Tropical Cyclone Jenna rapidly intensified to the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon over the South Indian Ocean on Monday. At 4:00 p.m. EST on Monday the center of Tropical Cyclone Jenna was located at latitude 14.8°S and longitude 95.8°E which put the center about 160 miles (260 km) south-southwest 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 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 987 mb.
The Australian Bureau of Meteorology cancelled the Warning for the Cocos Islands when Tropical Cyclone Jenna moved away from the islands.
Tropical Cyclone Jenna rapidly intensified to the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon on Monday. The inner end of a rainband wrapped around 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 rapidly.
The circulation around Tropical Cyclone Jenna was small. The strongest winds were occurring in the northwestern quadrant of Jenna’s circulation. Winds to hurricane/typhoon force extended out 25 miles (40 km) in the northwestern quadrant of Tropical Cyclone Jenna. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 65 miles (105 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 southwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Tropical Cyclone Jenna will continue to move farther away from the Cocos Islands.