Tropical Cyclone Fytia moved south of La Reunion on Tuesday. At 10:00 p.m. EST on Tuesday the center of Tropical Cyclone Fytia was located at latitude 23.7°S and longitude 55.0°E which put the center about 215 miles (350 km) south of St. Denis, La Reunion. Fytia was moving toward the east at 3 m.p.h. (5 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 995 mb.
Tropical Cyclone Fytia weakened on Tuesday as it continued to make a transition to an extratropical cyclone. An upper level trough that was southeast of Madagascar produced strong northwesterly winds that blew across the top of Fytia’s circulation. Those strong winds blew the tops off of many of the thunderstorms in Tropical Cyclone Fytia. There were still some thunderstorms in bands in the southeastern part of Fytia’s circulation. Bands in the other parts of Tropical Cyclone Fytia consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds.
The distribution of wind speeds in Tropical Cyclone Fytia was asymmetrical. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 105 miles (165 km) in the southeastern quadrant of Fytia’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 70 miles (110 km) in the other parts of Tropical Cyclone Fytia.
Tropical Cyclone Fytia will move through an environment that will be unfavorable for intensification of a tropical cyclone during the next 24 hours. Fytia will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 27°C. However, the upper level trough southeast of Madagascar will continue to produce strong northwesterly winds that will across the top of Fytia’s circulation. Those winds will cause strong vertical wind shear. The strong vertical wind shear will cause Tropical Cyclone Fytia to continue to weaken gradually as it makes a transition to an extratropical cyclone during the next 24 hours.
The upper level trough southeast of Madagascar will steer Tropical Cyclone Fytia toward the southeast during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Tropical Cyclone Fytia will move south of Mauritius on Wednesday.