Tropical Cyclone Jude formed over the Mozambique Channel on Saturday afternoon.  At 4:00 p.m. EST on Saturday the center of Tropical Cyclone Jude was located at latitude 14.6°S and longitude 45.1°E which put the center about 280 miles (450 km) east of Nacala, Mozambique.  Jude was moving toward the west at 11 m.p.h. (17 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 996 mb.

A low pressure system strengthened over the Mozambique Channel on Saturday after moving across northern Madagascar.  Meteo France La Reunion designated the system as Tropical Cyclone Jude.

The circulation around Tropical Cyclone Jude appeared to be organizing quickly.  The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the center of Jude’s circulation.  An eye appeared to be forming at the center of Tropical Cyclone Jude.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Jude’s circulation.  Storms near the center of Jude generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical cyclone.  The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease.

The circulation around Tropical Cyclone Jude was symmetrical.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 90 miles (145 km) from the center of Jude’s circulation.

Tropical Cyclone Jude will move through an environment very favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Jude will move over water where where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 30°C.  It will move under the middle of an upper level ridge over the Mozambique Channel.  The upper level winds are weak near the middle of the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear.  Tropical Cyclone Jude will intensify during the next 24 hours.  Jude could intensify rapidly.  Tropical Cyclone Jude is likely to strengthen to the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon on Monday.

Tropical Cyclone Jude will move around the northern side of a high pressure system over the Mozambique Channel.   The high pressure system will steer Jude toward the west during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Tropical Cyclone Jude will reach the coast of Mozambique near Nacala in 36 hours.

Tropical Cyclone Jude will be the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon when it reaches Mozambique.  Jude will bring strong winds and heavy rain to Mozambique.  Heavy rain is likely to cause flash floods.  Tropical Cyclone Jude will also cause a storm surge along the coast of Mozambique.

Elsewhere over the South Indian Ocean, Tropical Cyclone Ivone formed east-southeast of Diego Garcia.  At 4:00 p.m. EST on Saturday the center of Tropical Cyclone Ivone was located at latitude 13.4°S and longitude 84.0°E which put the center about 875 miles (1415 km) east-southeast of Nacala, Mozambique.  Ivone was moving toward the south-southwest at 12 m.p.h. (19 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 996 mb.