Cyclone Giovanna

Intense Tropical Cyclone Giovanna was a powerful tropical cyclone that affected Madagascar. Giovanna was the ninth tropical depression, seventh named storm and third tropical cyclone of the 2011–12 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season. Giovanna was blamed for 35 deaths along the Madagascar coast, La Réunion, and Mauritius, and it was the first intense tropical cyclone to impact Madagascar since Cyclone Bingiza in February 2011.

Intense Tropical Cyclone Giovanna
Intense tropical cyclone (SWIO scale)
Category 4 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Intense Tropical Cyclone Giovanna approaching Madagascar on February 13, 2012
FormedFebruary 7, 2012
DissipatedFebruary 24, 2012
(Extratropical after February 22, 2012)
Highest winds10-minute sustained: 195 km/h (120 mph)
1-minute sustained: 230 km/h (145 mph)
Lowest pressure935 hPa (mbar); 27.61 inHg
Fatalities35[1]
Areas affectedLa Réunion, Mauritius, Madagascar
Part of the 2011–12 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season

Meteorological history
Map plotting the track and the intensity of the storm, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale

Cyclone Giovanna developed from a tropical wave over the Indian Ocean heading to the southwest on February 7. The tropical disturbance soon developed into Tropical Depression 09 on February 9.[2] On the same day, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center upgraded the system, giving it the designation "12S". The storm intensified into a moderate tropical storm and was given the name Giovanna.[3] On February 10, Giovanna continued to strengthen into a severe tropical storm.[4] Later the same day, Giovanna went through a rapid intensification period and became an intense tropical cyclone, due to favorable environmental conditions.[5]

Giovanna showing a classic double eyewall signature while undergoing an eyewall replacement cycle

Soon, Giovanna began an eyewall replacement cycle[6] and weakened into a Category 3-equivalent tropical cyclone on February 11, due to high wind shear around the system.[7] However, the wind shear surrounding the storm soon weakened, and Giovanna was able to restrengthen back into an intense tropical cyclone as it finished the eyewall replacement cycle, resulting with a new, larger eye 50 kilometres (31 mi) across.[8]

At about 2200 UTC February 13 (0100 EAT February 14), Giovanna made landfall at Andevoranto, Madagascar.[9] Giovanna then weakened into an overland tropical depression on February 14.[10] Early on February 15 Giovanna moved back out into open water, and drifted southwestward over the next few days. On February 18, Giovanna turned eastwards, and the storm was steered into warmer waters off the southern coast of Madagascar by a strong anticyclone located to the south. Giovanna strengthened into a Category 2 tropical cyclone again, and developed a small eye. However, the eye soon underwent another eyewall replacement cycle, and again began to weaken. On February 20, Giovanna entered an area of strong vertical wind shear, which displaced the system's convection to south of the circulation center and quickly weakened the system into a tropical depression.[11] On February 22, the continued strong shear caused Giovanna to degenerate into a remnant low.[12] The remnants of the storm moved further northwest the next day, and late on February 24 Giovanna's remnants dissipated east of Madagascar.

Preparation and impact

Large waves estimated up to 8 m (26 ft) high affected the coast of Reunion and resulted in one fatality after a man was swept out to sea.[13] Another fatality took place in Mauritius after a man lost control of his motorcycle during poor weather and crashed into an electricity pylon.[14]

At least 33 people were killed by Giovanna in Madagascar.[1][15][16] Flooding and strong winds were the main destructive forces, besides the storm surge which floods many coastal areas. Thousands of people were affected by this cyclone all across Madagascar with, flooding and strong winds which mostly caused 60% of homes to be damaged or destroyed. Two villages on small islands near Madagascar were reportedly "wiped off the map." Reports indicated that 75 to 90% of structures in those areas were destroyed by the storm.[17]

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See also

References
  1. http://www.aljazeera.com/weather/2012/03/2012368928291888.html
  2. "Tropical Depression 9 Warning Number One" (PDF). RSMC La Reunion. Meteo-France. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
  3. "Moderate Tropical Storm Giovanna Warning Number Three" (PDF). RMSC La Reunion. Meteo-France. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
  4. "Severe Tropical Storm Giovanna Warning Number Five" (PDF). RSMC La Reunion. Meteo-France. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
  5. "Intense Tropical Cyclone Giovanna Warning Number Seven" (PDF). RMSC La Reunion. Meteo-France. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
  6. "Intense Tropical Cyclone Warning Number Nine" (PDF). RMSC La Reunion. Meteo-France. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
  7. "Tropical Cyclone Giovanna Warning Number Ten" (PDF). RSMC La Reunion. Meteo-France. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
  8. "Intense Tropical Cyclone Giovanna Warning Number Seventeen" (PDF). RSMC La Reunion. Meteo-France. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
  9. "Intense Tropical Cyclone Giovanna Warning Number Twentyone" (PDF). RSMC La Reunion. Meteo-France. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 October 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
  10. "Overland Depression (Ex-Giovanna) Warning Number Twentytwo" (PDF). RSMC La Reunion. Meteo-France. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 October 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
  11. "Tropical Depression 9 (Ex-Giovanna) Warning Number Twentysix" (PDF). RSMC La Reunion. Meteo-France. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 October 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
  12. https://www.webcitation.org/65c7hLIKj?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/WTXS31-PGTW_201202210300.htm
  13. "Le cyclone Giovanna cause la mort d'une personne à la Réunion". CatNet (in French). 12 February 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
  14. "Giovanna fait un mort à Maurice". Imazpress (in French). 12 February 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
  15. "Madagascar cyclone death toll at 31". 2012-02-24. Retrieved 2012-02-24.
  16. "Cyclone Giovanna kills 16 in Madagascar, worst over". Reuters. February 15, 2012. Retrieved February 16, 2012.
  17. "Cyclone Giovanna: des villages rayés de la carte à Madagascar" (in French). RTL. February 14, 2012. Retrieved February 15, 2012.
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