The cyclone period is approaching in the Indian Ocean. It should begin in a few days and promises to be potentially more active than last year. In Reunion, individuals are preparing, in particular by having their roofs checked or repaired.
Published on November 5, 2024 at 10:51 a.m.
Being ready now is the key word as the start of the hurricane season approaches. From November 15, 2024 to April 30, 2025, the South-West Indian Ocean basin is exposed to more or less intense depression phenomena.
Strong winds, torrential rains and cyclonic swells, the consequences on inhabited lands like Reunion Island can be significant, even catastrophic. Being well prepared allows you to limit them for the population and for homes.
A few days before the start of the hurricane season, waterproofing companies are not idle. Damaged by the cyclonic winds of the Belal phenomenon at the start of the year, certain sheets simply need to be re-joined. For others, it is necessary to tackle the roof as a whole.
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Protecting your home as the hurricane season approaches is a priority. Some residents are taking the lead. Example in Sainte-Rose
“ A roof overhaul should be done approximately every 10 years. “, explains Alfred Claudi, co-manager of the Claudi company. In the Bas, they are more exposed to winds and corrosion, while in the Hauts, mold on the roofs and waterproofing problems are more frequent.
At the start of the cyclone season, we must begin to limit the potential impacts of a cyclonic phenomenon, which could interest us later, confirms Sébastien Langlade, head of cyclone forecasting at Météo France Océan Allemand.
Whatever the expected intensity of the hurricane season, all it takes is one cyclone to cause major damage.
On the scale of the Western Indian Ocean basin, the season could be active, or even “ more sustained than normal “, indicates the person responsible for cyclone forecasting at Météo France. More than ten cyclonic phenomena should thus circulate during the period.
Their trajectories remain uncertain. It is impossible to say at present whether they will directly concern Reunion Island. Last January, Belal caused significant damage.
Cyclones, like Belal, which passed through Reunion Island are events that happen according to random trajectories. It had been more than 30 years before Belal that a cyclone had directly affected Reunion Island. That doesn't mean that this year we won't have any at all.
Sébastien Langlade, head of cyclone forecasting at Météo France Indian Ocean
The circumstances this year are different from those of last year, and should have an impact on the direction of the trajectories of future phenomena, according to Sébastien Langlade.
While last year, they descended very quickly towards the South, this year the systems will resume their more usual trajectories for the basin, that is to say, rather move towards the West and the South-West.
Sébastien Langlade, head of cyclone forecasting at Météo France Indian Ocean
This is the famous “ parabolic trajectory “, which can be threatening for the Mascarenes.
Another possible difference is that of the calendar. Over the last three hurricane seasons, the first impacts on inhabited lands in the region occurred from January; this year they could occur earlier.
We are in a context where this could happen before the end of the year. Concretely, we could start to have impacts in the area before the end of December 2024.
Sébastien Langlade, head of cyclone forecasting at Météo France Indian Ocean
