 5°S from the equator,” stated the department.
This response came after a query posed by an X user, questioning why the cyclone is targeting the Kenyan coastline this time.
The user referred to a tweet by the department dated April 25th, 2019, which stated that cyclones cannot reach areas close to the equator, when another cyclone, dubbed Kenneth, was forecasted to hit Kenya.
“It is FALSE that cyclone Kenneth will hit the Kenyan Coast. By the laws of physics, Cyclones cannot come this close to the equator. Landfall will be northern Mozambique as shown in the satellite image,” read the Met department’s tweet from five years ago.
Residents, particularly in coastal regions and individuals involved in marine activities in the Indian Ocean, have been encouraged to take maximum precautions.
Moreover, the department has urged them to stay informed by regularly checking the latest weather forecasts and updates from the Kenya Meteorological Department.