Tropical Cyclone Halima continued to spin over the South Indian Ocean southeast of Diego Garcia on Tuesday night. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Tropical Cyclone Halima was located at latitude 19.9°S and longitude 81.7°E which put it about 1090 miles (1755 km) southeast of Diego Garcia. Halima was moving toward the northwest at 10 m.p.h (16 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 Tuesday as it continued to meander southeast of Diego Garcia. An upper level trough over the South Indian Ocean produced west-northwesterly winds that blew toward the top of Halima’s circulation. Those winds caused moderate vertical wind shear and they affected the distribution of thunderstorms in Tropical Cyclone Halima. The strongest thunderstorms were occurring in a band southeast of the center of Halima. Other scattered thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the eastern half of Tropical Cyclone Halima. Bands in the western half of the circulation consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 75 miles (120 km) 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 west-northwesterly 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 toward the north. On its anticipated track Tropical Cyclone Halima will remain far southeast of Diego Garcia during the next 24 hours.