A tropical cyclone has intensified rapidly north of La Réunion during the past 24 hours.  At 1:00 p.m. EST on Sunday the center of Tropical Cyclone Bansi was located at latitude 17.1°N and longitude 55.1°E which put it about 300 miles north of Saint Denis, La Réunion and about 250 miles northwest of Port Louis, Mauritius.  Bansi was moving toward the south-southeast at 5 m.p.h.  The maximum sustained wind speed was 75 m.p.h. and there were wind gusts to 90 m.p.h.  The minimum surface pressure was estimated to be 974 mb.

The circulation around Bansi organized rapidly on Sunday and it exhibits a symmetrical shape with a well developed eye at its center.  The circulation is small, but it has well developed upper level outflow to pump out mass.  Bansi is over Sea Surface Temperatures that are warmer than 30°C which provide plenty of energy to intensify the circulation further.  Bansi could intensify rapidly for another 24 hours and become a very strong tropical cyclone as it passes near Mauritius.

Bansi is being steered to the south-southeast by a ridge of high pressure.  The ridge is expected to continue to steer Bansi in a general southeasterly direction, although there could be short-term jogs to the east-southeast or south-southeast.  The anticipated track could bring Bansi near Mauritius in 48-72 hours.