Cyclone Enawo makes landfall in northeastern Madagascar, packing winds of up to 270 kilometres per hour.

The strongest cyclone to hit Madagascar in 13 years has made landfall on the northeastern coast of the island nation on Tuesday.

Cyclone Enawo was packing winds of 230 kilometres per hour when it made landfall, with stronger gusts of up to 270 kph and a central pressure of 925 millibars, making it equivalent to a power category 4 hurricane.

The last time Madagascar experienced a storm of this magnitude was in March of 2004 when Cyclone Gafilo made landfall in approximately the same location, claiming 236 lives and destroying over 20,000 homes.

Even though it has been over 24 hours since the storm made landfall between the coastal communities of Farahalana and Antalaha, the amount of rain from the remnants of Enawo is still expected to cause dangerous flash flooding and mudslides through late week.

With 89 percent of Madagascar's roads being dirt, getting into the hardest hit areas of the north and east will be difficult. Very little information has yet to come out of those regions, but it is expected that there will be widespread power outages from down trees and extensive flood damage.

Reports of casualties and injured were expected to rise in the coming days.

Through Thursday the storm will continue to move south across the island, continue to bring with it heavy rainfall and gusty winds. By Friday, what is left of Enawo will have exited the southern tip of the country and back into the Indian Ocean.

Normally the Indian Ocean sees 4-5 "hurricane strength" cyclones each year. Cyclone Hellen was the last cyclone to make landfall in Madagascar in March, 2014. </s> Tropical cyclone Enawo struck Madagascar on Tuesday, buffeting the island with powerful winds, heavy rain and high seas and threatening to cause chaos in the capital, the country's weather agency said.

"Enawo made landfall and struck... with terrible winds of 210 km/h (130 mph) with some gales of 290 km/h" from around midday (0900 GMT) Tuesday, according to the head of the Madagascar's Weather Service, Samueline Rahariveloarimiza.

She warned that the capital Antananarivo was in "imminent danger" with the cyclone expected to reach the city of 1.4 million people on Wednesday.

The entire north of the island nation, which lies 400 kilometres (250 miles) east of mainland Africa, is on "red alert", Rahariveloarimiza told AFP.

Reports of injuries or damage caused by the cyclone's arrival were not immediately available.

Strong winds and heavy winds have been battering Antalaha and Cape Masoala in the country's northeast since Monday. The island's north is particularly exposed to extreme weather systems.

Residents in Enawo's path have been advised in recent days to evacuate low-lying areas, seek shelter and stock up on on food and water.

Rescue teams were deployed across the island ahead of Enawo's arrival.

Madagascar's storm season normally runs from November through February and claims dozens of lives every year.

In 2012, tropical storm Irina and tropical cyclone Giovanna claimed more than 100 lives.

