Tropical Cyclone Mandous formed over the southwestern Bay of Bengal east of Sri Lanka on Wednesday afternoon. At 10:00 p.m. EST on Wednesday the center of Tropical Cyclone Mandous was located at latitude 9.6°N and longitude 83.8°E which put it about 360 miles (580 km) southeast of Chennai, India. Mandous was moving toward the west-northwest at 6 m.p.h. (10 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 997 mb.

The circulation around a low pressure system over the southwestern Bay of Bengal strengthened on Wednesday afternoon and the India Meteorological Department designated the system as Tropical Cyclone Mandous. The distribution of thunderstorms around Tropical Cyclone Mandous was asymmetrical. Many of the thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the western half of Mandous’ circulation. Bands in the eastern half of Mandous consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Storms west of the center of Mandous generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away to the west of the tropical cyclone. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 85 miles (135 km) from the center of Tropical Cyclone Mandous.

Tropical Cyclone Mandous will move through an environment somewhat favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Mandous will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28˚C. It will move under the southwestern part of an upper level ridge over Southeast Asia and the Bay of Bengal. The ridge will produce easterly winds that will blow toward the top of Mandous’ circulation. Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear. The wind shear is contributing to the asymmetrical distribution of thunderstorms and the shear will inhibit intensification. The vertical wind shear may not be strong enough to prevent intensification during the next 24 hours and Tropical Cyclone Mandous could strengthen during that time period.

Tropical Cyclone Mandous will move around the southern side of a high pressure system over southern Asia. The high pressure system will steer Mandous toward the northwest during the next 48 hours. On its anticipated track, Tropical Cyclone Mandous could be near the coast of southern India near Chennai in 48 hours. Mandous could bring gusty winds and locally heavy rain to Puducherry, northern Tamil Nadu and southern Andhra Pradesh. Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations.