Tropical Cyclone Dudzai rapidly intensified to the equivalent of a major hurricane over the South Indian Ocean on Sunday night. At 4:00 a.m. EST on Monday the center of the Tropical Cyclone Dudzai was located at latitude 16.7°S and longitude 77.8°E which put the center about 745 miles (1205 km) south-southeast of Diego Garcia. Dudzai was moving toward the south-southeast at 3 m.p.h. (5 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 115 m.p.h. (185 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 145 m.p.h. (235 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 962 mb.
Tropical Cyclone Dudzai continued to intensify rapidly on Sunday night. A small circular eye was present at the center of Tropical Cyclone Dudzai. The eye was surrounded by a ring of thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Dudzai’s circulation. Storms near the core of Dudzai generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical cyclone. The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease rapidly.
The circulation around Tropical Cyclone Dudzai was small. Winds to hurricane/typhoon force extended out 25 miles (40 km) from the center of Dudzai’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 70 miles (110 km) from the center of Tropical Cyclone Dudzai.
Tropical Cyclone Dudzai will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Dudzai will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28°C. It will move under the middle of an upper level ridge that is over the South Indian Ocean. The upper level winds are weak in the middle of the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear. Tropical Cyclone Dudzai will intensify during the next 24 hours. Dudzai could continue to intensify rapidly during the next few hours.
Tropical Cyclone Dudzai will move into a region where the steering winds are weak during the next 24 hours. Dudzai is likely to move slowly toward the south during the next day or so. On its anticipated track, Tropical Cyclone Dudzai will move a little farther away from Diego Garcia.