Madagascar braces for life-threatening impacts from powerful Tropical Cyclone Enawo

By Kristina Pydynowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist

By Eric Leister, AccuWeather meteorologist

March 6,2017, 5:08:58PM,EST

 

 

Enawo will remain a dangerous tropical cyclone as it nears landfall in northern Madagascar, posing a severe risk to lives and property this week.
Madagascar residents should be rushing to complete necessary precautions as impacts from the dangerous cyclone will last into Friday.
Enawo is currently an intense tropical cyclone, which is as strong as a major hurricane in the Atlantic or eastern Pacific oceans. The dangerous cyclone remains on target to slam into northeastern Madagascar on Tuesday morning, local time.

"Northeastern Madagascar will experience increasing winds and heavy rainfall from Monday night into Tuesday," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Jason Nicholls said.
The worst impacts are expected to be felt from Tuesday into Wednesday as Enawo makes landfall and moves over parts of eastern Madagascar.
A direct landfall will put the provinces of Antsiranana and Toamasina at risk for life-threatening flooding rain and destructive wind gusts in excess of 160 km/h (100 mph).
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 direct strike on northeastern Madagascar would also lead to a life-threatening storm surge near and to the south of where Enawo makes landfall. Water funneling into Helodrano Antongila Bay could especially put lives and property in danger in Maroantsetra.

After landfall, Enawo will continue southward across Madagascar from Wednesday through Friday, bringing heavy rainfall and locally damaging winds to Antananarivo, Fianarantsoa and eastern Toliara provinces.
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. Isolated locations could receive 400 mm (16 inches) of rain.
Enawo will leave the southern coast of Madagascar on Friday allowing conditions to improve across southern parts of the country.