Tropical Cyclone Cheneso developed east of northern Madagascar on Wednesday morning. At 4:00 a.m. EST on Wednesday the center of Tropical Cyclone Cheneso was located at latitude 13.8°S and longitude 53.7°E which put it about 245 miles (390 km) east of Sambava, Madagascar. Cheneso 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 a low pressure system over the South Indian Ocean east of northern Madagascar strengthened on Wednesday morning and Meteo France La Reunion designated the system as Tropical Cyclone Cheneso. The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the western and northern sides of the center of Cheneso’s circulation. Other bands of showers and thunderstorms were in the western half of Tropical Cyclone Cheneso. Bands in the eastern half of Cheneso consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds, although there were also some thunderstorms in that side of the circulation. Storms near the center of circulation generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical cyclone. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 115 miles (185 km) from the center of Tropical Cyclone Cheneso.

Tropical Cyclone Cheneso will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 18 hours. Cheneso will move over over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near than 29˚C. It will move under the western end of the axis of an upper level ridge over the South Indian Ocean. The upper level winds are weak near the axis of the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear. Tropical Cyclone Cheneso will strengthen during the next 18 hours and it could intensify rapidly.

Tropical Cyclone Cheneso will move around the northern side of a high pressure system over the South Indian Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Cheneso toward the west during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track Tropical Cyclone Cheneso could reach landfall on the northern coast of Madagascar near Sambava in 18h ours. Cheneso will bring strong winds and locally heavy rain to northern Madagascar. Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations.