Tropical Storm Jude Causes Severe Weather and Affects Mozambique Regions

Tropical Cyclone Jude made landfall on March 10, 2025, bringing severe winds and heavy rainfall to Mozambique’s Nampula and Zambezia provinces. Impact assessments indicate fewer than 5,000 affected, but projections suggest up to 275,000 may be impacted. The Shelter Cluster is mobilizing resources and coordinating with local authorities to address the needs of the affected populations.

On March 6, 2025, a low-pressure system emerged in the southwestern Indian Ocean, developing into Tropical Cyclone Jude, which struck land on March 10 in Mossuril district, Nampula province. This cyclone produced wind gusts reaching 195 km/h and intense rain exceeding 250 mm within 24 hours. It subsequently weakened to a severe tropical storm as it traversed Zambezia province, affecting Gilé and Pebane districts. As of March 12, Tropical Storm Jude is still causing heavy rainfall in the region and is anticipated to exit the continent towards the Mozambique Channel on March 13, leading to flood alerts in several provinces including Nampula, Zambezia, Tete, Manica, and Sofala.

Initial impact data released by the government indicate fewer than 5,000 people may have been affected; however, projections from government and humanitarian organizations estimate that Tropical Storm Jude could impact between 120,000 and 275,000 individuals. The existing data limitations pose challenges in accurately assessing the number of those affected and the extent of infrastructure and service damages.

Regarding shelter assistance, the Shelter Cluster has assessed its operational capacity in the impacted provinces. This includes identifying partners with physical presence, deployment capabilities, stock delivery capabilities, and the preparedness for response actions. Ongoing collaboration with local authorities aims to ensure effective and timely information flow.

Partners are prepared to conduct needs assessments in affected areas as soon as conditions improve. Additionally, the cluster coordination team plans to deploy to Quelimane to support a variety of response initiatives. The Shelter Cluster has also prepared an estimate of affected individuals, target populations, response activities, and financial needs, which has been submitted to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) for inclusion in the Flash Appeal update.

The formation of Tropical Storm Jude has led to significant weather-related challenges across Mozambique, particularly in the central and southern regions. Effective coordination among the Shelter Cluster and local authorities is vital for accurate data assessment and response planning to aid the impacted populations. With projections indicating a potential impact on up to 275,000 individuals, timely and efficient action is crucial to mitigate the storm’s effects.

Original Source: reliefweb.int