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Shortly after Gustav made his landfall a fourth tropical storm developed in the Atlantic Ocean basin.

At 11:00 a.m. EDT Josephine was packing maximum sustained winds near 40 mph. She was located near latitude 13.2 north and longitude 25.3 west or about 125 miles south-southwest of the southernmost Cape Verde Islands, off the western African coast.

Credit: Rob Gutro/Goddard Space Flight Center

Image above links to latest daily updated cloud top satellite picture from the Naval Research Laboratory

The NOAA/NASA GOES Project provides a full Earth photo.

Cyclone Favio made landfall Thursday in southern Mozambique with powerful winds over 200kph, heavy rains and new misery to tens of thousands of people already forced from their homes by flooding.

About 30 people were killed in Mozambique and nearly 90,000 forced from their homes by the floods. The government said 37,000 people were being housed in tented camps before Favio struck.

Mozambique’s worst disaster occurred recently in 2000-2001 when a series of cyclones caused flooding in southern and central parts of the country, killing 700 people and forcing close to half a million to leave their homes.

A second cyclone, called Gamede, is also expected to make landfall today. Depression 16s is still unnamed and may become tropical storm Humba.

Picture credit: Naval Research Labaratory Satellite view is updated daily.

Update: UNOSAT provides a map for the humanitarian community:
Zambezi Flood Monitoring Change Detection near Muturara [jpg, 3mb]

Play with trees, ships, windmills, houses and bodies in a strong storm. More digital toys you’ll find on Masayuki Kido’s web page.

Via lessrain.com

Though Kyrill was not an extrem storm its footprint is impressive. The storm struck Europe with hurricane-force winds over the course of two days, causing significant flight, rail, ferry and power disruptions, flooding, and building damage over a large part of Europe including the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands and Germany. (more…)

Last weekend Sweden was hit by a strong storm with wind speeds of more than 100kph. Falling trees killed at least five people and hundreds of thousands were left without power. An estimated amount of that 12 million cubic metres of forest was felled.

The bridge connecting Sweden and Denmark was temporarily shut to all traffic, while nearly all train departures in southern Sweden and parts of Norway were canceled. The Swedish weather service SMHI said the storm was the worst to hit the country in two years.

Germany’s famous North Sea island and symbol Sylt lost 700,00 m3 sand used to protect the coast. Climate scientists warn more and more efforts are needed to save island from rising sea levels and Climate Change.

Tomorrow depression Kyrill is expected to arrive in Germany with hurricane strength. German weather service DWD warns gusts will have up to 150kph and whole country should prepare for heavy rain and Beaufort 11-12.

zdf.de: Orkan “Kyrill” kommt nach Deutschland

Picture credit: Naval Research Laboratory

The Cape Verde islands are in the mid-Atlantic, roughly off the coast of Mauritania and Senegal. Though 300miles away from continent Karman vortices are build and visible in this picture captured by Daily Terra, 2006-01-02.

Today tropical cyclone Clovis struck Madagascar. Clovis brought 1-minute maximum sustained winds to the region of around 120 km/h. Wind gusts in the area have been considerably higher. Captured by Daily Terra, 2007-01-02.

Filmmaker Geoff Mackley published impressive photos on his website.

Up to 400 deaths are reported. With gusts of 265kph typhoon Durian prompted the evacuation of around 14,000 people, caused ramping floods and landslides, damaged transmission lines and buried houses.

Super typhoon tore through the eastern Philippines on Thursday with winds of up to 225 kph, blowing away small houses, uprooting trees and cutting off power to thousands of homes. Now heading magacity Manila with more than 10mill inhabitants.

Manila Bulletin: Signal no. 4 hoisted over Catanduanes

With wind speed up to 215kph Cimaron hits northern Philippine territory, causing 15 death, uprooted trees and flooding. Typhoon seen by Daily Aqua, 2006-20-29 5:00 UTC