Tropical Cyclone Honorinina was a powerful tropical cyclone that struck eastern Madagascar in March 1986. The eighth named storm of the season, Honorinina formed on 9 March to the south of Diego Garcia. It moved generally to the west-southwest due to a ridge to the south, gradually intensifying. On 12 March, the Météo France office in Réunion (MFR) upgraded Honorinina to tropical cyclone status, which is the equivalent of a minimal hurricane. On the next day, the cyclone attained maximum sustained winds of 150km/h (93mph) while in the vicinity of Tromelin Island. Honorinina weakened subsequently before making landfall about 40km (25mi) north of Toamasina, Madagascar with winds of 135km/h (84mph). The storm weakened further over land, moving southwestward across the country. It emerged into the Mozambique Channel and became extratropical on 18 March. Honorinina then turned to the southeast, dissipating on 23 March.
Early in its duration, the storm produced gusty winds along St. Brandon, and it later brought gusts of 158km/h (98mph) on Tromelin Island. However, effects were worst in Madagascar, especially in Toamasina near where the storm made landfall. Damage spread along 800km (500mi) of the coastline and spread 100km (62mi) inland from the landfall point, with many towns severely affected. In Toamasina, the cyclone damaged the main port, the airport, and several warehouses, resulting in $17million (1986USD) of lost inventory. Thousands of houses were damaged, leaving 83,885people homeless; a housing program earlier set up after Cyclone Kamisy in 1984 was extended to help storm victims after Honorinina. Nationwide, the cyclone killed 99people and caused $150million (1986USD) in damage.
Meteorological history
On 8 March, a circulation was observed southeast of Diego Garcia and was undergoing tropical cyclogenesis. By the next day, satellite imagery indicated that a tropical storm had formed about 635km (395mi) south of the island, given the name Honorinina.[1] On 9 March, the Météo France office in Réunion (MFR)[nb 1] began tracking the storm in its database,[3] and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC)[nb 2] began classifying it as Tropical Cyclone 25S.[5] The nascent tropical storm moved generally to the west-southwest, gradually intensifying.[1] On 11 March, the JTWC upgraded Honorinina to the equivalent of a minimal hurricane with 1minute maximum sustained winds of 120km/h (75mph).[nb 3] On the next day, the MFR followed suit by upgrading the storm to tropical cyclone status while it was passing 175km (109mi) north of St. Brandon island.[3]
After a trough passed eastward, a ridge developed south of Honorinina, which reinforced the southwest track toward Madagascar.[1] On 13 March, the MFR estimated the cyclone attained peak 10minute winds of 150km/h (93mph), while the JTWC estimated peak 1minute winds of 205km/h (127mph).[3] The MFR also estimated the storm was producing gusts of 228km/h (142mph). While near peak intensity, Honorinina passed about 25km (15mph) south of Tromelin Island, and subsequently gradually weakened. On 15 March, the cyclone made landfall on eastern Madagascar about 40km (25mi) north of Toamasina.[1] Winds at landfall were estimated at 135km/h (84mph),[3] and a barometric pressure of 971.2mbar (28.68inHg) was reported at Toamasina.[1] It rapidly weakened to tropical depression status over land, and the JTWC discontinued advisories on 16 March.[5] The circulation continued southwestward through the island, emerging into the Mozambique Channel on the next day.[3] Thereafter, Honorinina restrengthened slightly over open waters. However, the MFR declared the storm as extratropical on 18 March, based on the satellite appearance.[1] The JTWC again issued advisories on the next day, only to discontinue them on 20 March.[5] Meanwhile, the MFR tracked the cyclone as turning to the south and southeast well south of Madagascar. On 22 March, Honorinina turned back to the south and dissipated the following day within the westerlies.[1][3]
Impact and aftermath
Early in its duration, Honorinina passed near St. Brandon, where wind gusts reached 100km/h (62mph). Later, the storm produced wind gusts of 158km/h (98mph) on Tromelin Island. The barometric pressure there fell to 972mbar (28.7inHg) during the storm's passage.[1]
