NASA MODIS Image of the Day: January 21, 2012 – Tropical Storm Funso over Mozambique and Madagascar
On January 19, 2012 Funso was a Tropical Storm circulating over the Mozambique Channel, bringing rains and winds to Mozambique and Madagascar.
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) captured this true-color image at 11:05 UTC (6:05 EST) that same day.
At the time this image was captured, the outer storm bands lie over coastal Mozambique, and Funso appears to have a developing eye, hinting at pending intensification. In fact, the storm intensified from a Tropical Storm into a Category 1 Cyclone on January 20, with maximum sustained winds at 75 knots (86 mph/139 kmh). On January 20 at 0900 UTC (4 a.m. EST) Funso was about 655 nautical miles northeast of Maputo, Mozambique near 18.5 South latitude and 28.4 East longitude. Funso’s center was sitting in the Mozambique Channel, which separates Mozambique on the African mainland, from the island of Madagascar. Funso has moved toward the west at 7 knots (8 mph/13 kmh) during the morning hours on January 20. Forecasters expect Funso to go through another period of intensification because it is near a large area of moisture, trapped over the Mozambique Channel. In addition, sea surface temperatures are very warm, adding more fuel. Funsco sits in a weak steering environment, so forecasters at the Joint Typhoon Warning Center expect it to meander southward through the Mozambique Channel over the weekend while strengthening. Funso will likely bring showers and gusty winds to coastal Mozambique as it moves southerly through the Mozambique Channel over the weekend.
