Cyclone Joalane To Pass 250 Kilometers East of Rodrigues Thursday Night

SATELLITE IMAGE TAKEN AT 0000 HRS GMT TODAY SHOWS CYCLONE JOALANE IN SW INDIAN OCEAN

The latest track forecast for the powerful tropical cyclone Joalane in the South West Indian Ocean shows it swinging further east of Rodrigues Island of Mauritius.

The eye of the storm will pass the closest to Rodrigues Island Thursday night (April 9, 2015) about 250 kilometers east of the island. Under the influence Rodrigues Island will face winds of 75 kph, gusts up to 100 kph. And this is a very conservative estimate.

The JTWC estimates that by tomorrow evening Joalane will have sustained wind speeds of 120 knots (223 kph), gusts up to 145 knots (270 kph). Perhaps a Category 4 hurricane according to the Saffir-Simpson scale.

Since the cyclone will pass about 800 kilometers from Mauritius there will no substantial influence on the island. But Rodrigues being nearer will face 75+ kph winds and heavy rainfall on Thursday.

The JTWC says other forecast models agree on the track forecast for cyclone Joalane. There is however some disagreement on the intensity of the storm. It is certain that Joalane is a powerful cyclone that is going to further intensify in the coming 30 hours.

Even now the sustained wind speeds in the storm are 130 kph. Presently it lies about 825 kilometers north-east of Mauritius.

TRACK FORECAST (JTWC) FOR CYCLONE JOALANE ISSUED AT 0300 HRS GMT TODAY

Early Storm Prediction: March 23, 2015: Cyclone Possible In Southern Indian Ocean By Month End

See Southern Indian Ocean Storm 91S Live

The powerful Pam has become history. The persistent Cyclone Nathan makes its final landfall into Australia's northern Territory. But in a week there is another tropical storm in the offing.

A cyclone is brewing in the southern Indian Ocean and is likely to form on March 29, 2015 a a few hundred kilometres north-east of Rodrigues Island. Present forecasts say the cyclone will move south-easterly and so poses no threat to Mascareignes. Keep in touch for the latest.

Cyclone Eunice Will Not Affect Mauritius, Reunion: Some Effect On Rodrigues Island

CYCLONE EUNICE WILL NOT AFFECT MAURITIUS, REUNION. SOME INFLUENCE ON RODRIGUES: It is going to be a big storm. If JTWC is to be believed, in the next two days it will turn into a cyclone with winds of 220 kph. We believe it will easily be in excess of 150 kph. The storm is 1040 kilometers North-east of Mauritius now (0615 Hours GMT, January 28, 2015). Wind speed is 90 kph.

RELEVANT TO FOLKS IN THE MASCAREIGNES: Cyclone Eunice, however big it will turn out to be, will not affect Mauritius or Reunion. Some showers in Mauritius tomorrow morning perhaps. Otherwise nothing. Rodrigues Island will be somewhat affected. But not in the measure of Bansi. There will be incessant light rains in the island for the next 48 hours, with maximum winds of 50 kph. Not more. That is because Cyclone Eunice is not going to come close to Rodrigues Island. Only the outer periphery will affect.

The cyclone will move first in a SE direction then in a easterly direction. The satellite image below was taken at 0530 hours GMT today.

Update: 0630 Hours GMT, January 28, 2015

Forecast Models Say Mauritius Faces Real Threat Of A Cyclone In A Few Days January 2015

Please also see Breaking Forecast News For latest updates on Cyclone Bansi (January 2015)

January 5, 2015

Latest forecast models available with XWF-WEATHER strongly suggest the possibility of a large tropical cyclone hitting Mauritius, La Reunion and Rodrigues in a few days.

We have been saying in the last few days that a storm is likely in mid-January to hit Mascareignes. Latest predictions by all major forecast systems are unanimous now about that. It is just a question of when and how strong the storm will be. We give a brief summary of what different computer models foresee.

GFS

A low pressure area develops near north Madagascar in a day or two. It bobs around aimlessly till January 12, 2015 in South West Indian Ocean and then rapidly intensify into a cyclone by January 14. The storm forms just north of Mauritius and makes a direct hit on Rodrigues Island on January 15 on its journey south.

Special GFS

The low develops on January 11 about 300 kilometers NNW of Mauritius. It moves NNE for a few hundred kilometers intensifies and moves down again and passes through Rodrigues Island on january15-16, 2015.

