Early this week, Cyclone Freddy is expected to batter Madagascar with strong winds and considerable flooding. Freddy, the first Category 5 storm of 2023, is one of just five Category 5 hurricanes to have ever been recorded in February.
Cyclone Freddy has weakened somewhat over the weekend as dry air reduced its intensity, but it could still hit Madagasar as a Category 3 or Category 4 storm on Tuesday with winds around 130 mph.
According to the service, the storm might pass within 120 km (75 miles) of the island late in the afternoon.
Strong gusts and waves were seen in a Reuters-verified video pounding a seaside hotel in Mauritius as water entered the lobby while visitors and staff watched.
By late Tuesday, authorities on the island of Madagascar, which is 1,130 km west of Mauritius and on the coast of Africa, said they expected a direct strike between Mahanoro in the east and Manakara in the south-east.
