Honde

Dissipated

Active from February 25, 2025 at 06:00 PM to March 5, 2025 at 06:00 PM

Track map of Honde

Peak Category

Dissipated

Minimum Pressure

hPa

Maximum Wind Speed

130 km/h

Region

South Indian Ocean

Key Events

Formation

February 25, 2025 at 06:00 PM

-22.7°N, 38.1°E

Dissipation

March 5, 2025 at 06:00 PM

-34.9°N, 50.7°E

Storm Timeline

Honde formed as tropical_cyclone at -22.7°N, 38.1°E with winds of 65 km/h

Honde intensified to tropical_cyclone at -23.4°N, 38.8°E with winds of 97 km/h

Honde intensified to tropical_cyclone at -24.0°N, 39.8°E with winds of 112 km/h

Honde reached peak intensity as Category 1 at -24.9°N, 41.5°E with winds of 130 km/h

Honde weakened to Category 1 at -25.3°N, 42.2°E with winds of 122 km/h

Honde weakened to tropical_cyclone at -26.0°N, 43.8°E with winds of 112 km/h

Honde intensified to Category 1 at -26.7°N, 45.0°E with winds of 130 km/h

Honde weakened to Category 1 at -26.8°N, 45.2°E with winds of 122 km/h

Honde weakened to tropical_cyclone at -27.0°N, 45.8°E with winds of 112 km/h

Honde weakened to tropical_cyclone at -27.1°N, 46.0°E with winds of 104 km/h

Honde weakened to tropical_cyclone at -27.2°N, 46.3°E with winds of 112 km/h

Honde weakened to tropical_cyclone at -27.3°N, 46.8°E with winds of 104 km/h

Honde weakened to tropical_cyclone at -28.2°N, 48.0°E with winds of 79 km/h

March 4, 2025 at 06:00 AM: current at -29.0°N, 48.3°E

Honde weakened to Tropical Low at -30.8°N, 49.0°E with winds of 97 km/h

Honde weakened to Tropical Low at -32.6°N, 49.0°E with winds of 97 km/h

March 5, 2025 at 06:00 PM: dissipation at -34.9°N, 50.7°E

Tropical Storm Honde 2025: Impact Analysis and Meteorological Overview

Introduction

Tropical Storm Honde, a significant weather system in the 2025 Southwest Indian Ocean cyclone season, brought devastating impacts to southern Madagascar. With maximum sustained winds reaching 137 km/h (Category 1 equivalent), Honde caused widespread flooding, infrastructure damage, and humanitarian crises. This article analyzes Honde's meteorological development, socio-economic impacts, and the ongoing recovery efforts.


Impact on Madagascar

Human Toll and Displacement

  • Casualties: 3 fatalities, 69 injuries, and 1 missing person were reported as of March 5, 2025.
  • Displacement: Over 21,600 people were evacuated, primarily in the districts of Toliara, Belo sur Tsiribihina, and Ampanihy.
  • Affected Population: More than 43,200 individuals faced direct impacts, with 1,924 houses destroyed and 7,200 damaged.

Infrastructure and Environmental Damage

  • Housing: Over 9,100 homes were either destroyed or severely damaged, displacing thousands of families.
  • Education: Schools in affected regions suffered structural damage, disrupting education for children.
  • Agriculture: Prolonged rainfall prior to Honde’s landfall exacerbated flooding, worsening existing vulnerabilities from earlier February storms.

Meteorological Overview of Tropical Storm Honde

Formation and Path

  • Origin: Honde developed in the Mozambique Channel on February 25, 2025, intensifying into a tropical storm by February 26.
  • Landfall Approach: The storm passed 100 km south of Madagascar’s southwestern coast on February 28, generating heavy rainfall (up to 200 mm) and wind gusts exceeding 130 km/h.
  • Transition: By March 2, Honde began transitioning into an extratropical cyclone, moving southeastward into the Indian Ocean with diminishing intensity.

Key Weather Data

  • Peak Winds: 137 km/h (Category 1).
  • Rainfall: Cumulative rainfall exceeded 300 mm in southern regions, triggering flash floods.
  • Storm Surge: Coastal areas experienced surges up to 0.3 meters, though impacts were mitigated by Honde’s offshore trajectory.

Emergency Response and Recovery Efforts

Government and Humanitarian Actions

  • Rescue Operations: A government-deployed helicopter rescued 80–100 stranded individuals in Androka Commune.
  • Aid Distribution:
    • Food: 30 metric tons of rice and 7 metric tons of oil distributed in Ampanihy.
    • Non-Food Items (NFIs): Shelter kits, water purification supplies, and hygiene products dispatched to evacuation centers.
  • Coordination: The National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) activated pre-positioned stocks and coordinated cross-sectoral responses.

Challenges and Needs

  • Resource Depletion: Humanitarian stocks were strained following Cyclone Dikeledi (January 2025) and Honde, necessitating urgent replenishment.
  • Forecasted Risks: Additional heavy rainfall in March threatened further flooding, complicating recovery efforts.

Lessons Learned and Future Preparedness

  1. Early Warning Systems: Improved meteorological monitoring enabled timely evacuations, though gaps remain in rural communication networks.
  2. Infrastructure Resilience: Schools and housing in cyclone-prone areas require retrofitting to withstand future storms.
  3. Regional Collaboration: Cross-border partnerships with Réunion and Mauritius enhanced resource sharing during concurrent cyclones (e.g., Cyclone Garance).

Conclusion

Tropical Storm Honde underscored Madagascar’s vulnerability to climate-driven disasters. While response efforts mitigated immediate losses, long-term resilience building remains critical as the 2025 cyclone season continues. Prioritizing adaptive infrastructure, community preparedness, and international aid coordination will be vital for safeguarding at-risk populations.