Tropical Cyclone Emanti hit the east coast of Madagascar on Tuesday night. At 7:00 p.m. EST on Tuesday the center of Tropical Cyclone Emnati was located at latitude 22.5°S and longitude 48.0°E which put it about 15 miles (25 km) south of Vohipeno, Madagascar. Emnati was moving toward the southwest at 12 m.p.h. (19 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 85 m.p.h. (135 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 105 m.p.h. (165 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 972 mb.

The center of Tropical Cyclone Emnati made landfall on the east coast of Madagascar near Vohipeno on Tuesday night. Emnati was the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon when it made landfall. Winds to hurricane/typhoon force extended out 50 miles (80 km) from the center of Tropical Cyclone Emnati. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 175 miles (280 km) from the center of circulation, The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Emnati was 12.7. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 16.4 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 29.1.

Tropical Cyclone Emnati never fully completed an eyewall replacement cycle before it hit the east coast of Madagascar. The circulation around the small inner eye persisted. The strongest thunderstorms and heaviest rains were occurring in the southern half of Emnati’s circulation. Bands in the northeastern part of Tropical Cyclone Emnati consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Northwesterly winds were sinking down the eastern slopes mountains in the northern part of Emnati’s circulation. The sinking, drier air was being pulled into the northeastern part of the tropical cyclone and it was inhibiting the development of thunderstorms in that region.

Tropical Cyclone Emnati will move around the northwestern part of a surface high pressure system over the Southwest Indian Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Emanti toward the southwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated path Tropical Cyclone Emanti will move across southeastern Madagascar during the next 24 hours. Emnati will weaken gradually as the center moves farther inland. Tropical Cyclone Emnati will bring strong winds and locally heavy rain to parts of southeastern Madagascar. The heaviest rain will fall on the eastern slopes of mountains where easterly winds will push the air up the slopes. Flash floods are likely to occur in those areas. There could also be widespread electrical outages. Tropical Cyclone Emnati is the fourth tropical cyclone to hit Madagascar since the start of the tropical cyclone season in the Southwest Indian Ocean.