The island of Madagascar off the east coast of southern Africa experienced two tropical storms already this year, and we are barely into February. We heard climate change is making weather more severe, and wondered whether it caused these two Madagascar cyclones in one month. We did not find a definitive answer, although we did learn the weather has been getting steadily warmer there.
Two Storms Close Together Create Havoc
Tropical storm Anna formed on January 20, 2022, 378 miles east of Mauritius. It became a cyclone that swept across Madagascar before pummeling Mozambique and Malawi. 115 people died and millions of homes were flooded. Recovery was scarcely begun before intense tropical storm Batsirai struck.
Batsirai formed on January 24, 2022 off the Cocos Islands 2,200 miles further to the east. It traveled west, fluctuating in intensity until it arrived off Madagascar as a Category 3 cyclone. It treated Mauritius and Reunion islands fairly gently before it struck already partly flooded Madagascar, and then veered into the southern ocean.
Humanity & Inclusion’s director for Madagascar wrote ‘The amount of destruction is significant. For many this is only the beginning. The storm may have passed, but now the affected communities must restart from scratch. Rebuilding their homes, schools and hospitals.’ Resettling people from shelters.
Two Madagascar Cyclones in One Month
Madagascar island measures 226,000 square miles, making it 15% smaller than Texas. The Climate Risk and Adaption Country Profile for Madagascar reports a gradual increase in warming. There is less rain in the north, and more in the south than was historically the case.
The Climate Risk and Adaption Assessment advises Madagascar feels the force of an average 4 cyclones a year. It says ‘recent research suggests the frequency of cyclones will decrease, while their intensity may increase.’
We can’t say for sure whether climate change caused those two Madagascar cyclones in one month. But a storm almost the size of Texas is certainly food for thought.
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