Réunion is threatened by an intense tropical cyclone and will move to the orange cyclone alert at the end of the day on Saturday, January 13, 2024. Damaging winds are forecast for the night from Sunday to Monday.
The storm is named Belal: a strong tropical cyclone is currently threatening Réunion, which is expected to enter orange cyclone alert from 7 p.m. next Saturday, January 13th.
“We have to take what is happening very seriously,” emphasized Jérôme Filippini, the prefect of the French island in the Indian Ocean, urging the population “to stock up on water and food to prepare to be self-sufficient for a few hours .” or a few days to have your first aid kit. “We must prepare for a historic hurricane.”
Rapid intensification is to be expected
While the yellow alert is currently in effect on the island, the storm is intensifying. Cyclone Belal is expected to pass as close as possible to the coast of Reunion Island during the night from Sunday to Monday and during the day from Monday, January 15th.
“Rapid intensification to the stage of an intense tropical cyclone is expected. Extreme winds are therefore expected near the core of the phenomenon,” warns Météo France. “However, the uncertainty about the exact trajectory is still more than 100 km. We cannot yet say exactly a passage distance that is as close as possible to the islands.”
Mauritius is also exposed, although to a lesser extent a priori.