Cyclone Jobo
| Tropical cyclone (SWIO scale) | |
|---|---|
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
 Cyclone Jobo near peak intensity over the Seychelles on April 21 | |
| Formed | 20 April 2021 |
| Dissipated | Currently active |
| Highest winds | 10-minute sustained: 120 km/h (75 mph) 1-minute sustained: 100 km/h (65 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 985 hPa (mbar); 29.09 inHg |
| Fatalities | 22 reported[1] |
| Damage | Unknown |
| Areas affected | Mauritius, Seychelles, Northern Madagascar, Comoros |
| Part of the 2020–21 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season | |
Tropical Cyclone Jobo was a tropical cyclone which affected the Seychelles, Comoros, and Tanzania. The sixteenth tropical depression, twelfth named storm and seventh tropical cyclone of the 2020–21 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season, Jobo originated from a broad area of circulation near the Chagos Archipelago. Despite being located in an hostile environment with dry air, the disturbance organized while moving westward, prompting the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) to issue a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (TCFA) at 8:30 UTC on 20 April. Later that day, the MFR would designate the system as Tropical Storm Jobo. The storm continued to intensify, reaching tropical cyclone status the next day before weakening due to dry air intrusion.
The precursor to Jobo brought stormy weather to Agaléga. While crossing the Seychelles, the storm brought rainfall and gusty winds to the islands and nearby Madagascar.
Meteorological history
During the third week of April 2021, Météo-France Reunion (MFR) began to monitor a broad westward-moving circulation near the Chagos Archipelago for potential tropical cyclogenesis. Although within an environment of dry air due to a dry phase of the Madden–Julian oscillation, the disturbance began to gradually organize while located southeast of Agaléga several days later, developing curved convective banding features and a better defined surface center.[2] By 8:30 UTC on 20 April, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) which had also been monitoring the system issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert, noting a high chance of tropical cyclogenesis over the next 24 hours.[3] Around this time, bursts of moderate convection were visible as winds in the southeastern part of the system began to intensity, though winds in the northwestern part significantly weakened.[4] At 18:00 UTC that same day, increased convective activity and a central dense overcast (CDO) depicted further organization, prompting the MFR to upgrade the system into a moderate tropical storm, giving the system the name Jobo from its tropical cyclone naming list. Favorable environmental conditions including a tradewinds surge, which helped steer the storm away from Madagascar and provided poleward convergence, aided further intensification.[5]
Jobo continued to strengthen while deepening early the next day, with microwave imagery depicting a defined eye. Moving along the northern periphery of a lower-tropospheric subtropical ridge, the storm's forward motion began to slow.[6] At 12:00 UTC that day, the MFR upgraded Jobo into a tropical cyclone, following contraction of the inner core and a better organized eyewall, reaching its peak intensity with 10-minute sustained winds of around 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 985 mbar (29.09 inHg).[7] However, just a few hours later the system's cloud pattern began to degrade due to moderate mid-level northwesterly wind shear that directed dry air towards the center of Jobo, weakening the core, prompting the system's downgrade to a severe tropical storm. Around this time, stronger steering currents allowed the cyclone to resume a westerly course.[8]
Preparations and impact
Tanzania
On 21 April, the Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA) began to warn residents of the impeding storm by issuing weather reports.[9] In Dar es Salaam and the southern Mtwara Region, fishermen were asked to not venture offshore while residents were advised to avoid coastal areas.[10] Flooding killed 22 people.[1]
Elsewhere
The precursor to Jobo brought gusty winds and some rainfall to Agaléga as it passed close by.[11] While moving north of Madagascar, the storm produced moderate precipitation in northern portions of the country.[12] The Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System (GDACS) declared a green alert for the Seychelles on 21 April, signifying a low level of danger.[13]
See also
- Tropical cyclones in 2021
- Cyclone Fantala (2016) — affected similar areas.
- Cyclone Kenneth (2019) — took a similar track.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Tanzania: Tropical Storm Jobo DREF Operation n° MDRTZ029 - Final Report, ReleifWeb, December 17, 2021
- ↑ "La Reunion Tropical Cyclone Warning Forecast 1/16/20202021" (PDF). Météo-France. 19 April 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
- ↑ "Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert Graphic". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 20 April 2021. Archived from the original on 21 April 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
- ↑ "La Reunion Tropical Cyclone Forecast Warning 2/16/20202021" (PDF). Météo-France. 20 April 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
- ↑ "Tropical Cyclone Forecast Warning 4/16/20202021" (PDF). Météo-France. 20 April 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
- ↑ "Tropical Cyclone Forecast Warning 6/16/20202021" (PDF). Météo-France. 21 April 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
- ↑ "Tropical Cyclone Forecast Warning 7/16/20202021" (PDF). Météo-France. 21 April 2021. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
- ↑ "Tropical Cyclone Forecast Warning 8/16/20202021" (PDF). Météo-France. 21 April 2021. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
- ↑ Na Penina Malundo (21 April 2021). "TMA yatoa taarifa ya kimbunga Jobo kaskazini mwa kisiwa cha Madagascar". Timesmajira. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
- ↑ "Tanzania braces for Cyclone Jobo, fisherman told to keep off sea". Al Jazeera.
- ↑ "Météo : la perturbation se dirige vers Mayotte". France Info (in French). 20 April 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2021.CS1 maint: Unrecognized language (link)
- ↑ Tsihoarana (21 April 2021). "Météo : La Tempête tropicale JOBO épargne Madagascar". La Actualite (in French). Retrieved 21 April 2021.CS1 maint: Unrecognized language (link)
- ↑ Overall Green alert Tropical Cyclone for JOBO-21. Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System (Report). 21 April 2021. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cyclone Jobo. |
- Météo-France La Réunion
- Direction Générale de la Météorologie de Madagascar
- Mauritius Meteorological Services
- Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) Archived 9 August 2020 at the Wayback Machine
Tropical cyclones of the 2020–21 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season | ||
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