Tropical Cyclone Imelda (21S) Tracking Westward
12.7S 59.0ETropical Cyclone Imelda (TC 21S), located approximately 755 nm northeast of La Reunion, has tracked westward at 09 knots over the past six hours. The current position is based on recent satellite fixes from PGTW and KNES and an SSMIS pass.
The current intensity of 45 knots is set slightly above a consensus of subjective Dvorak estimates from multiple reporting agencies based on structure evident in microwave imagery and higher automated intensity estimates. Recent animated infrared satellite imagery shows deep convection flaring over a low level circulation center (LLCC) evident in the aforementioned SSMIS pass.
TC 21S lies slightly equatorward of an upper-level ridge axis, in an area of moderate easterly vertical wind shear and radial outflow aloft. The system is tracking westward along the periphery of a subtropical ridge to the south.