 Météo-France projected for the system to peak as a tropical cyclone before slightly weakening before impacting the Mascarene Islands.Tracking southward, the disturbance steadily organized following December 28.As a result of wind shear, the system's low-level circulation center remained partially exposed, though the shearing conditions were expected to lessen  At 0000 UTC on December 29, the disturbance was upgraded to a tropical depression.