Tropical Cyclone Chalane Swirls Toward Madagascar

Tropical Cyclone Chalane swirled toward Madagascar on Friday. At 4:00 p.m. EST on Friday the center of Tropical Cyclone Chalane was located at latitude 16.2°S and longitude 53.3°E which put it about 240 miles (390 km) east of Mananara, Madagascar. Chalane was moving toward the west at 13 m.p.h. (20 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 996 mb.

The circulation around Tropical Cyclone Chalane exhibited more organization on Friday, but the it was still asymmetrical. The strongest thunderstorms were still occurring in bands in the southern half of the circulation. Bands in the northern half of Chalane consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. The strongest winds were occurring in the bands south of the center of circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 100 miles (160 km) on the south side of Tropical Cyclone Chalane. Winds to tropical storm force only extended out 25 miles (40 km) on the northern side of Chalane.

Tropical Cyclone Chalane will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Chalane will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 28°C. It will move under the northern side of an upper level ridge over the Southwest Indian Ocean. The ridge will produce easterly winds which will blow toward the top of the tropical cyclone. Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear and they will inhibit intensification. However, the winds will not be strong enough to prevent Tropical Cyclone Chalane from intensifying during the next 24 hours.

Tropical Cyclone Chalane will move north of a high pressure system over the Southwest Indian Ocean. The high will steer Chalane toward the west during the next several days. On its anticipated track Tropical Cyclone Chalane will approach northern Madagascar in about 24 hours. Tropical Cyclone Chalane will bring gusty winds and locally heavy rain to parts of northern Madagascar. Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations.