Northern Mozambique was battered by heavy rains and strong winds on Monday March 10 as Cyclone Jude became the third storm to hit the region in just four months. The cyclone made landfall in the morning with winds reaching 140 km/h (87 mph), and gusts of up to 195 km/h, according to the National Institute of Meteorology (INAM).
It later weakened to a severe tropical storm, accompanied by thunderstorms, as it moved inland.
While there were no reports of casualties by Monday afternoon, the damage from Cyclone Jude is still being assessed. The region has already been severely impacted by previous cyclones this season, which runs from November to April. Cyclone Chido struck Mozambique in December, causing the deaths of at least 120 people and destroying nearly 120,000 homes. In mid-January, Cyclone Dikeledi claimed five lives and destroyed almost 3,500 homes.
INAM’s latest update indicated that Cyclone Jude is expected to weaken further as it moves inland, possibly affecting the border areas between Mozambique and Malawi. However, there are concerns that the storm could intensify as it heads southwest towards Madagascar. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, as the region braces for potential further impact.