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Tropical Cyclone “Eliakim” to make landfall over NE Madagascar

tropical-storm-eliakim-to-make-landfall-over-madagascar

Tropical Storm "Eliakim" formed 02:00 UTC on March 15, 2018 east of northern Madagascar as the 6th named storm of the 2017/18 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season. Eliakim's current forecast track takes it right over northeastern Madagascar on March 16 and 17. The first peripheral bands of Eliakim are currently reaching the northeastern Malagasy coasts. The weather conditions will continue to worsen and will become particularly dangerous Friday during its landing. 

At 06:00 UTC on March 15, the center of Moderate Tropical Storm "Eliakim" was located 657 km (408 miles) NNW of Port Louis, Mauritius,  641 km (398 miles) NNW of Saint-Denis, Reunion, 605 km (376 miles) NE of Toamasina, Madagascar and 422 km (262 miles) E of Antalaha, Madagascar.

The system had maximum 10-minute wind speed of 83 km/h (52 mph), central pressure of 990 hPa and was moving SW at 13 km/h (8 mph).

Tropical Cyclone Eliakim at 08:00 UTC on March 15, 2018

Tropical Cyclone "Eliakim" at 08:00 UTC on March 15, 2018. Credit: UW-CIMSS

Over the past 24 hours, a band of strong convection wrapped around the circulation center, gradually increasing the Dvorak intensity estimations, RSMC La Reunion reported 06:00 UTC today. As a consequence, the National Meteorological Service of Madagascar proceeded to the naming of the storm at 02:00 UTC this morning.

"Eliakim remains steered by a mid-level ridge in the south-east and continues to track WSW until its landing on Madagascar Friday in the region of the Masoala Peninsula and Île Sainte-Marie.

During its passage over land, Eliakim should turn south-eastward as the ridge gradually shifts eastward and a mid-latitudes trough arrives from the south-west. Sunday, the weakened system should come back over the sea on Sunday, March 18 and continue to track generally south-eastward.

The available guidance is now in rather good agreement over this scenario, the center said.

Tropical Cyclone Eliakim at 11z on March 15, 2018Tropical Cyclone Eliakim - Warnings in Madagascar on March 15, 2018

The environment remains conducive for further intensification of the system until its landing on the Malagasy north-eastern coasts Friday or Saturday morning, thanks to a great upper divergence. However, the wide inner core structure should prevent a rapid deepening.

The system could reach the minimal tropical cyclone stage before landing but will weaken once overland. Sunday evening, as Eliakim should have just come back over the sea, the strengthening of a north-westerly shear ahead of an upper trough should strongly limit its re-intensification.

The first peripheral bands of Eliakim are currently reaching the northeastern Malagasy coasts. The weather conditions will continue to worsen and will become particularly dangerous Friday during its landing. 

Tropical Cyclone Eliakim RSMC La Reunion forecast track on March 15, 2018

Featured image: Tropical Cyclone "Eliakim" on March 15, 2018. Credit: NASA Terra/MODIS

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