Tropical cyclone ELIAKIMS's heavy rainfall caused flooding and landslides over eastern Madagascar that resulted in at least seven deaths. ELIAKIM came less than two weeks after another tropical cyclone called Dumazile passed close to Madagascar. ELIAKIM maintained but didn't exceed tropical storm intensity as it battered Madagascar. ELIAKIM's slower movement as it passed over the island nation caused continuous heavy rainfall over northeastern Madagascar. Tropical cyclone ELIAKIM has now moved back into the Indian Ocean and is moving toward the southeast and away from Madagascar.

This rainfall accumulation analysis was derived from NASA's Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals data (IMERG). IMERG data are used to calculate estimates of precipitation from a combination of space-borne passive microwave sensors, including the GMI microwave sensor onboard the GPM satellite, and geostationary IR (infrared) data. This image shows IMERG rainfall accumulation estimates during the period from March 15-19, 2018. Tropical cyclone ELIAKIM drenched Madagascar as it formed in the Indian Ocean, moved slowly over northeastern Madagascar and then moved back into the Indian Ocean. The tropical cyclone's clockwise rotation caused an onshore flow of moisture from the Indian Ocean onto eastern Madagascar during much of the period. Rainfall total estimates of over 300 mm (11.8 inches) were common along ELIAKIM's path. IMERG data indicated that over 500 mm (19.7 inches) of rain fell in some areas close to Madagascar's coast