Cyclone Emnati
{{Short description|South-West Indian Ocean tropical cyclone in 2022.}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox weather event
| name = Intense Tropical Cyclone Emnati
| image = Emnati 2022-02-20 1014Z.jpg
| caption = Cyclone Emnati at peak intensity on 20 February.
| formed = 15 February 2022
| dissipated = 26 February 2022
| post-tropical =
}}{{Infobox weather event/MFR
| winds = 95
| pressure = 935
}}{{Infobox weather event/JTWC
| winds = 115
| pressure = 941
}}{{Infobox weather event/Effects
| year = 2022
| damages = 54400000
| fatalities = 15 total
| affected = Mauritius, Réunion, Madagascar
}}{{Infobox weather event/Footer
| season = 2021–22 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season
}}
Intense Tropical Cyclone Emnati was a tropical cyclone that affected Madagascar, only two weeks after Cyclone Batsirai. The sixth tropical disturbance, the second tropical cyclone, and the second intense tropical cyclone of the 2021–22 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season, Emnati formed from a zone of disturbed weather that was first noted on 15 February 2022. It continued westward, and steadily intensified before getting named Emnati a day later. Due to present dry air and wind shear, the storm had struggled to intensify significantly, and it became a category 1-equivalent on the Saffir-Simpson Scale later. After it managed to close off its core from prohibiting factors, the storm quickly intensified into a category 4-equivalent days later, forming a small eye around its CDO. Emnati then underwent a lengthy eyewall replacement cycle, which strongly weakened the storm as it moved closer to Madagascar. Eventually, it weakened back to a category 1-equivalent cyclone before making landfall in the country.
Meteorological history
{{Storm path|Emnati 2022 track.png}}
Emnati initially developed as a zone of disturbed weather where it moved westward over the open waters in the Indian Ocean. Environmental conditions were assessed as being marginally conducive for tropical cyclogenesis, with warm sea surface temperatures near {{convert|28|C|F|abbr=on}} and low vertical wind, with the disturbance located about {{convert|420|nmi}} to Diego Garcia south.{{cite JTWC|date=15 February 2022|access-date=15 February 2022|url=https://wiki.chlod.net/jtwc/text/2022-02-15-2050-abioweb.txt|type=|title=Significant Tropical Weather Advisory for the Indian Ocean}}{{cite web|date=15 February 2022|title=Bulletin for Cyclonic Activity and Significant Tropical Weather In the Southwest Indian Ocean 2022/02/15 AT 1200 UTC|url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/zcit/ZCITA_202202151200.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=15 February 2022|publisher=Météo-France|location=La Réunion, France|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217065500/http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/zcit/ZCITA_202202151200.pdf |archive-date=17 February 2022 }} On the same day, the JTWC issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert on the system and by 21:00 UTC JTWC subsequently initiated advisories on the system and classified it Tropical Cyclone 13S.{{cite JTWC|date=15 February 2022|access-date=15 February 2022|url=https://wiki.chlod.net/jtwc/text/2022-02-15-2250-sh9622web.txt|type=tcfa|designation = 96S}} The next day, the system organized into a tropical disturbance.{{cite web|date=16 February 2022|title=Tropical Disturbance 5 Warning Number 4/5/20212022|url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202202160000_4_5_20212022.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=16 February 2022|publisher=Météo-France|location=La Réunion, France|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217234319/http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202202160000_4_5_20212022.pdf |archive-date=17 February 2022 }} The system continued organizing, and at 12:00 UTC, MFR upgraded the system to a tropical depression.{{cite web|date=16 February 2022|title=Tropical Depression 5 Warning Number 6/5/20212022|url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202202161200_6_5_20212022.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=16 February 2022|publisher=Météo-France|location=La Réunion, France|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220218050230/http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202202161200_6_5_20212022.pdf |archive-date=18 February 2022 }} By the 17th of February, the Météo-France La Réunion (MFR){{#tag:ref|Météo-France's meteorological office in Réunion (MFR) is the official Regional Specialized Meteorological Center for the South-West Indian Ocean, tracking all tropical cyclones south of the equator, from the east coast of Africa to 90° E.