Tropical Cyclone Jude moved away from southern Madagascar on Saturday. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Cyclone Jude was located at latitude 25.6°S and longitude 48.8°E which put the center about 125 miles (200 km) east-southeast of Tolanaro, Madagascar. Jude was moving toward the east-southeast at 17 m.p.h. (28 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 986 mb.
Tropical Cyclone Jude was moving away from southern Madagascar on Saturday. There was some evidence from satellite images that Jude was beginning to experience more vertical wind shear. The higher clouds were being carried away to the southeast. The circulation around Tropical Cyclone Jude was still well organized. Thunderstorms were still occurring near the center of Jude’s circulation. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were still revolving around the center of Tropical Cyclone Jude.
The wind shear appeared to be affecting the distribution of wind speeds in Tropical Cyclone Jude. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 250 miles (400 km) in the southern side of Jude’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 140 miles (225 km) in the northern half of Tropical Cyclone Jude.
Tropical Cyclone Jude will move through an environment that will be unfavorable for intensification of a tropical cyclone during the next 24 hours. Jude will move over water where where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 27°C. It will move under the eastern side of an upper level trough that is southwest of Madagascar. The upper level trough will produce northwesterly winds that will blow toward the top of Jude’s circulation. Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear. The vertical wind shear will cause Tropical Cyclone Jude to make a transition to an extratropical cyclone during the next 24 hours.
The upper level trough southwest of Madagascar will steer Tropical Cyclone Jude toward the east-southeast during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Tropical Cyclone Jude will move farther away from southern Madagascar.