The Unusually High‐Latitude Intensification of Tropical Cyclone Dikeledi in the South Indian Ocean

Intense Tropical Cyclone (ITC) Dikeledi followed an exceptional trajectory, with several landfalls, and became the southernmost Category 3 cyclone so far recorded in the Southern Hemisphere. Using a combination of satellite and reanalysis, this study explores the ocean–atmosphere interactions that influenced its unusual track, multiple landfalls and rare intensification south of 27° S. The westward track over northern Madagascar and the northern Mozambique Channel was driven by strong anticyclonic anomalies in the 20°–30° S band extending from Mozambique to the open ocean near 80° E (reflecting to some extent a northwestward shifted Mascarene High), which prevented the typical recurvature into the open ocean. After Dikeledi made landfall on northern Mozambique, these anticyclonic anomalies weakened east of Madagascar but were present in the northern Channel, thus enabling poleward movement of the storm down the Channel. Dikeledi also occurred during a negative Indian Ocean Dipole, which contributed to anomalous geopotential height patterns over the southwest Indian Ocean and reinforced the altered steering flow. These low‐level atmospheric circulation anomalies not only strongly influenced the track of Dikeledi but also led to wind stress curl patterns that were favourable for upper ocean warming, thermocline deepening and elevated tropical cyclone heat potential in the Mozambique Channel and south of Madagascar. These oceanic conditions together with a favourable atmospheric environment led to Dikeledi re‐intensifying south of Madagascar. Anticyclonic eddies, and unusually warm sea surface temperatures (SST) above 26°C, extending to 30° S, suppressed SST cooling and supported enhanced air‐sea enthalpy fluxes, while high relative humidity, enhanced low‐level vorticity and mid‐level moisture further supported Dikeledi's development. Together, these findings highlight the role of anomalous anticyclonic circulation near Madagascar in altering environmental conditions that can influence tropical cyclone behaviour, particularly in regions outside the traditional tropical cyclone zones.