TRMM TMI Quick Look Images, subsetted at Dartmouth from global mosaics prepared by Chris Kidd, NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center
On February 17, 2000, cyclone Leon-Eline hit the eastern coast of Madagascar with great strength, crossing the island around 80 km north of Antananarivo (US Agency for International Development (USAID) / Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) Regional Advisor Report #15). TRMM TMI images below show cyclone Leon-Eline appearing off the east coast of the island as early as February 14. Although rain continued over the island for a week, the body of the storm passed over Madagascar in a couple of days and moved on towards mainland Africa. Less than a week after the rain had subsided, tropical storm Gloria pounded Madagascar, following a similar path as cyclone Eline across the country (USAID/OFDA Regional Advisor Report #15). TRMM TMI images show Gloria approaching the northeastern coast of Madagascar on February 28, holding position over the northernmost tip of the country during February 29-March 1, and covering the island with heavy precipitation from March 2-5. Madagascar, which sits off the southeast coast of mainland Africa experiences the full brunt of storms as they come off the Indian Ocean.
Heavy rain associated with cyclone Leon-Eline and tropical storm Gloria resulted in widespread flooding on across the island "including the western side, which is usually protected by inland mountains and is unaccustomed to storm damage and serious flooding" (Dr Sergio Soro, Unicef's representative in Madagascar's capital Antananarivo as cited in PR Newswire Europe Limited Press Association Newsfile, March 9, 2000). Adventist Development and Relief Agency reported 75,000 people were stranded by landslides. Flooding, heaviest in the districts of Vatomandry,Mahanoro, Antanambao Manampotsy, Anosibe an'Ala, Marolambo, and Belo-Tsiribihina (M2 Communications Ltd. M2 PRESSWIRE, March 6, 2000) left some 200 people dead and around 22,158 displaced (Government of Madagascar National Disaster Unit). As of March 27, around 130,000 people were still displaced, isolated and/or were in need of immediate assistance (U.N World Food Program).
In these images:
Rainfall and snowfall: yellow and white areas (yellowish white is highest intensity precipitation)
Oceans: light blue (low water vapour) to dark blue (high water vapour)
More information: http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/data/quicklook/quick_looks.html