Draft:Cyclone Fytia
South-West Indian Ocean cyclone in 2026
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Tropical Cyclone Fytia was a strong and deadly tropical cyclone that affected the areas in northwest Madagascar and Mozambique. Starting out as Zone of Disturbed Weather 09 (recognized as Tropical Disturbance 19S by the JTWC), the disturbance was upgraded to a moderate tropical storm, giving it the name Fytia on January 30. Fytia later went through rapid intensification, becoming a tropical cyclone after 12 hours. Over the next 24 hours, Fytia would experience rapid intensification and become a Category 3 tropical cyclone on the Saffir-Simpson scale. The cyclone would continue tracking southeast throughout Madagascar while rapidly weakening. However, after re-emerging over the open Indian Ocean, Fytia began to slightly strengthen once more on 2 February. This short window of intensification ended quickly, with the system disorganizing the following day, and promptly degenerating into a remnant low later that day.
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.jpg) Fytia making landfall in Madagascar at peak intensity on 31 January | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 28 January 2026 |
| Remnant low | 4 February 2026 |
| Dissipated | 7 February 2026 |
| Tropical cyclone | |
| 10-minute sustained (MFR) | |
| Highest winds | 155 km/h (100 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 965 hPa (mbar); 28.50 inHg |
| Category 3-equivalent tropical cyclone | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC) | |
| Highest winds | 185 km/h (115 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 962 hPa (mbar); 28.41 inHg |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 15 |
| Injuries | 7 |
| Damage | Unknown |
| Areas affected | Mozambique, Madagascar |
Part of the 2025–26 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season | |
Overall, Cyclone Fytia has made a significant impact on Madagascar and Mozambique. As of 5 February, in Madagascar, seven people have been injured, twelve people have been found dead, including one person that was previously reported missing. Significant flooding considerably damaged northern parts of the island, affecting more than 70,000 people and displacing nearly 31,000.[1]
Meteorological history
Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
Unknown
Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depressionOn 28 January, Météo-France (MFR) began tracking a second area of low pressure, designated as Zone of Disturbed Weather 09, located in the Mozambique Channel. The system formed along a convergence zone between the Comoros and the northwest coast of Madagascar over very warm waters with light wind shear. The disturbance was relatively shallow with a disorganized cloud pattern, a peak 10-minute sustained winds of 45 km/h (30 mph) and a minimum central pressure of 1009 hPa. It was expected to turn toward Madagascar.[2] On 30 January, the disturbance had been upgraded to the tropical storm and had acquired the name Fytia. Over the next 24 hours, Fytia would experience an extreme case of rapid intensification, reaching it's peak intensity of 160 km/h (99 mph) and pressure of 962 hPa (mbar). It occurred at the same time that Fytia would make landfall in northwestern Madagascar. Cyclone Fytia killed three people and injured five in Madagascar.[3][4] Fytia continued to track through Madagascar whilst moving southeast and rapidly weakening, passing the country's capital, Antananarivo, as a tropical storm. After leaving the east coast of Madagascar as a tropical depression, Fytia regained tropical storm status in the southwestern Indian Ocean, southwest of La Réunion. It continued a slow phase of intensification for the rest of the day. The next day, however, the structure of the system became disheveled. Following this, Fytia degenerated.
Preparations and impact
Authorities conducted proactive evacuations in flood-prone localities, including the fokontany of Tsararano in Mahajanga, relocating affected households to temporary accommodation sites with essential services. Cyclone Fytia had significant humanitarian and infrastructural impacts across Madagascar after making landfall in late January 2026. The storm brought heavy rainfall, strong winds, and widespread flooding, particularly affecting the northwestern and central regions of the country.[5] At least seven fatalities were reported, along with several injuries and one person missing in the immediate aftermath of the cyclone.[6] More than 50,000 people were affected, with over 20,000 displaced due to flooding and damage to homes.[6] Overall, estimates suggest that up to 200,000 people across dozens of districts experienced some level of impact from the storm.[7] Thousands of homes were flooded, damaged, or destroyed, leaving many residents without shelter.[6] Flooding and strong winds caused significant damage to infrastructure, including roads, schools, and healthcare facilities, disrupting transportation and access to essential services.[8] Entire communities were temporarily isolated due to impassable roads and damaged transport networks.[5] The cyclone severely affected agriculture, particularly rice production, with thousands of hectares of farmland flooded or destroyed. [8] This raised concerns about food security and potential increases in food prices in the months following the disaster.[8] Authorities issued alerts and organized evacuations in high-risk areas, with thousands of people relocated to temporary shelters.[9] Humanitarian needs increased significantly, particularly for shelter, clean water, and medical assistance.[5]
