Tropical Cyclone Halima meandered slowly over the South Indian Ocean southeast of Diego Garcia on Monday. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Monday the center of Tropical Cyclone Halima was located at latitude 21.8°S and longitude 82.5°E which put it about 1195 miles (1930 km) southeast of Diego Garcia. Halima was moving toward the east-northeast at 5 m.p.h (8 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 996 mb.

Tropical Cyclone Halima maintained its intensity on Monday while it meandered over the South Indian Ocean southeast of Diego Garcia. An upper level trough continued to cause moderate vertical wind shear, but the direction of the upper level winds changed from northwesterly to westerly. The change in the wind direction altered the distribution of thunderstorms in Halima’s circulation. The strongest thunderstorms were occurring in a band southeast of the center of Tropical Cyclone Halima. Other bands of thunderstorms were in the eastern half of Halima. Bands in the western half of the circulation consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 90 miles from the center of circulation.

Tropical Cyclone Halima will move through an environment that will continue to be unfavorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Halima will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 26˚C. However, the upper level trough will continue to produce westerly winds that will create moderate vertical wind shear. The wind shear will cause Tropical Cyclone Halima to weaken during the next 24 hours.

Tropical Cyclone Halima will move around the eastern end of a high pressure system over the South Indian Ocean during the next 24 hours. The high pressure system will steer Halima slowly toward the north. On its anticipated track Tropical Cyclone Halima will remain far southeast of Diego Garcia during the next 24 hours.