Tropical Cyclone Uesi Weakens East of Australia

Tropical Cyclone Uesi weakened east of Australia on Wednesday.  At 1:00 p.m. EST on Wednesday the center of Tropical Cyclone Uesi was located at latitude 25.9°S and longitude 161.7°E which put it about 500 miles (805 km) east-northeast of Brisbane, Australia.  Uesi was moving toward the south-southwest at 13 m.p.h. (20 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 80 m.p.h. (130 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 977 mb.

Tropical Cyclone Uesi weakened steadily on Wednesday as it moved into a more unfavorable environment.  An upper level low over eastern Australia and an upper level ridge over the South Pacific Ocean interacted to produce strong northerly winds which blew across the top of Uesi.  Those winds caused strong vertical wind shear and they pushed the upper part of the circulation to the south of the lower level circulation.  Thunderstorms were only occurring in bands south of the center of Tropical Cyclone Uesi.  Bands in other parts of the tropical cyclone consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds.

Tropical Cyclone Uesi will continue to weaken as it moves into an even more unfavorable environment.  The upper low over eastern Australia and the upper ridge over the South Pacific will steer Uesi toward the south.  Tropical Cyclone Uesi will move over colder water.  The trough and the ridge will also continue to cause strong vertical wind shear.  The combined effects of colder water and strong wind shear will cause Tropical Cyclone Uesi to weaken during the next several days.