Fanele ultimately turned toward the southwest Madagascar coastline, reaching peak winds of 185 km/h (115 mph), according to the Réunion Météo-France office (MFR).

For several days in the middle of January 2009, a very weak low-level circulation persisted in the Mozambique Channel, accompanied by intermittent and disorganized convection, or thunderstorms.

[3] At 0600 UTC on the 18th, the Réunion Météo-France office (MFR) initiated advisories on Tropical Disturbance 07, noting its intensification as it drifted southwestward.

[10] Around that time, Fanele began rapid deepening under very favorable environmental conditions, and the MFR upgraded the storm to tropical cyclone status with winds of 150 km/h (93 mph).

[12] The thunderstorms organized further around the eye, and at 1200 UTC on January 20 the MFR estimated Fanele attained peak winds of 185 km/h (115 mph) about 180 km (110 mi) west-northwest of Morondava along the Madagascar coast.

[15] As it approached the coast, the cyclone became slightly less organized, with weaker convection and a less distinct eye;[13][15] the weakening was due to an eyewall replacement cycle.

[25] Cyclone Fanele made landfall on western Madagascar in Menabe Region, where it destroyed many buildings, flooded large areas, and left thousands of people isolated.

[26] In the city of Morondava near the landfall location, the cyclone flooded 80% of buildings and damaged about half of the houses,[27] leaving 3,000 people homeless.

[27] The outer rainbands of the storm produced heavy rainfall in the northwest portion of the country, resulting in flooding that left about 250 people homeless in Sofia Region.

[28] As many schools were affected, UNICEF set up temporary classrooms in tents,[28] while workers began fixing and cleaning the damaged buildings.

The Malagasy Red Cross deployed its volunteers to affected areas, although disrupted transportation services and the political situation hindered relief efforts.