Tropical Cyclone Funso in the Mozambique Channel Saturday, Jan 21, 2012. (Navy Research Lab Monterrey)

A tropical cyclone in the Mozambique Channel will menace the southeastern coast of Africa with potentially damaging winds and flooding rain this weekend and heading into next week.

Tropical cyclone Funso is currently within 30 miles of the Mozambique coastline. The compact system is displaying a well-defined, low-level circulation, and has sustained winds of over 115 mph. The showers and thunderstorms from Funso have already triggered localized flooding downpours on both sides of the Channel.

Funso is expected to turn away from land and continue to strengthen as it gains some distance from land.

The area has already seen significant adverse tropical weather this month. Tropical Cyclone Chandra made landfall in western Madagascar early in the month.

Next, Tropical Depression Dando landed in southern Mozambique near Maputo. Almost 500 people were left homeless in Maputo, the nation’s capital, in the aftermath of Dando’s flooding rain and damaging winds, The Associated Press reported on Wednesday.

Torrential rain triggered by Dando also reached into northeastern South Africa.

Also in the Indian Ocean right now is Tropical Cyclone Ethel, which is weaker and possess little threat to land.

For more information check out the Accuweather.com Tropical Page