Dumazile at peak intensity east of Madagascar

Cyclone Dumazile was a strong tropical cyclone in the South-West Indian Ocean that affected Madagascar and Réunion in early March 2018. Dumazile originated from a low-pressure area that formed near Agaléga on 27 February. It became a tropical disturbance on 2 March, and was named the next day after attaining tropical storm status. Dumazile reached its peak intensity on 5 March, with 10-minute sustained winds of 165 km/h (105 mph), 1-minute sustained winds of 205 km/h (125 mph), and a central atmospheric pressure of 945 hPa (27.91 inHg). As it tracked southeastwards, Dumazile weakened steadily over the next couple of days due to wind shear, and became a post-tropical cyclone on 7 March before completely dissipating on 10 March. Dumazile dropped torrential rainfall in Réunion and Madagascar—reaching 1,600 mm (63 in) in Salazie and 210 mm (8.3 in) in northeastern Madagascar—causing widespread flooding and damaging crops and infrastructure. Two deaths were caused by Dumazile, both in Madagascar. (Full article...)