Tropical Cyclone Enawo's Rainfall Totals Updated With IMERG

Tropical cyclone Enawo is now responsible for the deaths of at least five people in Madagascar. Many thousands of people were also displaced due to flooding and destroyed homes. The tropical cyclone dropped heavy rainfall as it soaked the island from north to south.

Tropical Cyclone Enawo's Rainfall Totals Updated With IMERG

This rainfall analysis was updated to include recent precipitation estimates from NASA's Integrated Multi-satelliE Retrievals for GPM (IMERG) rainfall data. It shows rainfall estimates from IMERG data collected during the period from March 3-10, 2017. As expected, the eastern side of Madagascar had the highest rainfall total estimates due to the onshore flow caused by tropical cyclone Enawo's rotation. Rainfall estimates of over 100 mm (almost 4 inches) were common along the length of the eastern coast of Madagascar. IMERG based rainfall indicated that several areas over Madagascar were inundated by rainfall totals greater than 200 mm (7.9 inches). The highest rainfall totals over land were estimated to be greater than 300 mm (11.8 inches) near where Enawo crashed ashore.

IMERG rainfall totals have been adjusted to reflect observed values in other similar extreme rainfall events. Tropical cyclone Enawo's approximate locations and intensities are shown overlaid in red on this analysis. Enawo moved off the southern tip of Madagascar and was dissipating on March 10, 2017.

 

Images and caption by Hal Pierce (SSAI/NASA GSFC)