Tropical Cyclone Jenna moved farther away from the Cocos Islands on Tuesday. At 4:00 p.m. EST on Tuesday the center of Tropical Cyclone Jenna was located at latitude 16.9°S and longitude 93.9°E which put the center about 380 miles (615 km) southwest of the Cocos, Islands. Jenna was moving toward the southwest at 8 m.p.h. (13 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 976 mb.
Tropical Cyclone Jenna strengthened as it moved away from the Cocos Islands on Tuesday. A small eye was visible at the center of Jenna’s circulation earlier on Tuesday. The eye was no longer visible in the most recent satellite images. A ring of thunderstorms surrounded the eye earlier today and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Bands of showers and thunderstorms revolved around the core of Tropical Cyclone Jenna. Storms near the core of Jenna generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical cyclone.
The size of the circulation around Tropical Cyclone Jenna increased on Tuesday. Winds to hurricane/typhoon force extended out 25 miles (40 km) from the center of Jenna’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 160 miles (260 km) in the eastern side of Tropical Cyclone Jenna. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 100 miles (160 km) in the western side of Jenna’s circulation.
Tropical Cyclone Jenna will move through an environment unfavorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Jenna will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 27°C. It will move under the southwestern part of an upper level ridge that is over the South Indian Ocean. The upper level ridge will produce northwesterly winds that will blow toward the top of Jenna’s circulation. Those winds will cause the vertical wind shear to increase. Tropical Cyclone Jenna will weaken when the vertical wind shear increases.
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.