Storms near Madagascar
The record holds 427 tropical cyclones whose tracks passed within 50 km of Madagascar between 1848 and 2026. The busiest month is January, with 142 of them. The strongest, measured where each came closest to the place, reached category 5 strength. 296 of the storms have no wind speed in the record.
- 427storms within 50 km
- 23major (category 3 to 5) near here
- 50at category 1 strength or more
A storm counts once, however many times it came close. The category is the storm's strongest point within 50 km, which can be weaker than its peak elsewhere.
How strong were the storms near Madagascar?
| Category near here | Storms | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical depression | 21 | 5% |
| Tropical storm | 60 | 14% |
| Category 1 | 17 | 4% |
| Category 2 | 10 | 2% |
| Category 3 | 10 | 2% |
| Category 4 | 11 | 3% |
| Category 5 | 2 | <1% |
| Unknown intensity | 296 | 69% |
The agency behind most of the intensity figures here is the US Joint Typhoon Warning Center (southern hemisphere).
Madagascar storms over time
The 2020s only run to 2026, so that bar is for a shorter period. This place's record starts in 1848, and records before the satellite era (about the 1960s) are far less complete.
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| 1840s | 1 |
| 1850s | 1 |
| 1860s | 2 |
| 1870s | 4 |
| 1880s | 8 |
| 1890s | 14 |
| 1900s | 38 |
| 1910s | 27 |
| 1920s | 23 |
| 1930s | 45 |
| 1940s | 32 |
| 1950s | 37 |
| 1960s | 25 |
| 1970s | 38 |
| 1980s | 34 |
| 1990s | 26 |
| 2000s | 29 |
| 2010s | 18 |
| 2020s | 25 |
Earlier decades hold fewer storms partly because they were harder to see. Before weather satellites (about the 1960s) many storms that stayed at sea went unrecorded, so compare decades with care.
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| Jan | 142 |
| Feb | 116 |
| Mar | 83 |
| Apr | 18 |
| May | 4 |
| Jun | 0 |
| Jul | 1 |
| Aug | 0 |
| Sep | 0 |
| Oct | 0 |
| Nov | 9 |
| Dec | 54 |
Strongest storms near Madagascar
- Hary (2002)3 March 2002 to 17 March 2002, peak Category 5 (140 kt), 905 hPa
- Gafilo (2004)1 March 2004 to 18 March 2004, peak Category 5 (140 kt), 895 hPa
- Enawo (2017)2 March 2017 to 11 March 2017, peak Category 4 (130 kt), 932 hPa
- Hudah (2000)22 March 2000 to 9 April 2000, peak Category 4 (125 kt), 905 hPa
- Hellen (2014)26 March 2014 to 5 April 2014, peak Category 4 (130 kt), 915 hPa
- Indlala (2007)7 March 2007 to 19 March 2007, peak Category 4 (120 kt), 935 hPa
Most recent storms near Madagascar
- Gezani (2026)4 February 2026 to 21 February 2026, peak Category 3 (109 kt), 952 hPa, provisional
- Fytia (2026)28 January 2026 to 7 February 2026, peak Category 3 (99 kt), 960 hPa, provisional
- Ewetse (2026)19 January 2026 to 21 January 2026, peak Tropical storm (51 kt), 992 hPa, provisional
- Grant (2026)14 December 2025 to 7 January 2026, Tropical depression (23 kt) near here, peak Category 4 (119 kt), 940 hPa, provisional
- Jude (2025)4 March 2025 to 18 March 2025, Tropical storm (54 kt) near here, peak Category 1 (80 kt), 972 hPa, provisional
Many of these storms killed people and destroyed homes. The figures are the official record's, and this page says nothing about their human cost.
Madagascar ranks number 9 among countries and territories for the number of storms.
Notable storms near Madagascar with their own pages
- Hary (2002)3 March 2002 to 17 March 2002, peak Category 5 (140 kt), 905 hPa
- Gafilo (2004)1 March 2004 to 18 March 2004, peak Category 5 (140 kt), 895 hPa
- Enawo (2017)2 March 2017 to 11 March 2017, peak Category 4 (130 kt), 932 hPa
- Hudah (2000)22 March 2000 to 9 April 2000, peak Category 4 (125 kt), 905 hPa
- Hellen (2014)26 March 2014 to 5 April 2014, peak Category 4 (130 kt), 915 hPa
- Indlala (2007)7 March 2007 to 19 March 2007, peak Category 4 (120 kt), 935 hPa
- Geralda (1994)25 January 1994 to 9 February 1994, peak Category 5 (145 kt), 905 hPa
- Litanne (1994)5 March 1994 to 19 March 1994, peak Category 4 (130 kt), 910 hPa
- Bonita (1996)31 December 1995 to 15 January 1996, peak Category 4 (135 kt), 920 hPa
- Gretelle (1997)18 January 1997 to 31 January 1997, peak Category 4 (115 kt), 950 hPa
- Bondo (2007)15 December 2006 to 28 December 2006, peak Category 4 (135 kt), 930 hPa
- Ivan (2008)5 February 2008 to 27 February 2008, peak Category 4 (125 kt), 930 hPa
Madagascar regions
Regions (first-level divisions) that storms have come within 50 km of at least 5 times, most storms first.
| Region | Storms | Strongest near the region |
|---|---|---|
| Atsimo-Andrefana | 176 | Category 3 |
| Menabe | 165 | Category 3 |
| Atsinanana | 140 | Category 4 |
| Sava | 137 | Category 5 |
| Melaky | 136 | Category 3 |
| Ihorombe | 127 | Category 4 |
| Alaotra-Mangoro | 122 | Category 4 |
| Sofia | 121 | Category 4 |
| Anosy | 120 | Category 4 |
| Vatovavy-Fitovinany | 120 | Category 4 |
| Atsimo-Atsinanana | 117 | Category 4 |
| Boeny | 117 | Category 4 |
| Analanjirofo | 103 | Category 5 |
| Haute Matsiatra | 99 | Category 2 |
| Diana | 96 | Category 4 |
| Amoron'i Mania | 89 | Category 2 |
| Betsiboka | 86 | Category 3 |
| Analamanga | 76 | Category 3 |
| Bongolava | 71 | Category 2 |
| Vakinankaratra | 71 | Category 2 |
| Androy | 67 | Category 2 |
| Itasy | 55 | Category 2 |