 Upon being classified , the disturbance had a broad circulation that was difficult to locate , with moderate convection in its eastern periphery . The thunderstorms organized further , and MFR upgraded the disturbance to a tropical depression at 0000 UTC on February 19 . Three hours later , the JTWC began issuing advisories on Tropical Cyclone 16S , and at 0600 UTC that day , MFR upgraded the depression to a moderate tropical storm after an advanced scatterometer indicated winds of over 65 km / h ( 40 mph ) ; as a result , the National Weather Service of Madagascar gave it the name Haruna . By that time , the circulation had become better organized with increased rainbands , and with an anticyclone aloft , the storm developed well @-@ defined outflow . The structure of Haruna continued to become more symmetrical with a large radius of maximum winds , developing a ragged eye early on February 20 . Based on the improved appearance , MFR upgraded Haruna to a severe tropical storm at 0000 UTC that day . About 12 hours later , the agency upgraded Haruna further to tropical cyclone status , with 10 minute winds of 120 km / h ( 75 mph ) . That day , an approaching trough weakened the ridge to the south , causing the cyclone to slow and move erratically . While Haruna was approaching the southwestern coast of Madagascar , it developed a 120 km ( 75 mi ) wide eye , and the eyewall passed over Europa Island . Initially , MFR estimated that the storm would intensify to intense tropical cyclone status , and the agency assessed that Haruna reached 10 minute winds of 150 km / h ( 90 mph ) on February 20 . The next day , JTWC estimated peak 1 minute winds of 185 km / h ( 115 mph ) . In contrast , MFR estimated at that time that the cyclone had peaked when the eyewall thunderstorms warmed , followed by the eye becoming less organized and the winds decreasing . 
