Tropical Cyclone Gombe strengthened over the Mozambique Channel on Wednesday morning. At 4:00 a.m. EST on Wednesday the center of Tropical Cyclone Gombe was located at latitude 14.8°S and longitude 45.6°E which put it about 350 miles (560 km) east of Lumbo, Mozambique. Gombe was moving toward the west at 11 m.p.h (17 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 992 mb.

Tropical Cyclone Gombe began to intensify after if moved over the Mozambique Channel on Tuesday night. The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the center of Gombe. Microwave satellite images indicated that an eye was forming at the center of Gombe’s circulation. The eye was surrounded by a broken ring of thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Tropical Cyclone Gombe. Storms near the core generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical cyclone. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 60 miles (95 km) from the enter of circulation.

Tropical Cyclone Gombe will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 48 hours. Gombe will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29˚C. It will move through a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear. Tropical Cyclone Gombe will intensify during the next 48 hours. Gombe could strengthen to the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon within 24 hours. Tropical Cyclone Gombe could intensify more rapidly once an inner core with an eye and an eyewall is fully formed. There is a chance Gombe could rapidly intensify to the equivalent of a major hurricane.

Tropical Cyclone Gombe will move around the northern side of a high pressure system over the Southwest Indian Ocean during the next 36 hours. The high pressure system will steer Gombe toward the west. On its anticipated track Tropical Cyclone Gombe will move toward northeastern Mozambique. Gombe could reach the coast of Mozambique in 48 hours. Tropical Cyclone Gombe will be the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon when it approaches the coast of Mozambique.