Jump to content

Cyclone Jude

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the tropical cyclone. For the European windstorm, see St. Jude storm.

Tropical Cyclone Jude
Jude at peak intensity on 9 March
Meteorological history
Formed6 March 2025 (2025-03-06)
Extratropical16 March 2025 (2025-03-16)
Dissipated18 March 2025 (2025-03-18)
Tropical cyclone
10-minute sustained (MFR)
Highest winds140 km/h (85 mph)
Lowest pressure970 hPa (mbar); 28.64 inHg
Category 1-equivalent tropical cyclone
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC)
Highest winds150 km/h (90 mph)
Lowest pressure975 hPa (mbar); 28.79 inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities21
Injuries130+
Missing4
DamageUnknown
Areas affectedChagos Islands, Madagascar, Mayotte, Comoros, Mozambique, southern Malawi
Part of the 2024–25 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season

Tropical Cyclone Jude was a deadly tropical cyclone that impacted Mozambique and Madagascar. The eleventh storm and eighth tropical cyclone of the 2024–25 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season, Jude originated from a disturbance south of the Chagos Islands on 6 March.

Meteorological history

[edit]
Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

A disturbance south of the Chagos Islands was spotted by Météo-France on 6 March. Initially categorized as a zone of disturbed weather, it was upgraded to a depression the following day.[1] It was further upgraded to a moderate tropical storm on 8 March, where it got the name Jude. The system then crossed the northern part of Madagascar and lost some organization, before quickly reorganizing in the Mozambique Channel.[2] By 9 March, Jude was upgraded to a severe tropical storm as it neared Mozambique, and eventually attained tropical cyclone status shortly before making landfall on 10 March.[3]

The center of the tropical storm passed near Nampula on March 10 and Blantyre, Malawi the next day, weakening to a tropical depression.[4]

On 12 March, Jude's path turned southeastward and followed the Zambezi River Valley towards the coast, re-emerging at its mouth in the Chinde District around 22:30 UTC.[5] Météo Madagascar placed the south of the island under green warning (pre-alert).[6]  On 13 March, the system weakened back to a moderate tropical storm over the southern Mozambique Channel, forecasted to pass north of Europa Island, and the alert was upgraded to yellow in Madagascar.[7][8]

14 March, Jude was upgraded to a severe tropical storm as it approached the southernmost tip of Madagascar, and the cyclone alert was raised to red for Toliara Province.[9][10] Just after 00:00 UTC on 15 March, Jude made landfall near Itampolo.[11]  Experiencing friction over mountainous terrain and increasing wind shear aloft, Jude became asymmetrical and weakened. It exited the Indian Ocean east-northeast of Ambovombe, Taolagnaro District. At 00:00  UTC on 16 March, Jude's wind pattern became elongated, and it was downgraded to a post-tropical storm moving rapidly east-southeastward in the latest RSMC Réunion bulletin.[12] The latter became extratropical the next day and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) stopped tracking it.[13]

Preparations and impact

[edit]

Madagascar

[edit]

On 6 March, a weather system began forming south-west of Diego Garcia Island in the Indian Ocean, moving westward. Following its passage in Madagascar on 8 March, at least 4,100 people were affected in 8 districts across 5 regions, including one person killed, one injured, and 3,617 displaced, mainly in Maroantsetra District, in the north. The displaced are hosted across nine temporary sites. Also, more than 1,300 houses were flooded, including 37 damaged, and 37 classrooms were submerged and 3 others destroyed. After a week, at least 15,000 people were affected after Tropical Storm Jude made its second landfall on 15 March, primarily in Atsimo Andrefana Region in the south. The storm resulted in one death and displaced 10,587 people across 24 temporary sites. Jude made landfall about 70 km north of Itampolo Municipality in Ampanihy District, then crossed several isolated districts in the Grand Sud (Ampanihy, Beloha, Tsihombe, Bekily), followed by Ambovombe and Amboasary, before exiting the island through Tolagnaro District on 16 March.[14]

Much of the damage was caused by strong winds, as most towns and cities in Grand Sud are structurally fragile and highly vulnerable to cyclones. This was also the first time a strong weather system crossed the entire southern region. The storm led to severe destruction, with 1,172 houses flooded, 1,640 partially damaged, and 1,160 destroyed. The Education Sector was heavily impacted, leaving 48,000 students out of school, as 89 classrooms were destroyed and 182 partially damaged. Successive severe weather systems since February—including Tropical Storm Elvis, the inter-tropical convergence zone, Tropical Cyclone Honde and Tropical Storm Jude—have brought heavy rains, further complicating accessibility across Grand Sud. Four districts—Ampanihy, Bekily, Beloha and Tsihombe—remain inaccessible by road or UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS), hindering the delivery of assistance. Additionally, the UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) has restricted road movement on National Road 10, which connects Toliara, Betioky, Ampanihy, Beloha, Tsihombe, and Ambovombe due to poor accessibility conditions. The storm had first made landfall in northern Madagascar on 8 March before moving toward Mozambique. The initial impact left one person dead, one injured, and 4,100 people affected, including 3,617 displaced across nine temporary sites, primarily in Maroantsetra District in the north.[15]

Mozambique

[edit]

Cyclone Jude made landfall in Mozambique’s Nampula province on 10 March 2025, bringing heavy rainfall and strong winds. As of 13 March, the National Institute for Disaster Management (INGD) has recorded 375,214 people affected and 81,149 houses either damaged or destroyed. Severe flooding and extensive infrastructure damage have been reported in Nampula and Zambezia provinces, further exacerbating vulnerabilities in communities already struggling with food insecurity, displacement, and limited access to essential services. This cyclone season has been particularly severe, with Nampula and Zambezia previously hit by Tropical Cyclones Chido (December 2024) and Dikeledi (January 2025), which collectively affected approximately 684,000 people. As Jude moved inland, it weakened to a severe storm over Manica, Niassa, Sofala and Tete, adding to the cumulative impact of consecutive cyclones and increasing humanitarian needs.[16]

