Tropical Cyclone Horacio continued to weaken as it moved over the South Indian Ocean on Wednesday.  At 4:00 p.m. EST on Wednesday the center of Tropical Cyclone Horacio was located at latitude 30.9°S and longitude 68.1°E which put the center about 815 miles (1315 km) south-southeast of Port Mathurin, Rodrigues.  Horacio was moving toward the south-southeast at 17 m.p.h. (28 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 981 mb.

An upper level trough that was southeast of Madagascar was producing strong northwesterly winds that were blowing across the top of Tropical Cyclone Horacio.  Those winds were causing strong vertical wind shear.  The strong northwesterly winds were also blowing the top half of Horacio’s circulation to the southeast of the low level center of Horacio.  The strong winds blew the tops off of thunderstorms near the center of Tropical Cyclone Horacio.  Bands near the center and in the northwestern half of Horacio’s circulation consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds.  There will some thunderstorms in the southeastern part of Tropical Cyclone Horacio.

The distribution of wind speeds near the surface in Tropical Cyclone Horacio were still relatively symmetrical.  Winds to hurricane/typhoon force extended out 45 miles (75 km) from the center of Horacio’s circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 105 miles (165 km) from the center of Tropical Cyclone Horacio.

Tropical Cyclone Horacio will continue to move through an environment that will be unfavorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Horacio will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 23°C.  The upper level trough that is southeast of Madagascar will continue to cause strong vertical wind shear.  Tropical Cyclone Horacio will continue to weaken during the next 24 hours because of the colder water and the strong vertical wind shear.

Since strong vertical wind shear is blowing the top off of Tropical Cyclone Horacio, Horacio will be steered by weather systems in the lower atmosphere.  Horacio will move around the western end of a high pressure system over the South Indian Ocean.  The high pressure system will steer Horacio toward the south during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Tropical Cyclone Horacio will continue to move farther away from Rodrigues.