Tropical Cyclone Dikeledi passed far to the south of La Reunion on Thursday. At 4:00 p.m. EST on Thursday the center of Tropical Cyclone Dikeledi was located at latitude 32.3°S and longitude 50.3°E which put the center about 795 miles (1235 km) south-southwest of St. Denis, La Reunion. Dikeledi was moving toward the east-southeast at 23 m.p.h. (37 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 979 mb.
Tropical Cyclone Dikeledi began to make a transition to an extratropical cyclone on Thursday as it moved over the Southwest Indian Ocean far to the south of La Reunion. An eye was no longer visible at the center of Dikeledi’s circulation. Microwave satellite images still showed evidence of the former eyewall. The strongest winds were occurring in the former eyewall. Thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the southeastern part of Tropical Cyclone Dikeledi. Bands in the other parts of Dikeledi’s circulation consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds.
The size of the circulation around Tropical Cyclone Dikeledi increased on Thursday, when Dikeledi started the transition to an extratropical cyclone. Winds to hurricane/typhoon force extended out 40 miles (65 km) from the center of Tropical Cyclone Dikeledi. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 150 miles (240 km) from the center of Dikeledi.
Tropical Cyclone Dikeledi will move through an environment that will be unfavorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Dikeledi will move over water where where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 25°C. It will move under the eastern side of an upper level trough over southern Africa. The upper level trough will produce northwesterly winds that will blow toward the top of Dikeledi’s circulation. Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear. Tropical Cyclone Dikeledi will weaken during the next 24 hours. Cooler Sea Surface Temperatures and moderate vertical wind shear will cause Dikeledi to continue to make a transition to an extratropical cyclone.
The upper level trough over southern Africa will steer Tropical Cyclone Dikeledi toward the east-southeast during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Tropical Cyclone Dikeldi will pass far to the south of Mauritius on Friday.