Tropical Cyclone Batsirai’s wind and rain reached Madagascar on Saturday morning. At 10:00 a.m. EST on Saturday the center of Tropical Cyclone Batsirai was located at latitude 21.0°S and longitude 48.8°E which put it about 25 miles (40 km) northeast of Mananjary, Madagascar. Batsirai was moving toward the west-southwest at 12 m.p.h. (19 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 115 m.p.h. (185 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 145 m.p.h. (235 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 956 mb.

Bands in the western side of the circulation around Tropical Cyclone Batsirai brought wind and rain to east central Madagascar on Saturday morning. The center of Batsirai was just east of the coast of Madagascar and the strongest winds were still offshore. Tropical Cyclone Batsirai was the equivalent of a major hurricane. An eye with a diameter of 25 miles (40 km) was present at the center of Batsirai. A ring of strong thunderstorms surrounded the eye and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Batsirai’s circulation.

The circulation around Tropical Cyclone Batsirai was large. Winds to hurricane/typhoon force extended out 75 miles (120 km) from the center of circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 225 miles (360 km) from the center of circulation. The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Tropical Cyclone Batsirai was 20.6. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 22.4 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 43.0. Tropical Cyclone Batsirai was capable of causing widespread major damage.

Tropical Cyclone Batsirai will move north of a high pressure system over the Southwest Indian Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Batsirai toward the west-southwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track the center of Tropical Cyclone Batsirai will hit the east coast of Madagascar between Nosy Varika and Mananjary during the next 3 hours. Batsirai will bring strong winds and heavy rain to central Madagascar. Heavy rain is likely to cause flash floods especially in regions of steep mountains. Widespread losses of electricity are possible. Batsirai could also cause a serious storm surge along the coast between Nosy Varika and Manajary. The center of Tropical Cyclone Batsirai could pass close to Fianarantsoa. Batsirai will weaken when it moves inland, but it will continue to drop locally heavy rain over central Madagascar.