Tropical Cyclone Berguitta strengthened over the South Indian Ocean on Saturday.  At 10:00 p.m. EST on Saturday the center of Tropical Cyclone Berguitta was located at latitude 18.2°S and longitude 63.3°E which put it about 420 miles (675 km) east-northeast of Port Louis, Mauritius.  Berguitta was moving toward the west at 5 m.p.h. (8 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 994 mb.

The structure of Tropical Cyclone Berguitta organized quickly on Saturday.  An eye appeared on microwave satellite images of the center of circulation.  An elliptical ring of showers and thunderstorms surrounded the eye.  Several bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Tropical Cyclone Berguitta.  There were more thunderstorms south and east of the center of circulation.  Storms near the core of Berguitta were generating upper level divergence which was pumping away mass.  The removal of mass allowed the surface pressure to decrease and the winds speeds to increase.

Tropical Cyclone Berguitta will be moving through an environment favorable for intensification during the next several days.  Berguitta will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 28°C.  It will move through an area where the upper level winds are weak and there is little vertical wind shear.  Tropical Cyclone Berguitta will likely intensify into the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon during the next 24 hours.  It could intensify more rapidly once the eye and inner core become fully organized.

A subtropical ridge south of Berguitta is steering the tropical cyclone slowly toward the west.  A general motion toward the west is expected during the next day or two.  In about 48 hours Tropical Cyclone Berguitta will be closer to the western end of the ridge and it could start to move more toward the southwest.  On its anticipated track Tropical Cyclone Berguitta could approach Mauritius and La Reunion in three or four days.  Berguitta could be the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon at that time.

Elsewhere in the southern hemisphere former Tropical Cyclone Joyce continued to drop locally heavy rain over parts of Western Australia.  At 10:00 p.m. EST on Saturday the center of former Tropical Cyclone Joyce was located at latitude 25.4°S and longitude 115.6°E which put it about 35 miles (55 km) southeast of Gascoyne Junction.  Former Tropical Cyclone Joyce was moving toward the west-southwest at 8 m.p.h. (13 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 30 m.p.h. (50 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 998 mb.  The locally heavy rain was creating the potential for flooding in some locations.