Foreign Office warning to anyone heading to popular tourist island | Travel News | Travel

Brits in Mauritius have been hit with an urgent warning as the Foreign Office cautions against severe tropical storm Garance, which is set to batter the island. Garance has prompted a weather alert across Mauritius, with the Foreign Office highlighting that turbulent conditions are expected to persist throughout the week.

Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport will shut its doors from 7pm local time on February 26 until an unspecified time, potentially throwing travel plans into chaos. Travellers are being urged to reach out to their airlines for the most recent updates on their flights.

The Foreign Office said on Wednesday: “Stay in a safe place and follow instructions and updates from local authorities closely. If you are visiting Mauritius and need urgent consular assistance, contact us on +230 660 4900 and press option 2.”

This comes in the wake of the Mauritius Meteorological Services declaring a class 3 cyclone warning as storm Garance gains momentum just 440 kilometres northwest of the island. The meteorological authority reports wind speeds surging up to 70km per hour, and it’s also advising the public to steer clear of coastal areas due to the dangerous sea conditions.

Meanwhile, the wider Southern Hemisphere is currently in its cyclone season, with reports of up to six tropical storms across the region. 

US weather media agency AccuWeather reported that six tropical storms were active in the southern Indian and Pacific oceans simultaneously earlier this week – a phenomenon last seen in 1989.

These included storm Garance and cyclones Honde, Bianca, Alfred, Seru and Rae. The surge in storm activity is believed to be due to weak wind shear and warm sea-surface temperatures.

Data from Colorado State University also revealed that tropical cyclone energy across the Southern Hemisphere is 138% above normal levels. However, despite the alarming increase in storm activity, forecasters predict it will begin to calm down in the coming weeks.

This is due to the sun shifting to the Northern hemisphere after the spring equinox, which will help cool water temperatures.