Tropical Cyclone in Madagascar

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Madagascar to face life-threatening impacts from powerful Tropical Cyclone Enawo through midweek

By Kristina Pydynowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist

By Eric Leister, AccuWeather meteorologist

March 08, 2017, 3:27:02 AM EST

Enawo will continue to pose a severe risk to lives and property as it lashes Madagascar through midweek.

Enawo made landfall between Farahalana and Antalaha late on Tuesday morning local time as an intense tropical cyclone with winds equal to that of a Category 4 hurricane in the Atlantic or eastern Pacific oceans.

"Northern Madagascar will experience damaging winds and heavy rainfall into Wednesday," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Jason Nicholls said.

Even though significant weakening is expected as the cyclone moves farther inland, the provinces of Antsiranana and Toamasina will remain at risk for life-threatening flooding rain and destructive wind gusts in excess of 160 km/h (100 mph) into Wednesday.

Heavy rain and wild winds swept across the island nation of Madagascar on Tuesday, March 7, as Tropical Cyclone Enawo made landfall. 

Residents of Sambava, Antalaha, Andapa and Ambalabe could face days to even weeks without power or other utilities as streets become littered with downed trees and branches. Flooding could wash out roadways across the region, potentially isolating some communities.

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Poorly constructed signs and buildings may be destroyed. Major damage to well-built homes and businesses is not out of the question. Anyone venturing outside during the height of the cyclone would face bodily harm or death due to flying debris.

A life-threatening storm surge will occur near and to the south of where Enawo made landfall. Water funneling into Helodrano Antongila Bay could especially put lives and property in danger from Mananara to Maroantsetra.

Enawo will turn southward across Madagascar from Wednesday through Friday morning, bringing heavy rainfall and locally damaging winds to Antananarivo, Fianarantsoa and eastern Toliara provinces, while conditions begin to improve across northern Madagascar.

Total rainfall of 150-300 mm (6-12 inches) threatens to cause severe flooding and mudslides from northeastern Madagascar to the Ankaratra Mountains and points southward. The provinces of Toamasina, Fianarantsoa, eastern Antananarivo and southeastern Toliara will have the greatest flooding risk as Enawo tracks southward. Hardest-hit locations could receive 400 mm (16 inches) of rain.

The rugged terrain of Madagascar will cause Enawo to significantly weaken as it moves southward limiting the threat for widespread damaging winds in southern Madagascar.

Enawo will depart the southern coast of Madagascar on Friday bringing an end to any flooding rainfall across the country.