Tropical Cyclone Gombe Brings Wind and Rain to Northern Mozambique

Tropical Cyclone Gombe brought wind and rain to northern Mozambique on Friday. At 4:00 a.m. EST on Friday the center of Tropical Cyclone Gombe was located at latitude 15.2°S and longitude 39.8°E which put it about 40 miles (65 km) east of Nampula, Mozambique. Gombe was moving toward the west at 7 m.p.h (11 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 115 m.p.h. (185 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 968 mb.

Tropical Cyclone Gombe brought wind and rain to northern Mozambique as it moved farther inland on Friday morning. The circulation around Gombe remained well organized. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Tropical Storm Gombe. Thunderstorms in the bands dropped heavy rain over parts of northern Mozambique.

Tropical Cyclone Gombe will move around the northwestern part of a high pressure system over the Southwest Indian Ocean during the next 24 hours. The high pressure system will steer Gombe toward the west. On its anticipated track Tropical Cyclone Gombe will continue to move inland over northern Mozambique during the next 24 hours. The center of Gombe will pass near Nampula on Friday. Tropical Cyclone Gombe will move around the northwestern part of the high pressure system on Saturday. Gombe will move back toward the southeast after it moves around the northwestern part of the high pressure system. Tropical Cyclone Gombe could move back over the Mozambique Channel by the end of the weekend.

Tropical Cyclone Gombe will continue to bring strong winds and locally heavy rain to northern Mozambique. Heavy rain is likely to cause flash floods in some locations. The wind and rain could cause serious damage in parts of northern Mozambique. Gombe will continue to weaken as it moves farther inland, but it will be capable of causing widespread electricity outages and disruption of transportation systems.