Tropical Cyclone Gezani was nearing the coast of Mozambique on Friday morning. At 10:00 a.m. EST on Friday the center of Tropical Cyclone Gezani was located at latitude 22.8°S and longitude 36.3°E which put the center about 130 miles (210 km) north-northeast of Inhambane, Mozambique. Gezani was moving toward the southwest at 9 m.p.h. (15 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 105 m.p.h. (165 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 125 m.p.h. (200 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 964 mb.
Tropical Cyclone Gezani was strengthening on Friday morning as it neared the coast of Mozambique. A circular eye with a diameter of 25 miles (40 km) was present at the center of Gezani’s circulation. 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 center of Gezani’s circulation. Storms near the center of Gezani generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical cyclone. The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease.
The size of the circulation around Tropical Cyclone Gezani increased a little when Gezani strengthened. Winds to hurricane/typhoon force extended out 45 miles (75 km) from the center of Gezani’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 90 miles (145 km) from the center of Tropical Cyclone Gezani.
The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Tropical Cyclone Gezani was 17.8. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 14.1 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 31.9. Tropical Cyclone Gezani was similar in size and intensity to Hurricane Sally when Sally hit Alabama in 2020.
Tropical Cyclone Gezani will move through an environment that will be 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 is likely to intensify during the next 24 hours. Gezani could strengthen to the equivalent of a major hurricane on Friday.
Tropical Cyclone Gezani will move around the western side of a high pressure system that is over the South Indian Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Gezani toward the south during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, the center of Tropical Cyclone Gezani will pass very close to the coast of central Mozambique during the next 24 hours.
The center of Tropical Cyclone Gezani is currently forecast to pass just to the east of the coast of central Mozambique. Bands in the western half of Gezani’s circulation could bring strong winds and locally heavy rain to the region near Inhambane. Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations. If Tropical Cyclone Gezani moves a little to the west of the forecast track, then the strongest part of Gezani’s circulation could hit the area around Inhambane.