The only tropical storm in the seas across the world forms in the South Indian Ocean. The named storm Bongoyo lies in the open sea and is intensifying to become severe storm shortly. Presently located around 15.2deg South and 80deg East, the cyclone is about 1,200 km southeast of Diego Garcia, 2,400 km from Mauritius and 2,700 km from La Reunion.
The storm is moving with a speed of about 18kmph with central pressure 995mb and inner core winds in excess of 70kmph. For the next 3-4 days, the storm will initially move southwest and then westward later. There is no landfall and so no threat for the next 3-4 days. However, thereafter the storm will approach these group of countries and even Madagascar will come within its reach.
The storm now is moving in favourable environmental conditions having low wind shear and warm sea surface temperature. It may transform later depending on sea conditions in the proximity of Mauritius, La Reunion and Coco Islands.
By end of December, the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) will completely shift to the Southern Hemisphere. Accordingly frequency of cyclones increase in that region and reduce to minimal in the Northern Hemisphere. Hurricane season in the North Atlantic Ocean and Typhoon season in the West Pacific Ocean has officially ended. Soon the Indian Seas (Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal) will also say goodbye to the cyclones when the post-monsoon season ends on 31st December.