Before moving ashore mainland Madagascar, the cyclone brushed Île Sainte-Marie with gusts of 200km/h (120mph) while also dropping 270mm (11in) of rainfall over 24hours. On mainland Madagascar, damage was heaviest at the port city of Toamasina, where winds also gusted to 200km/h (120mph),[1] and rainfall totaled 455.5mm (17.93in) over 24hours. Heavy rainfall spread across the island, reaching 180.4mm (7.10in) at Morondava along the west coast.[1] Damage spread along 800km (500mi) of the coastline and spread 100km (62mi) inland from the landfall point, with many towns severely affected. Damage was heaviest in Toamasina, where the cyclone's winds struck for 30hours. High waves broke off a 50m (160ft) section of the port jetty, leaving it susceptible to future storms. The tides also washed away shipping containers and flooded a coastal road. The damaged port warehouses resulted in the loss of 4000tons of rice and 990tons of stored cloves and cotton,[7] as well as 1,900tons of coffee. Collectively, the lost stored product totaled around $17million (1986USD).[8] Also in Toamasina, the cyclone damaged navigational systems, forcing the airport to close to all but light aircraft.[7]
Outside of Toamasina, Honorinina damaged roads and rail lines connecting the city with the capital, Antananarivo. Several other roads were damaged by landslides or washouts, and many bridges were damaged. The high winds damaged or destroyed thousands of homes along the storm's path, leaving 83,885people homeless. Many of the damaged homes lost their roofs, which resulted in additional damage when the heavy rainfall affected their interiors. The high winds also damaged many public buildings and factories along its path.[7] The cyclone left widespread areas without water or power;[9] the storm damaged electrical transmission and generation facilities.[10] The high rainfall damaged dykes in Andromba and along the Ikopa and Sisaony rivers.[11] Across the country, Honorinina killed 99people,[7] and caused 424injuries.[12] Damage totaled about $150million (1986USD).[13]
On March20, the government of Madagascar appealed to the international community for assistance, due to the heavy damage from the cyclone. In response to the request, various governments and international organizations provided assistance to Madagascar, including $490,000 from the European Economic Community for food and blankets, as well as $125,000 from UNICEF for medicine and building supplies. Catholic Relief Services donated clothing, rice, and milk from Caritas Madagascar. Countries that provided assistance included China, France, the United Kingdom, the United States, West Germany, Holy See, Mauritius, Canada, Finland, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden,[9] Soviet Union, and Switzerland. Collectively, the international community provided $3.37million worth of aid to Madagascar. The United States Pacific Command flew from the Philippines to Madagascar to deliver medicine. The nation had earlier helped Madagascar recover from Cyclone Kamisy in 1984 with housing rebuilding projects, and transferred materials due to the impacts from Honorinina to the Toamasina area.[7] The Malagasy government also set up a National Relief Committee to facilitate relief efforts,[9] including an initial inspection of the affected area to determine needs. Workers delivered about 19tons of material to Toamasina and nearby Brickaville, including milk, blankets, and clothing. The World Bank estimated the cost for repairing commercial areas would be over $27million (1986USD).[7] The agency also allocated funds toward repairing damaged power facilities,[10] ports, roads, and airports.[8] The International Monetary Fund also approved a $37.8million loan to the country in 1986, half of which for emergency aid.[14] Many houses and buildings had to be closed for repairs due to flood damage, including hotels, churches, and schools.[7]
Wind estimates from Météo-France and most other basins throughout the world are sustained over 10minutes, while estimates from the United States-based Joint Typhoon Warning Center are sustained over 1minute. 10minute winds are about 1.14 times the amount of 1minute winds.[6]
Tropical Cyclone Honorinina, 7–23 March. National Climatic Data Center (Report). Global tropical/extratropical cyclone climatic atlas. 1996. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
Kenneth R. Knapp; Michael C. Kruk; David H. Levinson; Howard J. Diamond; Charles J. Neumann (2010). 1986 Honorinina (1986067S11080). The International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS): Unifying tropical cyclone best track data (Report). Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
Christopher W Landsea; Hurricane Research Division (21 April 2006). "Subject: D4) What does "maximum sustained wind" mean? How does it relate to gusts in tropical cyclones?". Frequently Asked Questions. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
"Loans to Zimbabwe, Madagascar Announced". Associated Press. 28 May 1986.–viaLexisNexis (subscription required)
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