No, Belal is no longer active. It dissipated or transitioned into an extratropical cyclone on 2024-01-23T06:00:00.000Z.
Belal formed on 2024-01-11T18:00:00.000Z and dissipated on 2024-01-23T06:00:00.000Z, reaching a peak intensity of extratropical.
Belal achieved maximum sustained winds of approximately 162 km/h (87 kt / 101 mph) and a minimum central pressure of approximately 970 hPa.
According to current track forecasts, Belal is expected to pass near Saint-Denis with a closest approach of approximately 11 km, suggesting a higher potential for direct impacts.
According to current forecasts, Belal is expected to pass approximately 161 km from Port Louis, presenting a moderate risk of wind and rain impacts.
Based on track data, Belal is expected to remain approximately 433 km from Toamasina, with minimal direct threats currently anticipated.
Projected rainfall totals of approximately 50-150 mm (2-6 inches) may occur in affected areas, creating risks of flash flooding and urban flooding.
Yes. Tropical systems carry abundant moisture, and outer rainbands can trigger flash flooding, river flooding, and urban flooding.
Adjust preparations based on the storm category and official advice. Secure outdoor items, prepare emergency supplies, keep backup power available, and follow official advisories.
Evacuation decisions must strictly follow official directives issued by local emergency management agencies. If an evacuation order is issued, evacuate immediately using designated routes. Do not rely solely on a single forecast model.
StormAtlas regularly updates based on publicly available data from international meteorological agencies. The latest data update was at August 12, 2026 at 11:04 PM.
Belal developed over warm ocean waters under conditions of high atmospheric moisture and low vertical wind shear.
The forecast path integrates data from multiple international meteorological agencies and numerical weather prediction models (such as NHC, JMA, JTWC, and CMA) using ensemble forecasting methods to generate probabilistic forecast tracks.
Storm Timeline
Belal at 33.5°S, 55.3°E as Extratropical Cyclone with winds of 43 km/h (27 mph)
Belal at 33.0°S, 54.4°E as Extratropical Cyclone with winds of 0 km/h
Belal at 32.5°S, 53.7°E as Extratropical Cyclone with winds of 43 km/h (27 mph)
Belal at 31.9°S, 53.1°E as Extratropical Cyclone with winds of 0 km/h
Belal at 31.3°S, 52.8°E as Extratropical Cyclone with winds of 43 km/h (27 mph)
Belal at 30.6°S, 52.6°E as Extratropical Cyclone with winds of 0 km/h
Belal at 29.9°S, 52.6°E as Extratropical Cyclone with winds of 43 km/h (27 mph)
Belal at 29.1°S, 52.6°E as Extratropical Cyclone with winds of 0 km/h
Belal at 28.4°S, 52.8°E as Extratropical Cyclone with winds of 54 km/h (34 mph)
Belal at 27.8°S, 53.2°E as Extratropical Cyclone with winds of 0 km/h
Belal at 27.3°S, 53.9°E as Extratropical Cyclone with winds of 54 km/h (34 mph)
Belal at 27.0°S, 54.7°E as Extratropical Cyclone with winds of 0 km/h
Belal at 26.8°S, 55.6°E as Extratropical Cyclone with winds of 54 km/h (34 mph)
Belal at 26.7°S, 56.5°E as Extratropical Cyclone with winds of 0 km/h
Belal at 26.7°S, 57.3°E as Extratropical Cyclone with winds of 54 km/h (34 mph)
Belal at 26.7°S, 58.0°E as Extratropical Cyclone with winds of 0 km/h
Belal at 26.6°S, 58.6°E as Extratropical Cyclone with winds of 54 km/h (34 mph)
