Tag Archives: 13S

Tropical Cyclone Funani Develops Northeast of Mauritius

Tropical Cyclone Funani developed northeast of Mauritius on Tuesday.  At 10:00 p.m. EST on Tuesday the center of Tropical Cyclone Funani was located at latitude 15.8°S and longitude 64.0°E which put it about 505 miles (815 km) east-northeast of Port Louis, Mauritius and about 265 miles (425 km) north of Rodrigues.  Funani was moving toward the southwest 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 990 mb.

The circulation around Tropical Cyclone Funani organized quickly on Tuesday.  An inner rainband wrapped around the northern side of the center of circulation.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms developed and were revolving around the core of Funani.  There were more bands on the eastern side of the circulation.  Storms near the core began to generate upper level divergence which was pumping mass away from the tropical cyclone.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out about 120 miles (195 km) from the center of circulation.

Tropical Cyclone Funani will be moving through an environment favorable for intensification during the next several days.  Funani will be moving over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 29°C.  It will move under an area where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear.  Tropical Cyclone Funani could intensify into the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon within 24 hours and it could strengthen into the equivalent of a major hurricane in about 48 hours.

Tropical Cyclone Funani will move near the southeastern end of a subtropical ridge.  The ridge and a trough over the southwestern Indian Ocean will steer Funani in a general south-southwesterly direction.  On its anticipated track Tropical Cyclone Funani will remain east of Mauritius and La Reunion.  Funani could be near Rodrigues in about 24 hours.  It could be the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon at that time.

Elsewhere over the South Pacific Ocean, Tropical Cyclone 13S formed east of Madagascar.  At 10:00 p.m. EST on Tuesday the center of Tropical Cyclone 13S was located at latitude 12.3°S and longitude 53.6°E which put it about 570 miles (920 km) north of Port Louis, Mauritius.  It was moving toward the west-northwest at 10 m.p.h. (16 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 1002 mb.

Tropical Cyclone Debbie Develops East of Queensland

The low level circulation of a tropical low east of Queensland continued to organize on Friday and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology designated the system as Tropical Cyclone Debbie early on Saturday.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Friday the center of Tropical Cyclone Debbie was located at latitude 17.4°S and longitude 151.9°E which put it about 360 miles (580 km) east-northeast of Townsville, Australia.  Debbie was moving toward the southwest at 6 m.p.h. (9 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 992 mb.

The low level circulation of Tropical Cyclone Debbie continued to consolidate around the center of circulation on Friday.  Numerous bands of thunderstorms were revolving around the center of circulation and an eye-like feature appeared on satellite imagery at various times.  The structure of the circulation was fairly symmetrical, although there were more bands of showers and thunderstorms in the eastern half of Debbie.  Thunderstorms near the core of the circulation were generating upper level divergence, which was pumping out mass in all directions.

Tropical Cyclone Debbie is moving through an environment that is very favorable for intensification.  Debbie is moving over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 30°C.  The upper level winds are very weak and there is almost no vertical wind shear.  Tropical Cyclone Debbie should continue to intensify and it could intensify very rapidly once a well developed inner core forms around an eye.  Tropical Cyclone Debbie could strengthen into the equivalent of a major hurricane in two or three days.

A subtropical ridge over northern Australia is steering Tropical Cyclone Debbie toward the southwest and a general southwesterly or west-southwesterly motion is expected to continue for the next two or three days.  On its anticipated track Tropical Cyclone Debbie could approach the coast of Queensland near Townsville in about 72 hours.  Debbie could be the equivalent of a major hurricane when it approaches the coast.