Tropical Cyclone Chido formed over the South Indian Ocean east of northern Madagascar on Monday.  At 4:00 p.m. EST on Monday the center of Tropical Cyclone Chido was located at latitude 10.9°S and longitude 62.1°E which put the center about 870 miles (1405 km) east of Antsiranana, Madascar.  Chido was moving toward the west at 8 m.p.h. (13 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 997 mb.

A low pressure system over the South Indian Ocean east of northern Madagascar strengthened on Monday and Meteo France la Reunion designated the system as Tropical Cyclone Chido.  The distribution of thunderstorms in Tropical Cyclone Chido was asymmetrical.  Thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the western side of Chido’s circulation.  Bands in the eastern side of Tropical Cyclone Chido consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds.  Storms in the western side of Chido generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away to the west of the tropical cyclone.

The distribution of wind speeds in Tropical Cyclone Chido was also asymmetrical.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 100 miles (160 km) in the western side of Chido’s circulation.  The winds in the eastern side of Tropical Cyclone Chido were blowing at less than tropical storm force.

Tropical Cyclone Chido will move through an environment mostly favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Chido will move over water where where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28°C.  It will move under the northern part of an upper level ridge over the South Indian Ocean.  The upper level ridge will produce easterly winds that will blow toward the top of Chido’s circulation.  Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear.  The vertical wind shear will inhibit intensification, but the wind shear will not be enough to prevent intensification.  Tropical Cyclone Chido will intensify during the next 24 hours.

Tropical Cyclone Chido will move around the northern side of a high pressure system over the South Indian Ocean.  The high pressure system will steer Chido toward the west during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Tropical Cyclone Chido will move toward northern Madagascar.  Chido could approach northern Madagascar by the end of this week.