Tropical Cyclone Eloise Develops Northeast of Mauritius

Tropical Cyclone Eloise developed northeast of Mauritius on Sunday. At 4:00 a.m. EST on Sunday the center of Tropical Cyclone Eloise was located at latitude 12.7°S and longitude 61.5°E which put it about 605 miles (980 km) north-northeast of Port Louis, Mauritius. Eloise was moving toward the west at 14 m.p.h. (22 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 995 mb.

The circulation around a low pressure system northeast of Mauritius strengthened on Sunday morning and the system was designated as Tropical Cyclone Eloise. The distribution of thunderstorms around Eloise was asymmetrical. The strongest thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the western half of Tropical Cyclone Eloise. Bands in the eastern half of the circulation consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Storms near the center of Eloise generated upper level divergence which pumped mass away to the west of the tropical cyclone. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 75 miles (120 km from the center of circulation.

Tropical Cyclone Eloise will move through an environment somewhat favorable for intensification during the next several days. Eloise will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 28°C. It will move under the northern portion of an upper level ridge over the South Indian Ocean. The ridge will produce easterly winds which will blow toward the top of the tropical cyclone. Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear which will inhibit intensification. Tropical Cyclone Eloise could intensify slowly during the next 24 hours despite the moderate vertical wind shear.

Tropical Cyclone Eloise will move north of a high pressure system over the South Indian Ocean. The high will steer Eloise toward the west during the next several days. On its anticipated track Tropical Cyclone Eloise could approach northern Madagascar in about three days.

Elsewhere over the South Indian Ocean, Tropical Cyclone Joshua moved far to the southeast of Diego Garcia. At 4:00 a.m. EST on Sunday the center of Tropical Cyclone Joshua was located at latitude 18.5°S and longitude 89.8°E which put it about 1405 miles (2265 km) southeast of Digeo Garcia. Joshua was moving toward the southwest at 10 m.p.h. (16 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 997 mb.