First cyclone bulletin for Mauritius issued at 1010 hours on Friday 18 February 2022.
Latest satellite observations show that severe tropical storm Emnati is better organised with increased convection. The estimated central pressure of the system is around 976 hPa and the estimated wind gust near the centre is around 140 km/h.
At 1000 hours severe tropical storm Emnati was centred at about 825 km to the north-east of Mauritius near latitude 14.2 degrees south and longitude 62.4 degrees east. Severe tropical storm Emnati is moving in a general westerly direction at a speed of about 20 km/h.
Most weather models are in agreement that Emnati will assume a south-west trajectory in the next few hours and continue to intensify to reach the tropical cyclone intensity as it passes in the vicinity of St Brandon. On this new trajectory, severe tropical storm Emnati will start to approach our region and become a potential threat to Mauritius.
The public in Mauritius is advised to take preliminary precautions.
Today the weather will be partly cloudy becoming cloudy at times with light passing showers mainly to the East, the South and the Central Plateau. The sky will become gradually cloudy to overcast with intermittent rain as from late tonight. The rain will become more frequent and moderate to heavy at times with thunderstorms tomorrow morning.
Wind will blow from the southeast at a speed of about 40 km/h with gusts of the order of 65 km/h, strengthening as from tomorrow morning.
The sea will be rough becoming gradually very rough tonight with swells of the order of 4 metres. The public is advised not to venture at sea.
The next bulletin will be issued at around 16h10
