Tropical Cyclone Ditwah moved north of Sri Lanka on Saturday. At 10:00 a.m. EST on Saturday the center of Tropical Cyclone Ditwah was located at latitude 10.2°N and longitude 80.8°E which put the center about 150 miles (240 km) southeast of Puducherry, India. Ditwah was moving toward the north at 7 m.p.h. (11 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 40 m.p.h. (50 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1004 mb.
The circulation around Tropical Cyclone Ditwah was pulling in drier air from over India. The drier air caused the thunderstorms near the center of Ditwah’s circulation to weaken. Thunderstorms were still occurring in bands in the northern and eastern periphery of Tropical Cyclone Ditwah. Bands in the other parts of Ditwah’s circulation consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds.
Even though the thunderstorms near the center of Tropical Cyclone Ditwah weakened, Ditwah was still producing winds to tropical storm force. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 140 miles (225 km) from the center of Ditwah’s circulation.
Tropical Cyclone Ditwah will move through an environment marginally favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Ditwah will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C. It will move under the western part of an upper level ridge that is over Southeast Asia and the Bay of Bengal. The upper level ridge will produce southeasterly winds that will blow toward the top of Ditwah’s circulation. Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear. The vertical wind shear will inhibit intensification but the shear may not be enough to prevent some intensification. However, the drier air being pulled into Ditwah’s circulation is likely to inhibit the formation of new thunderstorms. Tropical Cyclone Ditwah could maintain its intensity during the next 24 hours. However, the drier air is likely to cause Ditwah to weaken slowly during the next several days.
Tropical Cyclone Ditwah will move around the southwestern part of a high pressure system over the Bay of Bengal. The high pressure system will steer Ditwah toward the north during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Tropical Cyclone Ditwah will move nearly parallel to the coast of southeast India.
Tropical Cyclone Ditwah will bring gusty winds and isolated heavy rain to parts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.