34°C Heat Grips Mauritius as 100km/h Storm Horacio Menaces Rodrigues

Rodrigues has been placed under a Class II cyclone warning as Severe Tropical Storm Horacio moves closer, bringing the threat of 100 km/h gusts and massive five-metre swells.

In a bulletin issued at 04:10, meteorological authorities confirmed that Horacio was positioned approximately 475 km east-north-east of the island.

The system is currently tracking west-south-west at 15 km/h, posing a “potential threat” to the territory.

Officials warn that the storm could intensify further, with a shift in trajectory potentially bringing the core even closer to the island.

Deteriorating Conditions

Weather conditions are expected to decline rapidly from this afternoon as the storm’s outer cloud bands reach Rodrigues. Residents have been issued the following warnings:

• Wind: South-easterly winds of 30 to 40 km/h are expected, with gusts reaching 80 km/h and eventually peaking at 100 km/h.
• Sea Conditions: The ocean is set to become “very rough,” featuring easterly swells of up to 5 metres.
• Safety Advice: The public is strongly advised against going to sea. All boats should be secured on land, and preliminary storm precautions must be completed immediately.

The next official update for Rodrigues is scheduled for 10:10.

Mauritius Faces Unseasonable Heat

While Rodrigues prepares for the storm, Mauritius is experiencing a different meteorological extreme.

A light, warm airstream is currently influencing the island, pushing temperatures well above seasonal norms.

Daytime highs are forecast to reach between 31°C and 34°C along the coast, while the central plateau will see temperatures ranging from 27°C to 30°C.

Despite a largely sunny outlook, some cloud development and localized showers are anticipated in western regions this afternoon.

Conditions at sea around Mauritius remain moderate compared to its neighbour, with southerly swells of approximately 2 metres beyond the reefs and winds from the south-east at 15 km/h.

Source: l’Express