In addition to displacement concerns, health risks are rising. According to the latest cholera bulletin, 56 cholera cases have been reported in severely affected Nampula province as of 14 March 2025. While no new cases have emerged in the past 24 hours, concerns persist over potential outbreaks due to contaminated water sources and overcrowded temporary accommodation facilities.[15][17][18]

Malawi

[edit]

Nearly 20,650 people were affected by Cyclone Jude, with three missing and 4,883 displaced when Cyclone Jude hit the country between 10 and 12 March, according to the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA). The tropical storm impacted nine councils in the south, including Nsanje, Neno, Blantyre District, Mwanza, Phalombe, Zomba City, Mangochi District, Thyolo, and Mulanje. Phalombe District recorded the highest number of affected people (9,968), followed by Nsanje (2,637). Districts in the Southern Region experienced heavy rainfall in 24 hours, with Chiladzulu recording the highest amount at 98.3 mm between 12 and 13 March.[15]

Cyclone Jude had caused 21 deaths, 130 more people injured and 4 people missing.[19]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ CMRS La Réunion (8 March 2025). "Dépression sur terre 12 bulletin numéro 5/12/20242025" (PDF). Bulletin d'analyse et de prévision cyclonique (sud-ouest océan Indien). Météo-France. Retrieved 8 March 2025..
  2. ^ JTWC (9 March 2025). "Subj/Tropical Cyclone 25S (Jude) Warning Nr 003". wiki.chlod.net..
  3. ^ CMRS La Réunion (10 March 2025). "Cyclone tropical 12 (Jude) bulletin numéro 13/12/20242025" (PDF). Bulletin d'analyse et de prévision cyclonique (sud-ouest océan Indien). Météo-France. Retrieved 10 March 2025..
  4. ^ CMRS La Réunion (11 March 2025). "Dépression sur terre 12 (Jude) bulletin numéro 19/12/20242025" (PDF). Bulletin d'analyse et de prévision cyclonique (sud-ouest océan Indien). Météo-France. Retrieved 11 March 2025..
  5. ^ CMRS La Réunion (13 March 2025). "Dépression tropicale 12 (Jude) bulletin numéro 23/12/20242025" (PDF). Bulletin d'analyse et de prévision cyclonique (sud-ouest océan Indien). Météo-France. Retrieved 13 March 2025..
  6. ^ Miangaly Ralitera (12 March 2025). "MÉTÉO - L'alerte cyclonique en vigueur dans le Sud". L'Express de Madagascar (in French). Retrieved 12 March 2025..
  7. ^ CMRS La Réunion (13 March 2025). "Tempête tropicale modérée 12 (Jude) bulletin numéro 23/12/20242025" (PDF). Bulletin d'analyse et de prévision cyclonique (sud-ouest océan Indien). Météo-France. Retrieved 13 March 2025..
  8. ^ "Madagascar en alerte à l'approche de la tempête tropicale Jude". cycloneoi.com. CYCLONEOI. 13 April 2025. Retrieved 13 March 2025..
  9. ^ "Forte tempête tropicale Jude : Madagascar se prépare au choc". Imaz Press Réunion (in French). 14 March 2025. Retrieved 14 March 2025..
  10. ^ Météo Madagascar (14 March 2025). "JUDE : le Sud-Ouest de Madagascar en alerte cyclonique maximale". cycloneoi.com. Archived from the original on 14 March 2025. Retrieved 14 March 2025..
  11. ^ CMRS La Réunion (15 March 2025). "Forte tempête tropicale 12 (Jude) bulletin numéro 31/12/20242025" (PDF). Bulletin d'analyse et de prévision cyclonique (sud-ouest océan Indien). Météo-France. Retrieved 15 March 2025..
  12. ^ CMRS La Réunion (16 March 2025). "Dépression post-tropicale 12 (Jude) bulletin numéro 35/12/20242025" (PDF). Bulletin d'analyse et de prévision cyclonique (sud-ouest océan Indien). Météo-France. Retrieved 16 March 2025..
  13. ^ JTWC (16 March 2025). "Subj/Tropical Cyclone 25S (JUDE) Warning NR 011". wiki.chlod.net. Retrieved 27 March 2025..
  14. ^ "Southern Africa: Tropical Cyclone Jude Flash Update No. 1 (as of 11 March 2025) | OCHA". www.unocha.org. 11 March 2025. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
  15. ^ a b c "Southern Africa: Tropical Storm Jude Flash Update No. 2 (as of 18 March 2025)". Relief Web. Archived from the original on 22 March 2025. Retrieved 18 March 2025.
  16. ^ "Mozambique | Tropical Cyclone Jude - Flash Update: 15 March 2025 - Mozambique | ReliefWeb". reliefweb.int. 17 March 2025. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
  17. ^ "Weather tracker: Cyclone Jude causes chaos in Mozambique". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 18 March 2025. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
  18. ^ "Cyclone Jude Strikes Northern Mozambique as Third Storm in Four Months". Medafrica Times. Archived from the original on 22 March 2025. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
  19. ^ "17 dead as Cyclone Jude wreaks havoc in East Africa". Mongabay. Archived from the original on 22 March 2025. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cyclone_Jude&oldid=1291404991"