European Model

The area where the low develops is the same as predicted by the above two models; Near the coast of north-eastern coast of Madagascar. On January 10. In a day or two it strengthen rapidly into a tropical cyclone and hits Mauritius-Reunion directly on January15-16, 2015.

Canadian CMC

The low forms within the next 24 hours a couple hundred kilometers north of Mauritius by January 6. It then comes near the island and rapidly intensifies into a cyclone on January 8 and affects the entire Mascareignes. We think this scenario seems less likely.

NAVGEM

The low pressure forms on January 7, 2015 a few hundred kilometers north of the Mascareignes and then starts moving south intensifying as it does so and hits the Mascareignes on Janaury 9-10, 2015. This possibility too does not hold much promise.

Update: January 6, 2015

Below is a water vapor satellite image of 97S, (Taken at 0000 hours GMT, today) the low pressure area that has formed near coast of south-east Madagascar. In the next few days it will move north into the "suspect area" (See map on top) and intensify into tropical cyclone Bansi.

Please also see Breaking Forecast News For latest updates
Also see Rainfall Prediction Maps for SW Indian Ocean
SEE 92S (CYCLONE BANSI) LIVE

XWF-WEATHER FORECAST SUMMARY: January 3, 2015: Cyclone Lam And Linda Imminent In Australia Around January 10, 2015

Update: January 3, 2015

Upcoming Cyclone Lam And Linda

Within 24 hours future tropical cyclone Lam will be born as a low pressure area in the Timor Sea in South-Eastern Indian Ocean. The storm will struggle to intensify into something bigger because of the unfavourable wind shear. But around January 10 it will manage to turn into a cyclone. Lam. It is expected to make landfall between Broome and Onslow in Western Australia and move right through the territory. On January 13 it will exit from the Australian land mass at Great Victorian Desert and Nullarbor Plains. The entire province of Western Australian will receive rains.

Another cyclone is expected to form almost simultaneously in the Arafura Sea or Gulf of Carpentaria around January 10, 2015. So it hard to say which of the storms will be Lam and Linda. The one in Western Australia or the one in Queensland? Now this storm will make landfall at Karumba in Queensland. It will then  move across the province and move into Pacific Ocean on January 12 between Mackay and Rockhampton. It will then move close along the coast for a day and swing away towards New Zealand. Brisbane will get a lashing from the storm on January 13. New Zealand may face a cyclone on January 14, 2015.

It is also possible that a storm may come from Papua New Guinea and hit the Queensland coast on January 10 near Townsville.

There are many complex factors at play so being 100% certain is difficult but it is certain that a cyclone is coming Australia's way soon. When? Where? We have outlined the possibilities.

See a tropical storm developing near Australia. LIVE.

South Western Indian Ocean

Presently a depression is moving around in circles in the Mozambique Channel. It will continue doing so for a few days more without strengthening into a storm. The conditions are not favouring it. Strong wind shear is preventing it to move away from its present area. So it is zigzagging around bringing lots of rains in coastal Mozambique and Madagascar.

Come January 14, 2015 and the South Western Indian Ocean may throw up two cyclones. One in the Mozambique Channel and one near Mascarene Islands. The former will make landfall into Mozambique around January 17-18. At the same time the second storm will move through Rodrigues Island and then move further south. So Rodrigues Island is in for a direct hit. Mauritius and La Reunion will feel the periphery of the cyclone.

Seems like Cyclones Bansi and Chedza are coming calling in mid January, 2015.

January 2, 2015: XWF-WEATHER FORECAST Summary: Cyclone Lam To Hit Western Australian On January 7, 2015.

Update: January 2, 2015

• Tropical Cyclone 'Lam' is on. The seas around north Australian coast (Darwin) in Timor Sea are tumultuous. A 'Low' Pressure area will form in a day or two which will turn into Lam on January 7. Lam will make landfall near the western Australian coast at Hedland and then traverse through Western Australia.
• Lam will prove a boon for the parched desert regions in Western Australia as it will bring heavy rains. The accompanying winds will be less than welcome to the mining industry.
• Another cyclone 'Linda' may form in the Gulf of Carpentaria around January 10, 2015. It may cross over into the Coral Sea.
• A Depression (97S) in the Mozambique Channel is bringing  and will continue to bring heavy rains to Madagascar for another week.
• Two storms are likely to from in mid-January in the South-West Indian Ocean. One in the Mozambique Channel:  Another in Southern Indian Ocean which is likely to affect Rodrigues Island.