Belal at 26.3°S, 59.2°E as Extratropical Cyclone with winds of 0 km/h
Belal at 25.9°S, 59.7°E as Extratropical Cyclone with winds of 54 km/h (34 mph)
Belal at 25.6°S, 60.2°E as Extratropical Cyclone with winds of 0 km/h
Belal at 25.4°S, 60.7°E as Tropical Depression with winds of 43 km/h (27 mph)
Belal at 25.3°S, 61.0°E as Tropical Depression with winds of 40 km/h (25 mph)
Belal at 25.2°S, 61.3°E as Tropical Depression with winds of 43 km/h (27 mph)
Belal at 25.0°S, 61.7°E as Tropical Depression with winds of 43 km/h (27 mph)
Belal at 24.8°S, 62.0°E as Tropical Depression with winds of 43 km/h (27 mph)
Belal at 24.6°S, 62.2°E as Tropical Depression with winds of 43 km/h (27 mph)
Belal at 24.3°S, 62.5°E as Tropical Depression with winds of 43 km/h (27 mph)
Belal at 24.0°S, 62.8°E as Tropical Depression with winds of 43 km/h (27 mph)
Belal at 23.8°S, 63.1°E as Tropical Depression with winds of 43 km/h (27 mph)
Belal at 23.6°S, 63.3°E as Tropical Depression with winds of 43 km/h (27 mph)
Belal at 23.5°S, 63.6°E as Tropical Depression with winds of 43 km/h (27 mph)
Belal at 23.3°S, 63.8°E as Tropical Depression with winds of 50 km/h (31 mph)
Belal at 23.2°S, 64.0°E as Tropical Depression with winds of 43 km/h (27 mph)
Belal at 23.3°S, 64.2°E as Tropical Depression with winds of 61 km/h (38 mph)
Belal at 23.4°S, 64.5°E as Tropical Depression with winds of 54 km/h (34 mph)
Belal at 23.5°S, 64.8°E as Tropical Storm with winds of 79 km/h (49 mph)
Belal at 23.7°S, 65.1°E as Tropical Storm with winds of 72 km/h (45 mph)
Belal at 23.8°S, 65.5°E as Tropical Storm with winds of 90 km/h (56 mph)
Belal at 23.8°S, 65.7°E as Tropical Storm with winds of 83 km/h (52 mph)
Belal at 23.8°S, 65.8°E as Tropical Storm with winds of 90 km/h (56 mph)
Belal at 23.8°S, 65.6°E as Tropical Storm with winds of 90 km/h (56 mph)
Belal at 23.8°S, 65.4°E as Tropical Storm with winds of 86 km/h (53 mph)
Belal at 23.9°S, 65.1°E as Tropical Storm with winds of 83 km/h (52 mph)
Belal at 24.0°S, 64.9°E as Tropical Storm with winds of 86 km/h (53 mph)
Belal at 24.0°S, 64.6°E as Tropical Storm with winds of 83 km/h (52 mph)
Belal at 24.0°S, 64.3°E as Tropical Storm with winds of 90 km/h (56 mph)
Belal at 24.1°S, 63.9°E as Tropical Storm with winds of 90 km/h (56 mph)
Belal at 24.0°S, 63.5°E as Tropical Storm with winds of 90 km/h (56 mph)
Belal at 23.9°S, 63.1°E as Tropical Storm with winds of 90 km/h (56 mph)
Belal at 23.8°S, 62.8°E as Tropical Storm with winds of 97 km/h (60 mph)
Belal at 23.8°S, 62.4°E as Tropical Storm with winds of 101 km/h (63 mph)
Belal at 23.6°S, 61.9°E as Tropical Storm with winds of 104 km/h (65 mph)
Belal at 23.5°S, 61.4°E as Tropical Storm with winds of 108 km/h (67 mph)
Belal at 23.3°S, 60.7°E as Tropical Storm with winds of 104 km/h (65 mph)
Belal at 23.2°S, 60.1°E as Tropical Storm with winds of 108 km/h (67 mph)
Belal at 23.1°S, 59.6°E as Tropical Storm with winds of 104 km/h (65 mph)
Belal at 22.8°S, 59.1°E as Tropical Storm with winds of 108 km/h (67 mph)
Belal at 22.6°S, 58.6°E as Tropical Storm with winds of 115 km/h (71 mph)
Belal at 22.2°S, 58.0°E as Category 1 (equivalent to Category 1 Hurricane) with winds of 119 km/h (74 mph)
Belal at 21.8°S, 57.4°E as Category 1 (equivalent to Category 1 Hurricane) with winds of 126 km/h (78 mph)
Belal at 21.5°S, 56.9°E as Category 1 (equivalent to Category 1 Hurricane) with winds of 119 km/h (74 mph)
