Tropical Cyclone Gezani moved over the Mozambique Channel on Wednesday after it crossed central Madagascar.  There were reports of damage and casualties in Madagascar.  At 10:00 p.m. EST on Wednesday the center of Tropical Cyclone Gezani was located at latitude 19.9°S and longitude 41.7°E which put the center about 455 miles (735 km) east of Beira, Mozambique.  Gezani was moving toward the west-southwest at 15 m.p.h. (24 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 999 mb.

Tropical Cyclone Gezani began to strengthen again after Gezani moved over the Mozambique Channel.  More thunderstorms developed near the center of Gezani’s circulation.  Thunderstorms also formed in bands revolving around the center of Tropical Cyclone Gezani.  Storms near the center of Gezani generated more upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical cyclone.  The removal of more mass cause the surface pressure to start to decrease again.

The circulation around Tropical Cyclone Gezani was still 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 very favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Gezani will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C.  It will move under the middle of an upper level ridge that is over the Mozambique Channel.  The upper level winds are weak near the middle of the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear.  Tropical Cyclone Gezani will intensify to the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon 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-southwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Tropical Cyclone Gezani will moved closer to Mozambique.  Gezani will approach the coast of Mozambique in 36 hours.