Typhoon warning

The U.S. Navy and Air Force Joint Typhoon Warning Center reported that Tropical Storm Izilda is forecast to make landfall over Madagascar on 26 March 2009. Izilda is expected to strike the island's southwestern coast at 0900 local time (0600 UTC). The Category 2 storm is likely to have maximum sustained winds of 80 mph/70 kt and wind gusts that may be considerably higher. Mozambique has placed areas on its coast on alert, as the storm may turn back west over the Mozambique Channel after hitting Madagascar. The Mozambican national weather service (INAM) has also warned mariners over the resulting rough seas in the Mozambique Channel.