SO. INDIAN OCEAN - Chedza Now a Depression and Fizzling Tropical Storm Chedza crossed Madagascar from west to east and is now east of the island nation in the open waters of the Southern Indian Ocean. Maximum sustained winds have dropped to 25 knots. The center of Chedza is located near 22.9 south and 51.6 east, about 248 nautical miles west-southwest of La Reunion Island. Chedza is moving to the east-southeast at 12 knots. Satellite imagery shows a ragged and fully-exposed low-level circulation, and wind shear has pushed the bulk of clouds and showers east of the center. Wind shear is expected to increase and the system is expected to dissipate. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center issued their final advisory on this system today. This infrared image from the MODIS instrument aboard NASA's Aqua satellite shows most of the high clouds and thunderstorms pushed east of center. Madagascar is left (west) of the storm.
SO. INDIAN OCEAN - Bansi Holding Hurricane Status... for Now Tropical Cyclone Bansi continues to maintain hurricane status but is headed for adverse conditions. On Jan. 17 at 2100 UTC (4 p.m. EST), Bansi's maximum sustained winds were near 75 knots. It was centered near 25.0 south and 73.3 east, about 867 nautical miles southeast of Port Louis, Mauritius. Bansi is speeding eastward at 20 knots. It is headed toward strong vertical wind shear which is expected to weaken it to a tropical storm on Jan. 18 over open ocean. This visible image is from ESA's METEO-7 satellite on Jan. 17.
- NASA Hurricane Centre
