.jpg) Satellite image of Delfina on January 1 | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | December 30, 2002 |
| Dissipated | January 1, 2003 |
| Severe tropical storm | |
| 10-minute sustained (MFR) | |
| Highest winds | 95 km/h (60 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 984 hPa (mbar); 29.06 inHg |
| Tropical storm | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC) | |
| Highest winds | 100 km/h (65 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 984 hPa (mbar); 29.06 inHg |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 54 direct |
| Damage | $3.5 million (2003 USD) |
| Areas affected | Mozambique, Malawi |
| IBTrACS | |
Part of the 2002–03 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season | |
Severe Tropical Storm Delfina was a damaging tropical cyclone that affected southeastern Africa in January 2003. The fourth named storm of the 2002–03 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season, Delfina formed off the northwest coast of Madagascar on December 30, 2002. It quickly intensified while moving westward, becoming a strong tropical storm before hitting northeastern Mozambique on December 31. Delfina weakened while moving inland, and it was no longer classifiable as a tropical cyclone by January 1, 2003. However, its remnants moved across the country and into Malawi, later looping around and crossing back over Mozambique; the remnants of Delfina were last observed on January 9.
In both Mozambique and Malawi, Delfina dropped heavy rainfall that caused flooding. In the former country, over 18,000 houses were severely damaged or destroyed, leaving thousands homeless. The storm damaged roads and bridges, which disrupted relief efforts in the aftermath, and floods destroyed widespread areas of crops in the midst of an ongoing food shortage. Lingering flooding caused an outbreak of cholera and malaria in Mozambique, and 47 people were killed by Delfina. In Malawi, flooding was not widespread, although the storm destroyed about 3,600 houses and killed eight people. Only two months after the storm struck, however, Cyclone Japhet left damage and deaths in many of the same areas that Delfina affected.