Tropical Cyclone Iggy formed over the South Indian Ocean southeast of Christmas Island on Wednesday evening. At 10:00 p.m. EST on Wednesday the center of Tropical Cyclone Iggy was located at latitude 12.5°S and longitude 107.9°E which put the center about 200 miles (320 km) southeast of Christmas Island. Iggy was moving toward the south-southeast at 11 m.p.h. (17 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 998 mb.
A low pressure system over the South Indian Ocean southeast of Diego Garcia strengthened on Wednesday evening and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology designated the system as Tropical Cyclone Iggy.
More thunderstorms developed near the center of Tropical Cyclone Iggy on Wednesday evening. Thunderstorms also formed in bands revolving around the center of Iggy’s circulation. Storms near the center of Iggy began to generate 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 Iggy was small. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 80 miles (130 km) from the center of Iggy’s circulation.
Tropical Cyclone Iggy will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Iggy will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 30°C. It will move under the southwestern part of an upper level ridge that is northwest of Australia. The upper level ridge will produce northwesterly winds that will blow toward the top of Iggy’s circulation. Those winds will cause some vertical wind shear. The vertical wind shear will inhibit intensification, but the wind shear will not be enough to prevent intensification. Tropical Cyclone Iggy will intensify during the next 24 hours.
Tropical Cyclone Iggy will move around the southwestern side of a high pressure system that is northwest of Australia. The high pressure system will steer Iggy toward the southeast during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Tropical Cyclone Iggy will move farther away from Christmas Island.
Elsewhere over the South Indian Ocean, Tropical Cyclone Grant weakened as it moved farther away from Diego Garcia. At 10:00 p.m. EST on Wednesday the center of Tropical Cyclone Grant was located at latitude 16.2°S and longitude 68.5°E which put the center about 670 miles (1080 km) south-southwest of Diego Garcia. Grant was moving toward the west-southwest at 11 m.p.h. (17 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 80 m.p.h. (130 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 100 m.p.h. (160 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 984 mb.