Tropical Cyclone Bheki was passing south of Mauritius on Thursday morning. At 4:00 a.m. EST on Thursday the center of Tropical Cyclone Bheki was located at latitude 21.4°S and longitude 56.9°E which put the center about 140 miles (230 km) east-southeast of Port Louis, Mauritius. Bheki was moving toward the southwest at 16 m.p.h. (26 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1003 mb.
Tropical Cyclone Bheki was weakening as it passed south of Mauritius on Thursday morning. An upper level trough over Madagascar was producing strong northwesterly winds that were blowing toward the top of Bheki’s circulation. Those winds were causing strong vertical wind shear. The strong vertical wind shear was affecting the structure of Tropical Cyclone Bheki. Thunderstorms were still occurring in bands in the southeastern quadrant of Bheki’s circulation. Bands in the other parts of Tropical Cyclone Bheki consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds.
The asymmetrical distribution of thunderstorms was also affecting the distribution of wind speeds in Tropical Cyclone Bheki. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 115 miles (185 km/h) in the southern side of Bheki’s circulation. The winds in the northern side of Tropical Cyclone Bheki were blowing at less than tropical storm force.
Tropical Cyclone Bheki will continue to move through an environment that will be unfavorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Bheki will move over water where where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 25°C. The upper level trough near Madagascar will continue to cause strong vertical wind shear. Tropical Cyclone Bheki will continue to weaken during the next 24 hours because of the strong vertical wind shear. Bheki could make a transition to an extratropical cyclone.
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, the center Tropical Cyclone Bheki will pass south of Mauritius and La Reunion.