{{cite web|year=2021|title=Tropical Cyclone Operational Plan for the South-West Indian Ocean|accessdate=14 February 2022|author=Regional Association I Tropical Cyclone Committee|publisher=World Meteorological Organization|url=https://community.wmo.int/tropical-cyclone-operational-plans|format=PDF|archive-date=18 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160918235554/http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/tcp/documents/OperationalPlan_TCP-12_WMO-1178_2016_En.pdf|url-status=live}} |group="nb"}} reported that the system had become a moderate tropical storm and the Sub-Regional Tropical Cyclone Advisory Center in Mauritius named it Emnati.{{Cite web|date=17 February 2022|title=Current Storm/Cyclone Moderate Tropical Storm Emnati 17 February 2022|url=http://metservice.intnet.mu/current-cyclone.php|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211228232617/http://metservice.intnet.mu/current-cyclone.php|archive-date=28 December 2021|access-date=17 February 2022|website=Mauritius Meteorological Services}}{{cite web|date=17 February 2022|title=Moderate Tropical Storm Emnati 5 Warning Number 8/5/20212022|url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202202170000_EMNATI.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=17 February 2022|publisher=Météo-France|location=La Réunion, France|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217020303/http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202202170000_EMNATI.pdf |archive-date=17 February 2022 }} On February 18, at 00:00 UTC the MFR marked Cyclone Emnati as a Severe Tropical Storm. Just three hours later, the JTWC upgraded Emnati to a Category 1 tropical cyclone on the Saffir–Simpson scale (SSHWS). Due to more favorable conditions, the Emnati intensified to a tropical cyclone. One day later, classified by JTWC as a category 2 tropical cyclone.{{Cite web|title=01-20072008 Du 12/10/2007 Au 13/10/2007|url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/data/20212022/2021RE05.html|access-date=2022-02-19|website=www.meteo.fr|archive-date=18 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220218151002/http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/data/20212022/2021RE05.html|url-status=live}} At 12:00 UTC, February 20, the cyclone reached its peak intensity as the JTWC upgraded to a category 4 tropical cyclone. The cyclone then weakened slowly due to an eyewall replacement cycle, and made landfall on February 23 as a category 1 tropical cyclone over Madagascar. Late on February 24, the JTWC issued their final warning on the system.
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Preparations
File:Emnati 2022-02-22 1025Z.jpg on 22 February]]
=Mauritius=
A Class 4 warning was issued as the storm passed north of the island.{{Cite web |last=Rédaction |first=La |date=2022-02-20 |title=Cyclone Emnati: École et travail demain ? |url=https://www.lexpress.mu/article/405053/cyclone-emnati-ecole-et-travail-demain |access-date=2022-03-11 |website=lexpress.mu |language=fr}}
=Réunion=
= Madagascar =
Red, yellow, and green alerts were issued as the cyclone neared the island.{{Cite web|title=Le cyclone tropical Emnati se rapproche de la Grande Ile|url=https://www.linfo.re/ocean-indien/madagascar/le-cyclone-tropical-emnati-se-rapproche-de-la-grande-ile|access-date=2022-02-20|website=Linfo.re|archive-date=20 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220200449/https://www.linfo.re/ocean-indien/madagascar/le-cyclone-tropical-emnati-se-rapproche-de-la-grande-ile|url-status=live}}{{Cite journal|last=ReliefWeb|first=OCHA|date=Feb 22, 2022|title=SOUTHERN AFRICA: Cyclone Season Flash Update No. 8|url=https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/ROSEA_20220222_Southern%20Africa%20-%20Cyclone%20Season_Flash%20Update%208.pdf|journal=OCHA|access-date=22 February 2022|archive-date=22 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220222145103/https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/ROSEA_20220222_Southern%20Africa%20-%20Cyclone%20Season_Flash%20Update%208.pdf|url-status=live}} Saturated grounds from Batsirai's effects earlier were expected to worsen potential rainfall damages. Very heavy rain was forecasted, with over {{convert|400|–|500|m|in|abbr=on}} falling in the projected landfall area. Flash flooding, and mudslides were warned.{{Citation|title=Forecast update: Tropical Cyclone Emnati approaching Madagascar landfall - CNN Video|date=21 February 2022 |url=https://www.cnn.com/videos/weather/2022/02/21/tropical-cyclone-emnati-batsirai-flooding-madagascar-heavy-rain-high-winds-gusts-landslide.cnn|access-date=2022-02-21|archive-date=21 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221164529/https://www.cnn.com/videos/weather/2022/02/21/tropical-cyclone-emnati-batsirai-flooding-madagascar-heavy-rain-high-winds-gusts-landslide.cnn|url-status=live}} A dire humanitarian situation in Madagascar was feared to worsen with Emnati's arrival. In response to the cyclone's passing, the IFRC had sought additional funds for relief efforts. The Secretary General of Malagasy Red Cross said the storm was a "double tragedy".