Belal at 21.4°S, 56.5°E as Category 1 (equivalent to Category 1 Hurricane) with winds of 133 km/h (83 mph)
Belal at 21.4°S, 56.2°E as Category 1 (equivalent to Category 1 Hurricane) with winds of 119 km/h (74 mph)
Belal at 21.1°S, 55.8°E as Category 1 (equivalent to Category 1 Hurricane) with winds of 144 km/h (89 mph)
Belal at 20.8°S, 55.5°E as Category 1 (equivalent to Category 1 Hurricane) with winds of 130 km/h (81 mph)
Belal at 20.6°S, 54.9°E as Category 2 (equivalent to Category 1 Hurricane) with winds of 151 km/h (94 mph)
Belal at 20.4°S, 54.4°E as Category 1 (equivalent to Category 1 Hurricane) with winds of 137 km/h (85 mph)
Belal at 20.3°S, 54.0°E as Category 2 (equivalent to Category 2 Hurricane) with winds of 162 km/h (101 mph)
Belal at 20.1°S, 53.8°E as Category 1 (equivalent to Category 1 Hurricane) with winds of 137 km/h (85 mph)
Belal at 19.9°S, 53.6°E as Category 2 (equivalent to Category 2 Hurricane) with winds of 162 km/h (101 mph)
Belal at 19.8°S, 53.5°E as Category 1 (equivalent to Category 1 Hurricane) with winds of 137 km/h (85 mph)
Belal at 19.5°S, 53.4°E as Category 2 (equivalent to Category 1 Hurricane) with winds of 151 km/h (94 mph)
Belal at 19.2°S, 53.5°E as Category 1 (equivalent to Category 1 Hurricane) with winds of 137 km/h (85 mph)
Belal at 18.8°S, 53.5°E as Category 1 (equivalent to Category 1 Hurricane) with winds of 144 km/h (89 mph)
Belal at 18.3°S, 53.5°E as Category 1 (equivalent to Category 1 Hurricane) with winds of 130 km/h (81 mph)
Belal at 17.9°S, 53.6°E as Category 1 (equivalent to Category 1 Hurricane) with winds of 130 km/h (81 mph)
Belal at 17.5°S, 53.8°E as Tropical Storm with winds of 108 km/h (67 mph)
Belal at 17.1°S, 53.9°E as Tropical Storm with winds of 108 km/h (67 mph)
Belal at 16.6°S, 54.2°E as Tropical Storm with winds of 90 km/h (56 mph)
Belal at 16.1°S, 54.5°E as Tropical Storm with winds of 97 km/h (60 mph)
Belal at 15.7°S, 54.9°E as Tropical Storm with winds of 83 km/h (52 mph)
Belal at 15.1°S, 55.4°E as Tropical Storm with winds of 86 km/h (53 mph)
Belal at 14.6°S, 55.8°E as Tropical Storm with winds of 65 km/h (40 mph)
Belal at 14.1°S, 56.2°E as Tropical Storm with winds of 72 km/h (45 mph)
Belal at 13.8°S, 56.5°E as Tropical Depression with winds of 54 km/h (34 mph)
Belal at 13.5°S, 56.5°E as Tropical Storm with winds of 65 km/h (40 mph)
Belal at 13.3°S, 56.6°E as Tropical Depression with winds of 54 km/h (34 mph)
Belal at 13.1°S, 56.8°E as Tropical Depression with winds of 54 km/h (34 mph)
Belal at 13.0°S, 57.1°E as Tropical Depression with winds of 43 km/h (27 mph)
Belal at 12.8°S, 57.6°E as Tropical Depression with winds of 43 km/h (27 mph)
Belal at 12.7°S, 58.2°E as Tropical Depression with winds of 43 km/h (27 mph)
Belal at 12.5°S, 58.6°E as Tropical Depression with winds of 40 km/h (25 mph)
Belal at 12.4°S, 59.0°E as Tropical Depression with winds of 36 km/h (22 mph)
Cyclone Belal: A Retrospective Analysis of the 2024 Tropical Cyclone
Formation and Meteorological History
Tropical Cyclone Belal originated from a disturbance east of Agaléga in early January 2024. On 11 January, Météo-France upgraded it to a tropical depression. By 13 January, it intensified into a moderate tropical storm and was named Belal. The storm rapidly strengthened, reaching tropical cyclone status on 14 January with 10-minute sustained winds of 140 km/h (85 mph) and a minimum central pressure of 968 hPa. Belal made landfall over Réunion on 15 January, becoming the first cyclone to directly hit the island since Hondo in 2008 and the strongest since Firinga in 1989. After passing the Mascarene Islands, it weakened and became post-tropical on 18 January, dissipating on 23 January.
