Photo taken in the middle of summer in Antananarivo. Strong heat waves could occur during October. "A very intense El Niño episode is expected from October onwards. (...) This rise in temperatures is one of its impacts," explained Zo Rakotomavo, director at the General Directorate of Meteorology, yesterday. It is around October that maximum temperatures will begin to rise, which could mark the beginning of these extreme heat episodes. "Forecasts anticipate a temperature increase between 2°C and 4°C. (...) Some days could record temperatures more than 4°C above seasonal norms," he continued. It should be hot, but without reaching a heat wave comparable to those observed in Europe. "There will be no heat wave here, because temperature generally drops as evening approaches and during the night. In Europe, during heat waves, temperature barely decreases, even at night. It will be hot, but it won't last several consecutive days like in Europe; that's what makes it not a heat wave," clarified this specialist. This El Niño episode could also cause a disruption in the rainy season. "There is a risk of drought, especially in the South. The disruption of the rainy season will vary from region to region, but we will confirm it when we publish seasonal forecasts at the beginning of October," added the source. Average temperatures should be above normal in much of Madagascar, except for Androy and the southern part of the Atsimo Andrefana region, where they should be normal to above normal, according to seasonal forecasts covering August to October. Precipitation should be normal to above normal across the entire island during the August to October 2026 season, according to the General Directorate of Meteorology. Miangaly Ralitera