Category 5 Cyclone Bansi Threatens Mascarene Island - January 2015

Cyclone Bansi intensifies to Cat 5 that threatens Mascarene, Maurice, La Reunion islands.

Cyclone BANSI has gotten even stronger! Satellite estimates from the U.S. Navy now put winds at 140 knots (160 mph) (1-min)-- a Cat 5 on both the USA and Oz scales. Meteo France's estimate of 120 knots (10-min) is very similar, and they classify this as a "very intense tropical cyclone." Meteo France's latest track shows BANSI has wobbled N. While the cyclone should start moving SE soon, that N wobble has increased the threat to Rodrigues (tiny red island) down the road-- and the latest Meteo France forecast brings the cyclone dangerously close to that island. Interestingly, the latest (00Z) Euro and GFS runs also suggest a close brush with Rodrigues. The threat to Maurice (purple) and La Réunion (orange) is probably diminishing-- but given the great power of this cyclone, everyone in the Mascarene Islands should continue watch this.