Hurricanes now take longer to degrade inland 1:44
(CNN) --
Tropical Cyclone Batsirai is making landfall in the Mananjary district of Madagascar.
Maximum sustained winds at landfall were estimated at 115 mph (185 kph), according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, the equivalent of a Category 3 hurricane in the Atlantic.
Torrential rains of 150 to 250 mm (6 to 10 inches) are expected in southern and central Madagascar over the next 24 hours, causing widespread life-threatening flooding.
The JTWC forecast weakens the storm as it crosses the country and enters the Mozambique Channel on Sunday night local time.
After that time, the storm dissipates and turns south of Madagascar.