Cyclone Jobo trips before hitting Tanzanian shores

The devastation expected when Cyclone Jobo hit Tanzania’s coastline is now “unlikely to occur”.

CAPE TOWN, April 26 (ANA) – The devastation expected when Cyclone Jobo hit Tanzania’s coastline was “unlikely to occur”.

Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA) announced on Sunday, that the probability of consequences and possible disastrous effects of Tropical Cyclone Jobo was now minimal.

During the night of April 24, the cyclone weakened as it approached Tanzania’s coastline near the country’s economic capital, Dar es Salaam, due to “increased wind shear along its path”.

TMA said that rain along the coastline was expected, however, it does not state the extent of the rainfall to be expected.

Majority of the increased rainfall however has fallen in the ocean, reducing the chance of flooding, according to BBC.

Previously, Jobo was expected to increase wind speeds to 50-60 kilometeres per hour (km/h), with possible flooding due to 200-400 millimetres (mm) of rain in a 24 hour period, Al Jazeera reported on April 24.

On April 23, authorities suspended sea activities like fishing and transportation as a precautionary measure, according to reports.

“For fishermen who do their activities especially in the southern coastline from Dar es Salaam to Mtwara, it is important that they take precautions by stopping and waiting until the cyclone passes,” director general of TMA Agnes Kijazi said, according to Al Jazeera.

TMA continues to encourage the public and relevant sectors to use the advice of experts in the field and to keep informed on any developments as the cyclone is monitored.

– African News Agency(ANA); Editing by Devereaux Morkel