No, the Madagascar Storm is not headed for Kenya

The Kenya Meteorological Department has described reports that the life-threatening storm Eliakim scheduled to hit Madagascar this weekend as false.

According to Samuel Mwangi, the Kenya Meteorological Department deputy director, the storm is projected to head south eastwards meaning it will not impact Kenya at all.

Mr. Mwangi says that even though the Met department has warned of heavy rainfall on Sunday, it is not connected to tropical storm Eliakim.

According to AccuWeather, Madagascar will once again be the target of a tropical system following impacts from Ava and Dumazile earlier this year.

“Eliakim can unload 250-500 mm (10-20 inches) of rain from the mountains of Antsiranana to coastal Fianarantsoa with locally higher amounts, especially in the mountains.”

In comparison, the devastating rainfall experienced in Kenya on Wednesday and Thursday was 40mm meaning the projected Madagascar storm will be ten times stronger.

“Residents should not let their guard down due to the fact that Eliakim may only briefly strengthen into a tropical cyclone (the equivalent of a Category 1 hurricane in the Atlantic or eastern Pacific oceans),” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski said.

“Eliakim is still expected to unload excessive rainfall that can trigger widespread and life-threatening flooding and mudslides across large swath of the country,” she said.