TROPICAL STORM “ELOISE” 

SA – Following the severe tropical storm Chalane who brought rain to southern Africa during the festive season comes another fresh tropical system named Eloise.

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) described Eloise [Monday 18 January] as a moderate tropical storm, with a central pressure under 1000 hPa (hectopascal). Eloise - moving at about 26km/h in a west-south-westerly direction made landfall on the island of Madagascar on Wednesday 20 January with winds exceeding 100km/h, categorised as a severe tropical storm.

As Eloise moved across the landmass of northern Madagascar, it was exposed to increased friction, as the winds interacted with the rough land surface. Deprived of the latent heat energy from a warm, tropical ocean, Eloise weakened significantly before it reached the Mozambican Channel on Thursday 21 January. Uncertainty exists around any tropical system as they are notoriously fickle and unpredictable, often exhibiting very erratic movement.

The SAWS will use modern satellite remote sensing as well as advanced ensemble numeric modelling techniques to closely monitor the future evolution of Eloise.