Impact and Damages
Belal caused widespread devastation across the Mascarene Islands, particularly Réunion and Mauritius. In Réunion, heavy rainfall and strong winds led to flooding, landslides, and infrastructure damage. One fatality was reported on the island. In Mauritius, the cyclone coincided with high tide, exacerbating coastal inundation and flooding. Extensive damage occurred to roads, buildings, and vehicles, with total economic losses estimated at $275 million (2024 USD). A total of six fatalities were attributed to the storm.
Government Response and Relief Efforts
Both Réunion (as an overseas department of France) and Mauritius activated emergency protocols. Mauritius' National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC) operated 24/7, coordinating evacuations and relief. The government implemented a national drainage masterplan to mitigate future flooding, including new drains and flood plains. In Port Louis, low-lying areas were designated no-parking zones during heavy rainfall forecasts. Engineers emphasized resilience building, with ongoing projects to upgrade infrastructure against climate change impacts.
Cyclone Belal: A Retrospective Analysis of the 2024 Tropical Cyclone
Formation and Meteorological History
Tropical Cyclone Belal originated from a disturbance east of Agaléga in early January 2024. On 11 January, Météo-France upgraded it to a tropical depression. By 13 January, it intensified into a moderate tropical storm and was named Belal. The storm rapidly strengthened, reaching tropical cyclone status on 14 January with 10-minute sustained winds of 140 km/h (85 mph) and a minimum central pressure of 968 hPa. Belal made landfall over Réunion on 15 January, becoming the first cyclone to directly hit the island since Hondo in 2008 and the strongest since Firinga in 1989. After passing the Mascarene Islands, it weakened and became post-tropical on 18 January, dissipating on 23 January.
Impact and Damages
Belal caused widespread devastation across the Mascarene Islands, particularly Réunion and Mauritius. In Réunion, heavy rainfall and strong winds led to flooding, landslides, and infrastructure damage. One fatality was reported on the island. In Mauritius, the cyclone coincided with high tide, exacerbating coastal inundation and flooding. Extensive damage occurred to roads, buildings, and vehicles, with total economic losses estimated at $275 million (2024 USD). A total of six fatalities were attributed to the storm.
Government Response and Relief Efforts
Both Réunion (as an overseas department of France) and Mauritius activated emergency protocols. Mauritius' National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC) operated 24/7, coordinating evacuations and relief. The government implemented a national drainage masterplan to mitigate future flooding, including new drains and flood plains. In Port Louis, low-lying areas were designated no-parking zones during heavy rainfall forecasts. Engineers emphasized resilience building, with ongoing projects to upgrade infrastructure against climate change impacts.