The Indian Ocean island has suffered severe drought and food shortages since 2015, with the southern region the worst affected. </s> Intense Tropical Cyclone "Enawo" made landfall between Sambava and Antalaha, Madagascar on March 7, 2017, as Category 4 hurricane equivalent on the Saffir-Simpson scale.Enawo is predicted to affect approximately 1.4 million people. Another tropical cyclone is brewing to the east of the country and will likely be named over the next 24 hours.Enawo made landfall at 08:00 UTC (11:00 local time) on March 7 at 14.6 degrees north latitude and 50.2 degrees east longitude, about half way between Sambava and Antalaha. As it hit, Enawo became quasi-stationary and pounded Antalaha with strong winds and heavy rain for several hours.At 09:00 UTC (4 a.m. EST)on the Saffir-Simpson Wind Scale. By 18:00 UTC, they dropped to 167 km/h (103 mph), which made it a Category 2 hurricane equivalent, still extremely dangerous.Category 4 hurricane can have the following effects: Well-built framed homes can sustain severe damage with loss of most of the roof structure and/or some exterior walls. Most trees will be snapped or uprooted and power poles downed. Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential areas. Power outages will last weeks to possibly months. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months."Northern Madagascar will experience damaging winds and heavy rainfall into Wednesday," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Jason Nichol 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.The damage caused by floods could potentially affect 8 regions: Analanjirofo, Atsinanana, Sofia, Alaotra Mangoro, Analamanga, Menabe, Vatovavy Fitovinany, and Atsimo Andrefana.Enawo is being compared to the last hurricane-strength tropical cyclone Giovanna that made landfall on Madagascar's east coast on February 13, 2012. Giovanna is blamed for 33 deaths along the Madagascar coast, and was the first intense tropical cyclone to impact Madagascar, since Bingiza in February 2011.Since 1983, Madagascar has been struck by 12 major tropical cyclones. The deadliest was Tropical Cyclone "Gafilo" on March 7, 2004. Gafilo was also a Category 4 storm with 241 km/h (150 mph) winds and was responsible for deaths of 363 people.According to Weather Underground meteorologist Jeff Masters , Enawo is the strongest tropical cyclone in the Southern Hemisphere so far in the 2016 - 2017 season, and the first one to exceed Category 1 strength., as we discussed in detail in a February 28 post," he noted and added:—precipitable water values up to 3.0 inches. Recent runs of the HWRF model predict extreme rainfall amounts falling on heavily populated regions of Madagascar, and Enawo has the potential to be a top-three most damaging storm in the island's history.Enawo will decay rapidly as it takes a track directly down the length of Madagascar, exposing the entire island to flooding rains. However, the disaster could have been worse—more than half of the rivers in Madagascar have dried up or are flowing at less than 5 percent of their average streamflow, thanks to a two-year El Niño-linked drought. Enawo's rains will help break the drought, which has caused large-scale crop failures and put over half a million people into acute food insecurity."The Madagascar Meteorological Service has placed the following regions under alert:A Red Alert or Alerte Rouge is in effect for: Sur Ambanja, Nosy-Be, Ambilobe, Vohimarina, Antsiranana, Andapa, Sambava, Antalaha, Mampikony, Bealanana, Antsohihy, Befandriana-Avaratra, Analalava, Mandritsara, Port-Berger, Tsaratanana, Marovoay, Ambato-Boina, Maevatanana, Mahajanga, Soanierana-Ivongo, Andilamena, Vavatenina, Ambatondrazaka, Amparafaravola, Vatomandry, Vohibinany, Fenoarivo-Atsinanana, Mananara-Avaratra, Maroantsetra, Sainte Marie, Toamasina.A Yellow Alert or Alerte Jaune is in effect for: Sur Kandreho, Mitsinjo, Soalala, Anosibe-Anala, Moramanga, Antanambao-Manampotsy, Marolambo, Mahanoro, Fenoarivo-Afovoany, Antananarivo-Atsimondrano, Faratsiho, Andramasina, Antanifotsy, Soavinandriana, Miarinarivo, Tsiroanomandidy, Ambatolampy, Betafo, Antsirabe, Anjozorobe, Manjakandriana, Arivonimamo, Ankazobe, Ambohidratrimo, Antananarivo.A Green Alert or Alerte Verte is in effect for: Sur Manandriana, Befotaka, Iakora, Fianarantsoa, Ikalamavony, Ivohibe, Vondrozo, Ihosy, Midongy-Atsimo, Vangaindrano, Farafangana, Vohipeno, Ikongo, Manakara-Atsimo, Mananjary, Ambohimahasoa, Nosy-Varika, Ifanadiana, Ambalavao, Fandriana, Ambositra, Ambatofinandrahana.Meanwhile, another tropical cyclone is expected to develop in the southern Indian Ocean within the next 12 to 24 hours. Global models show the system tracking generally westward while continuing to consolidate.It is still too early to be sure, but this one might affect or hit Madagascar by March 14 or 15. </s> Madagascan authorities on Monday issued a warning of severe floods and storm damage as tropical cyclone Enawo bore down on the island's northeast coast.

