 Continuing generally to the west @-@ southwest , Geralda intensified further , and MFR upgraded it to intense tropical cyclone status on January 30 . The cyclone developed a well @-@ defined eye 35 km ( 22 mi ) in diameter and grew to a size of 1 @,@ 000 km ( 620 mi ) in diameter . At 0600 UTC on January 31 , the JTWC estimated peak 1 – minute sustained winds of 270 km / h ( 165 mph ) , equivalent to a Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir @-@ Simpson scale . Six hours later , Geralda 's appearance on satellite imagery warranted a Dvorak rating of 7 @.@ 0 . Based on this , MFR estimated a minimum barometric pressure of 905 mbar ( 26 @.@ 7 inHg ) and peak 10 – minute winds of 205 km / h ( 125 mph ) , just shy of very intense tropical cyclone status . At that time , gusts were estimated at over 300 km / h ( 190 mph ) . Geralda had intensified from a tropical disturbance to its peak intensity in only five days , which was described by MFR as " an exceptional phenomenon " . Near peak intensity , the center of Geralda passed about 45 km ( 28 mi ) northwest of Tromelin Island , offshore eastern Madagascar . 
