Tropical Cyclone Anggrek continued to spin over the South Indian Ocean northwest of the Cocos Islands on Wednesday. At 4:00 p.m. EST on Wednesday the center of Tropical Cyclone Anggrek was located at latitude 10.8°S and longitude 93.9°E which put it about 205 miles (330 km) northwest of Cocos Islands. Anggrek was moving toward the south-southwest at 3 m.p.h. (5 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 994 mb.

A Watch was in effect for the Cocos Islands.

Tropical Cyclone Anggrek exhibited a little more organization on Wednesday. The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the western and northern sides of the center of Anggrek’s circulation. Bands of showers and thunderstorms revolved around the center of Tropical Cyclone Anggrek. Storms near the center of circulation generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical cyclone. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 75 miles (120 km) from the center of Anggrek’s circulation.

Tropical Cyclone Anggrek will move through an environment somewhat favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Anggrek will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28°C. It will move under the western part of an upper level ridge over the eastern part of the South Indian Ocean. The upper level ridge will produce northerly winds that will blow toward the top of Anggrek’s circulation. Those winds will cause some vertical wind shear. The wind shear will inhibit intensification, but the shear may not be enough to prevent strengthening. Tropical Cyclone Anggrek could strengthen during the next 24 hours.

Tropical Cyclone Anggrek will move around the western part of a high pressure system west of Australia. The pressure system will start to steer Anggrek toward the south-southwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Tropical Cyclone Anggrek will move west-northwest of Cocos Islands on Thursday.

Elsewhere over the South Indian Ocean, Tropical Cyclone Belal churned south of Rodrigues. At 10:00 a.m. EST on Wednesday the center of Tropical Cyclone Belal was located at latitude 24.2°S and longitude 63.9°E which put it about 310 miles (500 km) south of Port Mathurin, Rodigues. Belal was moving toward the east at 7 m.p.h. (11 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 987 mb.