Tropical Cyclone Bheki intensified to the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon over the South Indian Ocean on Friday. At 4:00 p.m. EST on Friday the center of Tropical Cyclone Bheki was located at latitude 13.1°S and longitude 74.0°E which put the center about 415 miles (670 km) south-southeast of Diego Garcia. Bheki was moving toward the southwest at 10 m.p.h. (16 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 970 mb.
Tropical Cyclone Bheki intensified to the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon on Friday. The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the center of Bheki’s circulation. An eye appeared to be forming at the center of Tropical Cyclone Bheki. The strongest winds were occurring in the part of the rainband that wrapped around the center of Bheki. Other bands of showers and thunderstorm were revolving around the center of Tropical Cyclone Bheki. Storms near the center of Bheki’s circulation 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 Bheki was small. Winds to hurricane/typhoon force extended out 30 miles (50 km) from the center of Bheki’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 120 miles (195 km) from the center of Tropical Cyclone Bheki.
Tropical Cyclone Bheki will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Bheki will move over water where where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C. It will move under the middle of an upper level ridge over the South Indian Ocean. The upper level winds are weak near the middle of the upper level ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear. Tropical Cyclone Bheki is likely to continue to intensify during the next 24 hours.
Tropical Cyclone Bheki will move around the northwestern part of a high pressure system over the South Indian Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Bheki toward the southwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Tropical Cyclone Bheki will pass far to the south of Diego Garcia on Saturday.