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Draft:Cyclone Belal

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Tropical Cyclone Belal
Cyclone Belal on January 14.
Meteorological history
Formed11 January 2024
Post-tropical18 January 2024
Dissipated18 January 2024
Tropical cyclone
10-minute sustained (MFR)
Highest winds150 km/h (90 mph)
Lowest pressure964 hPa (mbar); 28.47 inHg
Category 2-equivalent tropical cyclone
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC)
Highest winds155 km/h (100 mph)
Lowest pressure968 hPa (mbar); 28.59 inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities6
DamageUnknown
Areas affectedMauritius, Réunion
Part of the 2023–24 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season

Cyclone Belal was a moderately strong tropical cyclone that affected Réunion and Mauritius. The second named storm and the first tropical cyclone of the 2023–24 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season, Belal formed from a zone of disturbed weather. Environmental conditions and hot waters allow the system to be better organized. The disturbed weather later became a tropical depression. On January 13, the system intensified into a tropical storm, gaining the name Belal. Intense lightning activity within the center later fueled rapid intensification, leading to a Category-2 tropical cyclone. As Belal turns southeastward, wind shear causes it to deteriorate the storm's structure. Belal later traversed in the island of Réunion before weakening to a tropical storm and then remnant low on the next day, January 18.

Meteorological history

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Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

On 11 January, the MFR marked a zone of disturbed weather, citing the conducive conditions induced by the MJO and an equatorial Rossby wave. The monsoon trough north-northeast of Madagascar had intensified several days prior, as convergence transferred moisture aloft.[1] Concentration of convection near the center increased, particularly in the western section, as the system moved south.[2] By the next day, the JTWC issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (TCFA) on the potential disturbance, since it was in an environment of very warm sea surface temperatures, high ocean heat content, low vertical shear, and excellent outflow.[3] At 12:00 UTC, the MFR categorized the system as a tropical depression. Additionally, microwave imagery indicated an eye in the lower-layer while the storm steered more westward,[4] and the JTWC began issuing advisories on the system as a tropical cyclone.[5] By 13 January, it intensified to a moderate tropical storm, prompting the MMS to name it Belal.[6] Intense lightning activity within the center further signaled a period of rapid intensification, leading to Belal becoming a severe tropical storm.[7] As the storm developed a well-defined eye, the MFR upgraded Belal to a tropical cyclone early on January 14.[8] However, while Belal recurved southeastward, wind shear began to deteriorate the storm's structure into becoming asymmetrical.[9] The eyewall then struck the island of Réunion during the next day.[10] The storm briefly weakened back into a severe tropical storm,[11] before again becoming a tropical cyclone on 16 January after organization of the CDO.[12] Weakening then continued from dry air intrusion, causing Belal to become a moderate tropical storm on the next day.[13] By the end of 18 January, Belal had degenerated into a remnant low.[14]

Preparations and impact

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As the system developed, the MFR issued a yellow cyclone pre-alert for Réunion on 13 January,[15] which was upgraded to an orange cyclone alert on 15:00 UTC the next day.[16] On 13 January, the MMS issued a class I cyclone warning for Mauritius.[17] On 14 January, the MFR would issue a red alert for Réunion as Belal neared the nation.[18] This was the first red alert issued for the island since Cyclone Firinga in January 1989.[19] On 15 January, the MFR would issue a purple alert for Réunion as Belal neared the coast.[20]

The eyewall of Belal remained just offshore the northern coast of Réunion during the storm's closest passage.[21] Three people died during the storm in Réunion.[22] Around 150,000 electricity customers lost power, representing more than a third of the island's population. Around 37,000 people lost access to water.[21] Two person died in Mauritius.[23] After the storm's passage, Mauritius' head of meteorology stepped down after his institution was accused of "not giving adequate warning about the storm’s impact."[22]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Zone of Disturbed Weather 02 Warning Number (2/2/20232024) (PDF) (Report). Météo-France. 11 January 2024. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  2. ^ Zone of Disturbed Weather 02 Warning Number (3/2/20232024) (PDF) (Report). Météo-France. 11 January 2024. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  3. ^ Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (Invest 97S) (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 12 January 2024. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  4. ^ Tropical Depression 02 Warning Number (6/2/20232024) (PDF) (Report). Météo-France. 12 January 2024. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  5. ^ Tropical Cyclone 05S (Five) Warning No. 1 (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 12 January 2024. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  6. ^ Current Storm/Cyclone 13 January 2024 04 AM (Report). Mauritius Meteorological Services. 13 January 2024. Archived from the original on 13 January 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  7. ^ Severe Tropical Storm 02 (Belal) Warning Number (10/2/20232024) (PDF) (Report). Météo-France. 13 January 2024. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 January 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  8. ^ Tropical Cyclone 02 (Belal) Warning Number (12/2/20232024) (PDF) (Report). Météo-France. 14 January 2024. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 January 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  9. ^ Tropical Cyclone 02 (Belal) Warning Number (16/2/20232024) (PDF) (Report). Météo-France. 14 January 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  10. ^ Tropical Cyclone 02 (Belal) Warning Number (18/2/20232024) (PDF) (Report). Météo-France. 15 January 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  11. ^ Severe Tropical Storm 02 (Belal) Warning Number (19/2/20232024) (PDF) (Report). Météo-France. 16 January 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  12. ^ Tropical Cyclone 02 (Belal) Warning Number (20/2/20232024) (PDF) (Report). Météo-France. 16 January 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  13. ^ Moderate Tropical Storm 02 (Belal) Warning Number (26/2/20232024) (PDF) (Report). Météo-France. 17 January 2024. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  14. ^ Remnant Low 02 (Belal) Warning Number (32/2/20232024) (PDF) (Report). Météo-France. 19 January 2024. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  15. ^ "Dépression tropicale n°02 : Pre-alerte jaune cyclonique à La Réunion" (in French). Météo-France La Réunion. 12 January 2024. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  16. ^ "Belal Alerte orange cyclonique : « Je me prépare »" (in French). Préfét de La Réunion. 13 January 2024. Archived from the original on 13 January 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  17. ^ "Belal : Maurice passe en alerte cyclonique de classe 1" (in French). Le Mauricien. 13 January 2024. Archived from the original on 13 January 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  18. ^ "France raises cyclone alert to red as Belal approaches its Reunion island in Indian Ocean". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
  19. ^ Hills, Matt (15 January 2024). "Weather tracker: first red cyclone warning for Réunion since 1989". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  20. ^ "One dead as storm hits French Indian Ocean island". Yahoo News. 2024-01-15. Retrieved 2024-01-15.
  21. ^ a b "En direct, cyclone Belal à La Réunion : pas de levée de l'alerte rouge avant mardi matin, selon la préfecture". Le Monde. 15 January 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  22. ^ a b "Mauritius and Reunion assess damage from Indian Ocean cyclone that killed at least 4 people". AP News. 2024-01-16. Retrieved 2024-01-17.
  23. ^ "Maurice : en crise après le passage du cyclone Belal, le directeur météo annonce sa démission". LINFO.re (in French). 2024-01-18. Retrieved 2024-01-19..
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