INTENSE tropical cyclone Batsirai is making its westward way across the southern Indian Ocean, having made landfall earlier today (Wednesday) in Mauritius.

Contrary to social media posts stating Richards Bay will be the ‘epicentre’ of this cyclone, weather experts the world over have not predicted any such thing.

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Tropical cyclones are erratic, making it impossible for meteorological experts to issue long-range forecasts of their movements and impact.

Batsirai is a powerful system, measuring 300km on either side of the eye, and is being closely monitored, but there are no predictions beyond this weekend when the system is expected to make landfall on Madagascar.

Mauritius was pounded with huge waves and 120km/h winds this morning, with Batsirai weakening as it crossed over the island.

Once again gathering speed over the Indian Ocean, Batsirai is expected to make landfall in central Madagascar in the next three days.

While the SA Weather Service (SAWS) on Tuesday predicted Batsirai to make landfall on Madagascar on Saturday, it could be as early as Thursday night.

Owing to the Madagascan landscape, the east coast of the island is expected to bear the brunt of damaging winds and torrential rainfall.

 ‘Acknowledging that the movement of tropical cyclones can be extremely erratic, and hence challenging to predict with any accuracy, it is difficult to speculate about future movements of Batsirai in the timescale beyond this weekend,’ said the SAWS on Tuesday.

‘Meteorologists are, however, confident that Batsirai will weaken temporarily once it makes landfall over Madagascar.

‘It is also probable that Batsirai will re-invigorate as it enters the ocean environment of the Mozambique Channel, early next week.’

SAWS said, despite recent advances in Numeric Weather Prediction (NWP), it is not yet possible to accurately determine whether Batsirai will eventually affect South Africa, either directly or indirectly.

‘Suffice it to say that, at least in the days ahead, there is no immediate weather-related threat for South Africa in relation to this tropical cyclone,’ concluded SAWS.