Tropical Cyclone Filipo strengthened as it near the coast of Mozambique on Monday morning. At 5:00 a.m. EDT on Monday the center of Tropical Cyclone Filipo was located at latitude 20.4°S and longitude 37.0°E which put it about 120 miles (195 km) southeast of Beira, Mozambique. Filipo was moving toward the west-southwest at 7 m.p.h. (11 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 999 mb.

Tropical Cyclone Filipo strengthened over the Mozambique Channel as it approached the coast of Mozambique on Monday morning. The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the center of Filipo’s circulation. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of circulation. Storms near the center generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical cyclone. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 35 miles (55 km) from the center of Tropical Cyclone Filipo.

Tropical Cyclone Filipo will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 12 hours. Filipo will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C. It will move under the axis of an upper level ridge over the Mozambique Channel. The upper level winds are weak near the axis of the upper level ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear. Tropical Cyclone Filipo will intensify during the next 12 hours.

Tropical Cyclone Filipo will move around the western part of a high pressure system over the Southwest Indian Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Filipo toward the southwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Tropical Cyclone Filipo will approach the coast of Mozambique in 12 hours. The center of Filipo’s circulation is likely to make landfall between Divinhe and Vilankulo. Tropical Cyclone Filipo will bring strong winds and locally heavy rain to eastern Mozambique. Heavy rain is likely to cause flash floods in some locations. Filipo could also cause a storm surge of up to 7 feet (2 meters) along the coast of Mozambique.