Tropical Cyclone Darian rapidly intensified to the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon over the South Indian Ocean west of Cocos Islands on Monday. At 10:00 a.m. EST on Monday the center of Tropical Cyclone Darian was located at latitude 12.8°S and longitude 93.5°E which put it about 230 miles (370 km) west of Cocos Islands. Darian was moving toward the south-southeast at 5 m.p.h. (8 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 85 m.p.h. (135 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 105 m.p.h. (165 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 971 mb.

Tropical Cyclone Darian rapidly intensified to the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon during the past 24 hours. The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the center of Darian’s circulation. An elliptical eye formed at the center of Tropical Cyclone Darian. A ring of thunderstorms surrounded the eye and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Darian’s circulation. Storms near the core generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical cyclone in all directions. Winds to hurricane/typhoon force extended out 40 miles (65 km/h) from the center of Tropical Cyclone Darian. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 125 miles (200 km) from the center.

Tropical Cyclone Darian will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Darian will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 27˚C. It will move through a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear. Tropical Cyclone Darian is likely to intensify during the next 24 hours.

Tropical Cyclone Darian will move around the southwestern part of a high pressure system centered north of Australia. The high pressure system will steer Darian slowly toward the south during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track Tropical Cyclone Darian will remain southwest of Cocos Islands. A subtropical high pressure system over the South Indian Ocean will steer Darian toward the west later this week.