{{Cite web|title=Madagascar: Red Cross teams rush to avert a tragedy as Tropical Cyclone Emnati approaches - Madagascar|url=https://reliefweb.int/report/madagascar/madagascar-red-cross-teams-rush-avert-tragedy-tropical-cyclone-emnati-approaches|access-date=2022-02-21|website=ReliefWeb|date=21 February 2022 |language=en|archive-date=21 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221163556/https://reliefweb.int/report/madagascar/madagascar-red-cross-teams-rush-avert-tragedy-tropical-cyclone-emnati-approaches|url-status=live}} Humanitarian partners and other response teams were placed on Madagascar to help after the storm's landfall. Stocks of food and non-food items were also saved for those affected, mostly pre-positioned in Mananjary and Manakara. Planes and boats were also identified to help facilitate rapid damage assessments. Floodwaters from various areas of 4-8 inch rainfall were expected to be accentuated by Madagascar's mountainous terrain as well, and storm surge and wind impacts were feared to be widespread.{{Cite web|date=2022-02-21|title=Category 3 Tropical Cyclone Emnati headed for vulnerable Madagascar » Yale Climate Connections|url=http://yaleclimateconnections.org/2022/02/category-3-tropical-cyclone-emnati-headed-for-vulnerable-madagascar/|access-date=2022-02-22|website=Yale Climate Connections|language=en-US|archive-date=22 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220222032206/https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2022/02/category-3-tropical-cyclone-emnati-headed-for-vulnerable-madagascar/|url-status=live}} More than 30,000 people were moved to safety areas prior to landfall.{{Cite web|title='We need help': Another cyclone batters Madagascar|url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/roofs-ripped-off-houses-cyclone-hits-madagascar-83057504|access-date=2022-02-23|website=ABC News|language=en|archive-date=23 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220223195553/https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/roofs-ripped-off-houses-cyclone-hits-madagascar-83057504|url-status=live}}
Impact
= Mauritius =
Electric wires and trees were pulled out of the ground in some places. Gusts of {{convert|67|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} were recorded on the island, along with some flooding and toppled structures.{{Cite web |last=Roopun |first=Beekash |date=2022-02-20 |title=Emnati: les premiers dégâts… |url=https://www.lexpress.mu/photos/405028/emnati-premiers-degats |access-date=2022-03-11 |website=lexpress.mu |language=fr}}
=Réunion=
Heavy rain caused flooding in many coastal areas.{{Cite web|date=2022-02-20|title=Cyclone Emnati : l'alerte rouge a été déclenchée sur l'île de la Réunion|url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/meteo/cyclone-ouragan/cyclone-a-la-reunion/cyclone-emnati-l-alerte-rouge-a-ete-declenchee-sur-l-ile-de-la-reunion_4972494.html|access-date=2022-02-20|website=Franceinfo|language=fr-FR|archive-date=20 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220215706/https://www.francetvinfo.fr/meteo/cyclone-ouragan/cyclone-a-la-reunion/cyclone-emnati-l-alerte-rouge-a-ete-declenchee-sur-l-ile-de-la-reunion_4972494.html|url-status=live}} No deaths have been reported, and overall effects and damage was less than anticipated. 7,000 homes were out of power when the storm passed, and 3,400 suffered water cuts. Schools closed on 21 February due to the cyclone, as well as several roads.{{Cite web |title=Cyclone Emnati à La Réunion : l'alerte rouge levée, aucun dégâts majeurs |url=https://www.europe1.fr/societe/cyclone-emnati-a-la-reunion-lalerte-rouge-levee-aucun-degats-majeurs-4095105 |access-date=2022-03-11 |website=Europe 1 |date=21 February 2022 |language=fr}}{{Cite web |last=Blandin |first=Geraldine |date=February 20, 2022 |title=Cyclone Emnati: the Coastal Route closed on the sea side, the Salazie and Cilaos roads closed |url=https://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/reunion/cyclone-emnati-la-route-du-littoral-basculee-cote-montagne-la-route-de-salazie-fermee-1235 |website=FranceTvInfo }}{{Dead link|date=January 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
= Madagascar =
The storm had struck the country only 18 days after Batsirai.{{Cite web|date=2022-02-23|title=Cyclone Emnati lashes Madagascar|url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220223-cyclone-emnati-lashes-madagascar|access-date=2022-02-23|website=France 24|language=en|archive-date=24 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220224013359/https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220223-cyclone-emnati-lashes-madagascar|url-status=live}}
Emnati made landfall in the country on midnight, 22 February, with winds of {{convert|84|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}. As of now, there have been 15 reported deaths from the storm in Madagascar.{{Cite web|date=2022-02-25|title=Cyclone #Emnati initial updates (likely to change)|url=https://twitter.com/UNOCHA_ROSEA/status/1497215953133834244|website=Twitter|access-date=25 February 2022|archive-date=25 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225184327/https://twitter.com/UNOCHA_ROSEA/status/1497215953133834244|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|last=Rabary|first=Lovasoa|date=2022-02-23|title=Cyclone Emnati hits Madagascar; island's 4th major storm in a month|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/cyclone-emnati-hits-madagascar-islands-4th-major-storm-month-2022-02-23/|access-date=2022-02-23|archive-date=23 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220223195553/https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/cyclone-emnati-hits-madagascar-islands-4th-major-storm-month-2022-02-23/|url-status=live}} Houses flooded, and the roofs of houses were said to be torn off. Electricity and water was also cut off from several communities. A gendarmerie in Fitovinany recorded 624 damaged huts. More than 2,000 houses were damaged in Manakara, and 70 to 80 percent of Farafangana was estimated to be destroyed by Emnati; with witnesses detailing destroyed buildings, accommodation centers damaged, and roads being cut off. Communities within Vohipeno and Midongy-Atsimo districts were inundated by Emnati due to nearby rivers flooding. 44,000 people were displaced.{{Cite web |last=Ralitera |first=Miangaly |date=2022-02-24 |title=Cyclone - Emnati anéantit le Sud-Est |url=https://lexpress.mg/24/02/2022/cyclone-emnati-aneantit-le-sud-est/ |access-date=2022-03-11 |website=L'Express de Madagascar |language=fr-FR}} A {{convert|10|m|ft|abbr=off|sp=us|adj=on}} stretch of road was washed away by heavy rain.{{Cite web |last=Ihariliva |first=Mirana |date=2022-02-25 |title=Route nationale 7 - Une déviation au niveau de Manombo be |url=https://lexpress.mg/25/02/2022/route-nationale-7-une-deviation-au-niveau-de-manombo-be/ |access-date=2022-03-11 |website=L'Express de Madagascar |language=fr-FR}} The threat of a famine was feared to be worsened due to Emnati's effects on agriculture.{{Cite web |last=Ralitera |first=Miangaly |date=2022-03-04 |title=Passage de cyclones - La famine menace le Sud-Est |url=https://lexpress.mg/04/03/2022/passage-de-cyclones-la-famine-menace-le-sud-est/ |access-date=2022-03-11 |website=L'Express de Madagascar |language=fr-FR}} Tropical cyclone model from the African Risk Capacity estimated the damage of Emnati at US$54.4 million.{{cite web|url=https://www.arc.int/sites/default/files/2023-03/Post-Event%20Briefing_Madagascar_EMNATI_EN_07032022.pdf|title=Tropical Cyclone EMNATI Madagascar {{!}} 07 March 2022 |work=African Risk Capacity|date=7 March 2022|accessdate=10 March 2022|format=pdf}}
See also
{{Portal|Tropical cyclones|Africa}}
- Tropical cyclones in 2022
- Weather of 2022
- List of South-West Indian Ocean intense tropical cyclones
- Tropical cyclones in the Mascarene Islands
- Cyclone Manou (2003) – took a similar path and rare May tropical cyclone that affected Madagascar.
- Cyclone Giovanna (2012) – took a similar path
- Cyclone Ivan (2008) – a powerful tropical cyclone that struck Madagascar in February 2008.
- Cyclone Batsirai (2022) — another powerful cyclone that impacted Madagascar just three weeks prior.
- Tropical Storm Dumako (2022)
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Notes
{{Reflist|group=nb}}
References
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External links
{{commons category}}
- [http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/data/20212022/2021RE05.html MFR Track Data] of Intense Tropical Cyclone Emnati {{in lang|fr}}
- [https://science.nrlmry.navy.mil/geoips/tcdat/tc2022/SH/SH132022/txt/trackfile.txt JTWC Best Track Data] of Tropical Cyclone 13S (Emnati)
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20220218151006/https://www.nrlmry.navy.mil/tcdat/tc2022/SH/SH132022/ 13S.EMNATI] from the United States Naval Research Laboratory
{{2021-22 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season buttons}}
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Category:2021–22 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season
Category:Tropical cyclones in 2022
Category:2022 disasters in Africa
Category:February 2022 in Africa