We are starting the last week of the year with grey skies and wet conditions. The sunny spells of yesterday have been replaced by a layered cloud cover that promises a rather gloomy day for many. While the rain is beneficial for our reservoirs, it certainly dampens the holiday spirit a bit. The main topic of conversation today, besides the rain, is the rapid intensification of Cyclone Grant, which demands our serious attention.
Today’s weather is dominated by humidity and instability. We are being influenced by mid-level clouds coming from the North, combined with active high-altitude clouds arriving from the West. This creates a “triple-layer” cloud effect. Consequently, new clouds will form locally throughout the day. While the rain won’t be universal, a good part of the island will get wet. The Central Plateau can expect around 8mm, but the risk is much higher in urban areas like Port Louis, Pailles, and Rose Hill, where rainfall could reach up to 30mm. Interestingly, very active clouds near Reunion Island carrying heavy rain are unlikely to reach us.
The wind today is light, blowing from the North at 14 km/h. The sea remains safe and practicable, which is good news for fishermen. In the West and North, waves are between 1.1 meters and 1.3 meters, while the East and South see waves of 1.5 meters on the reefs. High tides are at 08:07 AM and 08:54 PM, with low tide at 02:48 PM.
The critical update concerns Cyclone Grant. Overnight, it intensified into an Intense Tropical Cyclone. It is a compact but extremely powerful system. Maximum wind gusts are reaching a staggering 260 km/h, with sustained winds of 161 km/h. At 6:00 AM, it was located at 13.3 South and 82.0 East. It is currently moving South-West at 22 km/h but is expected to turn Westwards soon. It is generating massive waves of 9.2 meters.
Grant is currently 2090 km from Rodrigues and 2680 km from Mauritius. Despite the distance, it remains a credible threat for the Mascarenes as it may eventually curve South or South-East. We must learn from the past—just like with Cyclone Belal, complacency can be dangerous. Let’s respect the warnings and keep watching this system closely.
You can view the LIVE weekly weather forecast for Mauritius by CLICKING HERE.
Cyclone updates and rough sea warnings can be followed HERE.
