Tropical Cyclone Dovi is currently bringing strong winds and heavy rain to Vanuatu in the South Pacific, while in the Indian Ocean, Cyclone Batsirai has caused widespread damage to Madagascar.

Published 2 years ago

Currently located between Vanuatu and New Caledonia, Tropical Cyclone Dovi is currently tracking slowly southwest at 7kt and is expected to cross New Caledonia as a Category 1 storm before tracking towards New Zealand. Maximum sustained winds between 50 and 55 knots with momentary gusts to 80 knots.

The Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-Hazards Department said heavy rain had caused flash flooding in low lying areas with coastal flooding affecting the southern islands.  It said very rough seas with heavy swells will continue over all Vanuatu waters for the next few days.

New Zealand’s Metservice expects Dovi to cross southeastern New Caledonia on Friday February 11 as a Category One system, before moving faster southwards and deepening into a Category 2 Cyclone and heading into the Tasman Sea.

An NZ Metservice bulletin reports; “Dovi is expected to lose it’s tropical characteristics during Saturday while over open waters in the Tasman Sea. The system is then likely to track towards the North Island of New Zealand as a deep low during Sunday, bringing severe weather to large parts of central New Zealand, well away from the system low pressure centre.”

Cyclone Basirasti Devastates Madagascar

Dozens of people are dead and thousands are homeless after Cyclone Batsirai struck Madagascar last weekend, the second to batter the island nation since the start of the year.

With wind gusts of up to 143 miles per hour, Cyclone Batsirai made landfall on Madagascar’s eastern coast late Saturday before sweeping across the central and southern parts of the country on Sunday. The storm left land Monday morning and returned to sea, but not before heavy rainfall and strong winds damaged homes and infrastructure throughout the island.

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Related News:

Tropical Cyclone Dovi Causes Flooding in Vanuatu (Radio New Zealand)

Tropical Cyclone Dovi Headed Towards New Zealand (NZ Herald)

Death Toll Rises in Madagascar as Thousands Left Homeless (ABC News)

Second Destructive Storm in Two Weeks Hits Madacasgar (Al Jazeera)

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