97S Turns Into Tropical Cyclone 8S (Diamondra): 98S To Become One On January 29, 2015

Update: 1430 Hours GMT, January 27, 2015

TROPICAL CYCLONE 8S HAS BEEN OFFICIALLY NAMED CYCLONE DIAMONDRA.: It lies now at 18.39 Degrees South, 78 Degrees East. Sustained winds are 75 kph. It is expected to move in a south-west direction. There is no possibility of it coming in the direction of Mascareignes. Right now it is hundreds of kilometers away and it is going to stay that way. Just for the record, Diamondra is going to be no Bansi, but nothing to sneeze at. In 48 hours it will be throwing out winds in excess of 125 kph.

Cyclone Diamondra. WV satellite image take n at 1330 hours GMT, January 27, 2015

Update: 0330 hours GMT, January 27, 2015

As expected 97S has obliged and turned into tropical cyclone 8S. That is what the JTWC calls it. It should soon be christened DIAMONDRA. Another two days and 98S will also turn into a cyclone. Looking at their forecast paths it seems likely that none of them will affect Mascareignes. Though the European (ECMWF) Model says cyclone 98S' (Eunice) periphery might influence Rodrigues Island.

Cyclone 8S presently lies about 1800 kilometers east of Mauritius. It is expected to intensify in the coming days and move in a south-easterly direction. 

In the next two days 98S too will turn into a tropical cyclone. It will be named Eunice. Presently 98S lies about 700 kilometers north-east of Mauritius. On January 29 it will intensify and move south-easterly. It's outer periphery might affect Rodrigues Island on January 30, 2015.

0000 HRS GMT JANUARY 27, 2015. THIS INFRA-RED SATELLITE IMAGE OF THE SOUTHERN INDIAN OCEAN SHOWS CYCLONE 8S AND ALSO STORM 98S WHICH WILL TURN INTO A CYCLONE ON JANUARY 29-30.

CYCLONE 8S (DIAMONDRA?) TRACK FORECAST BY JTWC ISSUED AT 2100 HRS, JANUARY 26, 2015

1/24/2014 Update: Southern Indian Ocean To Throw Up Cyclones DIAMONDRA And EUNICE Soon

Update 0730 Hours GMT, January 24, 2015

We had already warned a few days ago that the southern Indian Ocean was in ferment and was going to spawn a cyclone or two soon. Latest forecasts say this will happen by the end of the month. Tropical cyclones Diamondra and Eunice are coming soon in this ocean.

Diamondra will be formed first. About 1000 kilometers ENE of Rodrigues Island on January 28, 2014. In a day or two it will intensify and move in a general south-easterly direction. Later it will move south. At its strongest it will have sustained winds of 100+ kph. Central pressure of 980. Its path will be such that it will not affect any inhabited islands. Mauritius, Reunion nor Rodrigues will not be affected by Cyclone Diamondra.

Cyclone Eunice will form next, two days later a few hundred kilometers north of Mauritius. It will start intensify and move eastwards first then in a SE direction. On February its periphery will lash Rodrigues Island. Eunice at its zenith will throw out winds of 120+ kph. Mauritius or Reunion are not expected to be affected. But it is too early to say that with any certainty. Please keep reading our updates.

These two cyclones will be spawned from the present three low pressure areas that are bobbing around in the south Indian Ocean. One of them (NOAA calls it 96S) is near Mascareignes and under its influence rains are lashing the islands.(Please see map below). This 96S presently lies about 600 kilometers north of Mauritius.