Tropical Cyclone Hidaya rapidly intensified to the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon over the South Indian Ocean east of Tanzania on Thursday. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Tropical Cyclone Hidaya was located at latitude 8.7°S and longitude 43.0°E which put it about 295 miles (475 km) east-southeast of the Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Hidaya was moving toward the west at 6 m.p.h. (10 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 977 mb.

Tropical Cyclone Hidaya rapidly intensified from the equivalent of a tropical storm to the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon on Thursday. The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the center of Hidaya’s circulation. A circular eye with a diameter of 30 miles (50 km) formed at the center of Tropical Cyclone Hidaya. 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 core of Tropical Cyclone Hidaya. Storms near the core generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical cyclone. The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease.

The circulation around Tropical Cyclone Hidaya was symmetrical. Winds to hurricane/typhoon force extended out 25 miles (40 km) from the center of Hidaya’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 125 miles (200 km) from the center of Tropical Cyclone Hidaya.

Tropical Cyclone Hidaya will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Hidaya 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 South Indian Ocean. The upper level winds are weak near the axis of the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear. Tropical Cyclone Hidaya is likely to intensify during the next 24 hours. Hidaya could continue to intensify rapidly and it could strengthen to the equivalent of a major hurricane.

Tropical Cyclone Hidaya will move around the northern side of a high pressure system over the South Indian Ocean. The high pressure system will steer the Hidaya toward the west during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track Tropical Cyclone Hidaya will move toward the coast of Tanzania. Hidaya could approach the coast near Dar es Salaam on Saturday. Hidaya could bring strong winds and locally heavy rain to eastern Tanzania. Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations. Tropical Cyclone Hidaya could also produce a storm surge of up to 10 feet (3 meters) along the coast of Tanzania.