Cyclone Garance: A Historic Threat Looms Over Reunion

Cyclone Garance is expected to strike Reunion, marking the first hurricane-force impact in 36 years. Under a red warning, the island faces significant rainfall and wind gusts projected to reach 150 mph. Historical patterns indicate that while the island endures many storms, direct hits by hurricane-force cyclones are rare.

Tropical Cyclone Garance is advancing toward Reunion, a French island located in the southern Indian Ocean. This cyclone is anticipated to be the first hurricane-force storm to impact the island in 36 years. With a population of approximately 900,000, the island is about the size of Rhode Island and is under a red warning from Meteo France due to the expected severe weather conditions.

Meteo France classified Cyclone Garance as an “intense cyclone,” exhibiting winds equivalent to a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. The island is projected to experience heavy rainfall from Thursday night through Friday, with accumulations potentially reaching several inches or localized amounts of up to 2 feet. AccuWeather’s Lead International Expert, Jason Nicholls, indicated that wind gusts could intensify to 150 mph, leading to extensive damage and coastal flooding.

As evidenced by the photograph showing swells along the coast of Saint-Denis de la Reunion, Cyclone Garance poses significant threats. The island will be under a red cyclone alert starting at 7:00 PM on February 27, when the cyclone is expected to make landfall. If it maintains its projected path, the cyclone could pass less than 50 km inland during the night of February 27 to 28, or early February 28 morning.

Historically, Reunion has experienced numerous tropical storms, yet direct hits from hurricane-force cyclones are uncommon. Severe cyclones in the early 1800s altered the island’s main agricultural focus from coffee to sugar cane, as the latter is not harvested during the cyclone season. Recent threats included Cyclone Fakir in 2018 and Cyclone Bejisa in 2013, but the last direct hurricane hit occurred in 1989 with Cyclone Firinga.

In conclusion, Cyclone Garance poses a significant threat to Reunion, marking a potential historical event as the first hurricane-force storm in over three decades. The island is bracing for extreme weather conditions, including heavy rainfall and damaging winds. As Reunion prepares for the storm, its residents remain vigilant about safety and emergency preparedness in light of the anticipated impacts.

Original Source: www.accuweather.com