Tropical Cyclone Neville intensified to the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon over the South Indian Ocean northwest of Australia on Wednesday evening. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Tropical Cyclone Neville was located at latitude 17.9°S and longitude 106.1°E which put it about 565 miles (915 km) west-northwest of Exmouth, Australia. Neville was moving toward the west at 13 m.p.h. (21 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 80 m.p.h. (130 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 100 m.p.h. (160 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 982 mb.

Tropical Cyclone Neville rapidly intensified to the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon over the South Indian Ocean on Wednesday. The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the center of Neville’s circulation and an eye was visible on satellite images. The eye was surrounded by a ring of thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Tropical Cyclone Neville. Storms near the center of Neville generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical cyclone.

The circulation around Tropical Cyclone Neville was small. Winds to hurricane/typhoon force extended out 20 miles (30 km) from the center of Neville’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 70 miles (110 km) from the center of circulation.

Tropical Cyclone Neville will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 36 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 36 hours. Neville could intensify rapidly at times and it could strengthen to the equivalent of a major hurricane.

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 on Friday.