Tropical Cyclone Fabien Moves Southeast of Diego Garcia

On 17th April 2023, Tropical Cyclone Fabien moved southeast of Diego Garcia at a speed of 6 mph (10 km/h). It had a maximum sustained wind speed of 110 mph (175 km/h) and minimal surface pressure of 959 mb. The cyclone showed signs of weakening with the emergence of drier air on the western side. However, storms persisted on the eastern side. It was comparable in size and intensity to Hurricane Zeta of 2020. The cyclone is expected to weaken due to unfavorable environment in the next 24 hours, caused by southerly winds and northwesterly wind shear. A high-pressure system will steer it towards the west-southwest. Previously, Fabien intensified to a major hurricane equivalent, moving at a speed of 8 mph (13 km/h) with wind speeds of 115 mph (185 km/h). Rapid intensification occurred over the South Indian Ocean leading to the formation of a small circular eye.

Important Points:

  1. Understand the movement of Tropical Cyclone Fabien and the environmental conditions impacting its strength.
  2. Take note of wind speeds, surface pressure and direction of the movement.
  3. Learn about the weakening signs and the meteorological terms associated with cyclones.
  4. Notice how historical data is used for comparison of cyclones.
  5. Follow the direction change in the future track and the reasons behind it.