It then weakened, and struggled to intensify through the coming days due to present wind shear and dry air, where it weakened after some time. Afterwards, it entered into much more favorable conditions, and it rapidly intensified into a high-end Category 4 cyclone on the Saffir–Simpson scale while moving towards Madagascar. The storm subsequently underwent an eyewall replacement cycle for the next day, and fluctuated in intensity before making landfall in Madagascar as a Category 3 cyclone, and rapidly weakening due to the immense mountainous terrain thereafter.