Yaku: here’s what you need to know about the cyclone that formed off the Peruvian sea

Torrential rains have flooded the streets of Piura. An unusual and unorganized tropical cyclone, Cyclone Yaku, is currently present in the Peruvian sea, in front of the north and center coast, as described by the National Meteorological and Hydrological Service of Peru (SENAMHI).

According to a press release from SENAMHI, published on February 7, this depressive low-pressure system is associated with warming sea surface temperature and the second band of the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ). They added that Cyclone Yaku has had a significant impact on the extreme rains that have been reported in areas such as Tumbes, Piura, and Lambayeque.

It is expected that, for the following days, Cyclone Yaku will also influence the intensification of the rains in other regions such as La Libertad, Lima, and Áncash, “especially in the middle basins of the Pacific slope, generating an increase in flow rates and the activation of breaks.”

The formation of this cyclone was identified by personnel from Peru’s National Meteorology and Hydrology Service in late February, and it is currently observed that its training is complete. For this reason, the meteorological service announced that “monitoring of this system and its route is maintained for a possible update of the forecasts and weather warnings issued.”

In this regard, the meteorologist Abraham Levy, through his Twitter profile (@hombredeltiempo), pointed out that “the (prediction) models” suggest that Cyclone Yaku will move west as days go by and then dissipate. “It won’t reach the coast, but its impacts will,” he added.

Levy also added that in May 1983, there was a cyclone in front of Tumbes and south of the Equator, which eventually became Hurricane Adolph, hitting Mexico.

In another statement, the National Service of Meteorology and Hydrology of Peru indicated that between March 9 and 11, precipitation (snow, hail, sleet, and rain) of moderate to extreme intensity will be recorded in the North Coast and sierra.

“Expected rain from strong to extreme on the coast of Tumbes, Piura, and Lambayeque. Moderate to high intensity on the coast of La Libertad: similarly, mild to moderate intensity on the coast of Ancash,” the report for the coast reads in detail.

For the mountains, “rain, hail, snow, snow water” precipitation is forecast, of strong to extreme intensity in a localized way, in the northern mountains and of moderate to strong intensity in the rest, accompanied by gusts of wind and isolated electrical discharges.