Tropical Cyclone Dudzai moved toward the west over the South Indian Ocean on Wednesday.  At 4:00 p.m. EST on Wednesday the center of the Tropical Cyclone Dudzai was located at latitude 17.2°S and longitude 75.9°E which put the center about 740 miles (1195 km) south-southeast of Diego Garcia.  Dudzai was moving toward the west at 6 m.p.h. (8 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.

Tropical Cyclone Dudzai continued to be the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon as it moved westward over the South Indian Ocean on Wednesday.  Thunderstorms continued to develop near the center of Dudzai’s circulation.  Thunderstorms were also occurring in bands revolving around the center of Tropical Cyclone Dudzai.  Storms near the center of Dudzai generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical cyclone.  The removal of mass in the upper levels was nearly equal to the convergence of the mass in the lower levels of the atmosphere.  So, the surface pressure was nearly steady on Wednesday afternoon.

The strongest winds were occurring in the southern half of Tropical Cyclone Dudzai.  Winds to hurricane/typhoon force extended out 25 miles (40 km) in the southern half of Dudzai’s circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 90 miles (145 km) in the southern side of Tropical Cyclone Dudzai.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 60 miles in the northern half of Dudzai’s circulation.

Tropical Cyclone Dudzai will move into an environment that will become more favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Tropical Cyclone Dudzai will move farther away from cooler water it mixed to the surface while it moved slowly during the beginning of this week.  Dudzai will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28°C.   It will move under the eastern side of an upper level trough that is over the South Indian Ocean.  The upper level trough will produce northwesterly winds that will blow toward the top of Dudzai’s circulation.  Those winds will cause some vertical wind shear.  The vertical wind shear will inhibit intensification, but the wind shear may not be enough to prevent intensification.  Tropical Cyclone Dudzai is likely to intensify on Thursday.

Tropical Cyclone Dudzai will move around the northern part of a high pressure system over the South Indian Ocean.  The high pressure system will steer Dudzai toward the west on during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Tropical Cyclone Dudzai will remain far to the south of Diego Garcia.