With the cyclone due to hit land on Tuesday morning, residents in its path were advised to evacuate low-lying areas, seek shelter and stock up on on food and water supplies.

"Enawo will land tomorrow, between 9:00 and 12:00 (0600 and 0900 GMT), in the districts of Antalaha and Maroantsetra," Thierry Venty, of the National Bureau of Risk and Disaster Management (BNGRC), said.

"For now it's a tropical cyclone, but the forecast (...) says it will evolve into an intense tropical cyclone before making landfall," he told reporters at a press conference in the capital Antananarivo.

Venty said rescue teams were being positioned to provide emergency relief.

According to latest bulletin on Monday from Madagascar's meteorology department, Enawo was approaching the coast packing winds of 140 kilometres (85 miles) per hour, with gusts of up to 195 kilometres an hour.

The cyclone is expected to pound the coast before weakening as it heads down the eastern region towards Antananarivo.

Madagascar's storm season normally runs from November through February and claims dozens of lives every year.

In 2012, tropical storm Irina and tropical cyclone Giovanna claimed more than 100 lives.

The Indian Ocean island has suffered severe drought and food shortages since 2015, with the southern region the worst affected. </s> Antananarivo - Tropical cyclone Enawo slammed into Madagascar on Tuesday, killing three people and displacing hundreds as it buffeted the island with hurricane-force winds and pounding rain.

The national disaster management agency BNGRC, in a preliminary toll, said 468 people had been displaced in the northeastern district of Maroantsetra, and a landslip there had killed three people, including two children, injured six and damaged four schools.

Videos on social media showed flattened trees, flooded roads and corrugated sheeting that had been ripped from roofs.

Enawo made landfall in the northeast of the country in the Antalaha area with winds gusting up to 290km per hour, the country's weather service said.

Watch the video posted on social media below.

The cyclone weakened as it advanced inland at five kph, but at nightfall was still blowing at 165 kph, with peak gusts of 200 kph.

The entire north of the island nation, which lies 400km east of mainland Africa, is on "red alert", Samueline Rahariveloarimiza, the head of the weather service, told AFP.

Up to 700 000 people could be affected by the cyclone, according to the Red Cross, which has deployed 500 volunteers.

Strong winds and heavy rain have been battering Antalaha and Cape Masoala in the country's northeast since Monday.

The cyclone is expected to leave Madagascar on Thursday, but there are fears it will leave widespread flooding and deadly landslides in its wake.

Residents in Enawo's path had been advised to evacuate low-lying areas, seek shelter and stock up on food and water.

Madagascar's storm season normally runs from November through February and claims dozens of lives every year.

In 2012, tropical storm Irina and tropical cyclone Giovanna claimed more than 100 lives.

The Indian Ocean island has suffered severe drought and food shortages since 2015, with the southern region the worst affected. </s> Major storm expected to be the strongest system to make landfall at the island nation in three years.

Tropical Cyclone Enawo has developed in the southern Indian Ocean.

The storm is heading towards Madagascar and threatens widespread flooding across much of the island nation.

Enawo is currently about 700km north of Port Louis, Mauritius. The system is staggering southwestwards towards Madagascar at around 4kmph.

The sustained winds around the storm are now at 150kmph with gusts nearer to 175kmph. Rapid strengthening is expected over the next two days.

The Joint Typhoon Warning Centre said that conditions are "very conducive" to further development. Vertical wind shear is light to moderate and sea surface temperatures are around 29 to 30C.

Tropical Cyclone Enawo is currently equivalent to a Category 1 Atlantic hurricane. It is forecast to strengthen to a Category 3 equivalent storm with winds approaching 200km/h gusting to 250km/h by Monday afternoon.

This is a major storm system and could cause destruction.

It is expected to make landfall on Tuesday morning with the usual hazards of life-threatening flash floods and violent winds.

Storm surge flooding and torrential downpours are likely. Wave heights of 5 metres are possible and rainfall totals could reach 200 to 400mm in places.

