The Kenya Meteorological Department now says that Kenya will feel the effects of the cyclone but it will be “from the fringes.”
“Indeed, we will feel the effects from the fringes of the tropical cyclone, but it will weaken to become a depression. The eye of the cyclone will make landfall just about or below 5°S from the equator,” said the meteorological department.
This was revealed as the department was responding to questions stemming from a five-year statement they made when another cyclone, Kenneth, was headed our way.
As Cyclone Hidaya prepares to make landfall on the Kenyan coast, the Meteorological Department was forced to explain a statement they tweeted five years ago declaring that “Cyclones cannot come this close to the equator.”
Curious Kenyans who unearthed the Apr 25, 2019 tweet have been asking the Met Department what changed as Cyclone Hidaya ravages Tanzania and is expected to hit the Kenyan coast this weekend.
In 2019, there were fears that Tropical Cyclone Kenneth, which had wreaked havoc in Mozambique, the Comoro Islands and Tanzania was on a straight path to the Kenyan coast.
The Meteorological Department announced through their social media channels in 2019; “It is FALSE that cyclone Kenneth will hit the Kenyan Coast. By the laws of physics, Cyclones cannot come this close to the equator. Landfall will be northern Mozambique as shown in the satellite image. However, we may experience the effects of the cyclone in the form of enhanced rainfall over parts of Isiolo, Western Kenya, Samburu and including Nairobi. Stay with us for updates as the cyclone evolves.”
But with Cyclone Hidaya forcing the government to issue a warning on Thursday and even banning beach activities to avert loss of lives, many are wondering what changed and why the cyclone has come this close to the Equator.
“So how come Hidaya is hitting us this time around?” asked X user Anna Konuche.
The Met Department replied: The physics laws governing cyclone formation remain unchanged. Indeed, we will feel the effects from the fringes of the tropical cyclone, but it will weaken to become a depression. The eye of the cyclone will make landfall just about or below 5°S from the equator.
https://twitter.com/MeteoKenya/status/1786681599657931091
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