Tropical Cyclone Halima strengthened to the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon over the South Indian Ocean south of Diego Garcia on Thursday. At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Tropical Cyclone Halima was located at latitude 13.2°S and longitude 74.3°E which put it about 435 miles (700 km) south-southeast of Diego Garcia. Halima was moving toward the west at 6 m.p.h (10 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 979 mb.

Tropical Cyclone Halima intensified to the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon on Thursday. A small circular eye with a diameter of 10 miles (16 km) formed at the center of Halima’s circulation. The eye was surrounded by a ring of strong thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Other strong thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the western half of Tropical Cyclone Halima. Bands in the eastern half of the circulation consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Storms near the center of Halima’s circulation generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical cyclone. Winds to hurricane/typhoon force extended out 25 miles (40 km) from the center of Tropical Cyclone Halima. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 115 miles (185 km) from the center of circulation.

Tropical Cyclone Halima will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 36 hours. Halima will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28˚C. It will move under the axis of an upper level ridge over the South Indian Ocean. The winds are weaker near the axis of the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear. Tropical Cyclone Halima will intensify during the next 36 hours and it could strengthen to the equivalent of a major hurricane.

Tropical Cyclone Halima will move around the western end of a high pressure system over the South Indian Ocean during the next 36 hours. The high pressure system will steer Halima toward the south. On its anticipated track Tropical Cyclone Halima will move farther away from Diego Garcia.