Tropical Cyclone Gezani formed over the South Indian Ocean north of Mauritius on Saturday night. At 10:00 a.m. EST on Sunday the center of Tropical Cyclone Gezani was located at latitude 18.3°S and longitude 56.4°E which put the center about 130 miles (210 km) north-northwest of Port Louis, Mauritius. Gezani was moving toward the west-southwest at 5 m.p.h. (8 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1003 mb.
A low pressure system over the South Indian Ocean strengthened on Saturday night and Meteo France La Reunion designated the system as Tropical Cyclone Gezani.
The distribution of thunderstorms in Tropical Cyclone Gezani was asymmetrical. Thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the western and northern parts of Gezani’s circulation. Bands in the eastern and southern parts of Tropical Cyclone Gezani consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Storms near the center of Gezani started to generate upper level divergence that pumped mass away to the west of the tropical cyclone.
The circulation around Tropical Cyclone Gezani was small. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 70 miles (110 km) from the center of Gezani’s circulation.
Tropical Cyclone Gezani will move through an environment that will be somewhat favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Gezani will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28°C. It will move under the northern part of an upper level ridge that is over the South Indian Ocean. The upper level ridge will produce easterly winds that will blow toward the top of Gezani’s circulation. Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear. The moderate vertical wind shear will inhibit intensification, but the wind shear will probably not be enough to prevent intensification. Tropical Cyclone Gezani is likely to intensify during the next 24 hours.
Tropical Cyclone Gezani will move around the northern side of a high pressure system that is over the South Indian Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Gezani toward the west during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Tropical Cyclone Gezani will approach the east coast of Madagascar early in 36 hours.