Cyclone Berguitta could intensify to a Category 4 Hurricane before it heads towards the holiday hotspots of Mauritius and Reunion, according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Jason Nicholls.
The live graph from EarthWindMap shows the eye of the hurricane northeast of the two islands, with the storm expected to make landfall on Thursday.
Flash flooding and mudslides could take place across the Indian Ocean islands as rainfall is expected to reach 8-12 inches.
The category two storm is expected to intensify and cause high levels of destruction, with strong winds and heavy rain devastating the holiday destinations.
The point of landfall in Mauritius is expected to be near 19.9 S, 58.0 E, according to data supplied by the US Navy and Air Force Joint Typhoon Warning Center.
The storm is currently over open water in the Indian Ocean and has maintained winds of 140 kilometres per hour and wave heights of more than seven metres.
The Met Office tweeted: “Cyclone #Berguitta looks likely to be the strongest cyclone to pass close to #Mauritius and #LaReunion since Cyclone Dina in 2002 which caused devastation on the islands.”
Weather expert José García warned Cyclone Berguitta could be the “strongest storm” in Mauritius and Réunion since Dina 2002.
He said: “Pay attention to this storm if on the islands.”
Damaging wind gusts of 130-169 km/h (80-100 mph) will batter the islands as the center of Berguitta passes nearby.
The UK Foreign Office has issued a warning to any tourists visiting: “Tropical Cyclone Berguitta is forecast to bring hazardous sea and weather conditions to Mauritius from around 17 January 2018.
“You should monitor the progress of approaching storms and follow the advice of the local authorities, including any evacuation orders.”
Tourists have also been advised to check with their airlines as flights are expected to be cancelled with airlines preparing for the devastating weather.
The intense tropical cyclone is also expected to pass dangerously close to Madagascar, only weeks after Tropical Cyclone Ava left 36 dead in the country.
Although Berguitta is expected to pick up in intensity, it is not expected to be as severe or widespread as cyclone Ava.