Tropical Cyclone Belna made landfall in the west coast of Madagascar near Soalala on Monday.  At 9:00 a.m. EST on Monday the center of Tropical Cyclone Belna was located at latitude 16.0°S and longitude 45.0°E which put it about 20 miles (30 km) west-southwest of Soalala, Madagascar.  Belna was moving toward the south-southwest at 12 m.p.h. (19 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 115 m.p.h. (185 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 974 mb.

Tropical Cyclone Belna made landfall near Soalala, Madagascar on Monday as the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon.  There was a small circular eye at the center of Belna.  The eye was surrounded by a ring of strong thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms.  The circulation around Tropical Cyclone Belna was relatively small.  Winds to hurricane/typhoon force extended out 25 miles (40 km) from the center of circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 80 miles (130 km) from the center.  The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Tropical Cyclone Belna was 13.9.  The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 7.1 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 21.0.  Belna was capable of causing localized serious damage.

Tropical Cyclone Belna will move around the western end of a subtropical high pressure system over the South Indian Ocean during the next 24 hours.  The high will steer Belna toward the south-southwest during that time period.  On it anticipated track Tropical Cyclone Belna will move across west central Madagascar.  Belna will weaken when it moves farther inland but it will bring gusty winds and heavy rain to the southwestern part of the district of Mahajanga.  Locally heavy rain could cause flash floods, especially in areas of steeper terrain.  Some rivers could rise very rapidly.