Cyclone Irina can be seen gaining strength off northwestern Madagascar on Wednesday morning.
The early stages of Cyclone Irina drenched parts of Madagascar still recovering from two separate hits from Cyclone Giovanna during the previous two weeks.
The storm also churned up 13-foot waves across the northern Mozambique Channel, threatening shipping lanes in the region.
Irina was predicted to strike the African mainland in southern Mozambique over the weekend, possibly as a Category 1 storm.
Cyclone Irina Track
Satellite Loop Data: CIMSS