After making landfall, Enawo is expected to move southwards along the spine of the country, weakening steadily as it gets ripped apart by the mountainous landscape.

The winds will ease but the flooding rains will linger for much of this week. </s> Antananarivo - Madagascan authorities on Monday issued a warning of severe floods and storm damage as tropical cyclone Enawo bore down on the island's northeast coast.

With the cyclone due to hit land on Tuesday morning, residents in its path were advised to evacuate low-lying areas, seek shelter and stock up on on food and water supplies.

"Enawo will land tomorrow, between 09:00 and 12:00 (06:00 and 09:00 GMT), in the districts of Antalaha and Maroantsetra," Thierry Venty, of the National Bureau of Risk and Disaster Management (BNGRC), said.

"For now it's a tropical cyclone, but the forecast (...) says it will evolve into an intense tropical cyclone before making landfall," he told reporters at a press conference in the capital Antananarivo.

Venty said rescue teams were being positioned to provide emergency relief.

According to latest bulletin on Monday from Madagascar's meteorology department, Enawo was approaching the coast packing winds of 140km per hour, with gusts of up to 195km an hour.

The cyclone is expected to pound the coast before weakening as it heads down the eastern region towards Antananarivo.

Madagascar's storm season normally runs from November through February and claims dozens of lives every year.

In 2012, tropical storm Irina and tropical cyclone Giovanna claimed more than 100 lives.

The Indian Ocean island has suffered severe drought and food shortages since 2015, with the southern region the worst affected. </s> Tropical Cyclone Enawo was battering the northeastern region of Madagascar when NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite passed overhead on March 7. Enawo strengthened to the equivalent of a Category 4 or major hurricane and made landfall. On March 7 at 10:24 UTC the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite instrument aboard NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite provided a visible image of Enawo.

Start the conversation, or Read more at Environmental News Network. </s> Nyemudzai Kakore Herald Correspondent

 The Meteorological Services Department (MSD) has warned Zimbabweans not to panic over tropical Cyclone Enawo, as it is still too far from the mainland to have any effect.

Cyclone Enawo is brewing east of Madagascar and is likely to affect Zimbabwe if it enters the Mozambican Channel (the part of the Indian Ocean between Mozambique and Madagascar).

MSD meteorologist Ms Chenai Sithole said they were monitoring Enawo’s progress and will issue a warning if it was likely to have any effects in the country.

“The tropical cyclone has now been named Cyclone Enawo and is brewing east of Madagascar,” she said. “So far there is no need to be terrified as the cyclone is still far from us.

“We will continue monitoring its progress and if it is to impact on Zimbabwe, a warning will be issued.”

A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating, low-pressure storm system characterised by very strong winds, thunderstorms and torrential rains.

Depending on its location and strength, a tropical cyclone is referred to by names such as hurricane, typhoon, tropical storm, cyclonic storm, tropical depression or simply cyclone.

Cyclone Enawo comes against the backdrop of Cyclone Dineo that resulted in floods that affected nearly all parts of the country in recent weeks, killing 246 people.

At least 128 people were injured, while 1 576 were marooned. The floods left 1 985 others homeless and damaged 74 schools, leaving 70 dams breached and five health institutions damaged.

Government has since launched an international humanitarian appeal to assist the victims.

The appeal for assistance came after President Mugabe declared the floods a state of disaster, after they left a trail of destruction which needs $100 million to repair.

Ms Sithole said Mashonaland West and Matabeleland North provinces will remain cloudy and humid with storm outbreaks, while the rest of the country will remain wet with some sunny breaks.

Cyclone Eline, which hit the country in 2 000, remains the worst cyclone to affect Zimbabwe in 50 years.

It lasted from February 9 to March 2, 2000, leaving a trail of destruction in most parts of the country.
Cyclone Enawo makes landfall in Madagascar as a powerful Category 4 storm, making it the most powerful storm to strike the African nation in 13 years.