Tropical Cyclone Jenna developed over the South Indian Ocean near the Cocos Islands on Sunday night. At 4:00 a.m. EST on Monday the center of Tropical Cyclone Jenna was located at latitude 12.7°S and longitude 96.9°E which put the center about 15 miles (25 km) east of the Cocos, Islands. Jenna was moving toward the south-southwest at 14 m.p.h. (22 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 1000 mb.
The Australian Bureau of Meteorology issued a Warning for the Cocos Islands.
A low pressure system over the South Indian Ocean near the Cocos Islands strengthened on Sunday night and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology designated the system as Tropical Cyclone Jenna.
The circulation around Tropical Cyclone Jenna exhibited more organization early on Monday. The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the western side of the center of Jenna’s circulation. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Tropical Cyclone Jenna. Storms near the center of Jenna generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical cyclone. The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease.
The distribution of wind speeds in Tropical Cyclone Jenna was relatively symmetrical. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 145 miles (235 km) from the center of Jenna’s circulation.
Tropical Cyclone Jenna will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Jenna will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28°C. It will move through a region where the upper level winds are weak and the will be little vertical wind shear. Tropical Cyclone Jenna will intensify during the next 24 hours.
Tropical Cyclone Jenna will move around the western side of a high pressure system that is over the eastern part of the South Indian Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Jenna toward the south-southwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Tropical Cyclone Jenna will move away from the Cocos Islands later today.
Tropical Cyclone Jenna will bring strong winds and heavy rain to the Cocos Islands during the next few hours. Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations.
Elsewhere over the South Indian Ocean, Tropical Cyclone Grant was passing north of La Reunion. At 7:00 a.m.EST Monday the center of Tropical Cyclone Grant was located at latitude 16.2°S and longitude 56.0°E which put the center about 325 miles (525 km) north of La Reunion, Grant was moving toward the west at 11 m.p.h. (17 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 30 m.p.h. (50 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1006 mb.