Tropical Cyclone Neville developed over the South Indian Ocean northwest of Australia on Wednesday. At 5:00 a.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Tropical Cyclone Neville was located at latitude 17.7°S and longitude 109.2°E which put it about 430 miles (695 km) northwest of Exmouth, Australia. Neville was moving toward the west at 7 m.p.h. (11 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 998 mb.

A low pressure system over the South Indian Ocean northwest of Australia strengthened on Wednesday morning and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology designated the system as Tropical Cyclone Neville. The circulation around Tropical Cyclone Neville exhibited more organization on Wednesday. The inner end of a rainband wrapped most of the way around the center of Neville’s circulation. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of circulation. Storms near the center of Neville generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical cyclone. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 65 miles (105 km) from the center of Tropical Cyclone Neville.

Tropical Cyclone Neville will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Neville will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C. It will move through a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear. Tropical Cyclone Neville will intensify during the next 24 hours. Neville could intensify rapidly at times and it is likely to strengthen to the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon.

Tropical Cyclone Neville will move around the northern side of a high pressure system over the South Indian Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Neville toward the west during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Tropical Cyclone Neville will move farther away from Australia. Neville could pass south of the Cocos Islands in three days.