Direction Interrégionale de LA REUNION
B.P.4    97491 Ste Clotilde Cedex
Téléphone                02.62.92.11.00
Fax exploitation      02.62.92.11.48
Fax direction           02.62.92.11.47

WTIO22 FMEE 041800 SECURITE GALE WARNING FOR METAREA VII AND METAREA VIII (S) ISSUED BY METEO-FRANCE/TROPICAL CYCLONE CENTRE/LA REUNION 04/03/2006 AT 1800 UTC. WARNING NUMBER: 011/11 (SOUTH-WEST INDIAN OCEAN) 10 MINUTES AVERAGE WIND SPEED IN KNOTS (KT) (WIND GUSTS AT SEA MAY BE ABOUT 40% STRONGER THAN THE AVERAGED WIND). MINIMUM SEA LEVEL PRESSURE IN HECTOPASCALS (HPA) (INDICATIVE FIGURE). GALE WARNING BEGINNING OF VALIDITY: SATURDAY 04/03/2006 AT 1800 UTC. PHENOMENON: MODERATE TROPICAL STORM 11 (DIWA) 993 HPA POSITION: WITHIN 40 NM RADIUS OF POINT 18.8S / 53.9E (EIGHTEEN DECIMAL EIGHT DEGREES SOUTH AND FIFTY THREE DECIMAL NINE DEGREES EAST) AT 1800 UTC MOVEMENT: WEST-SOUTH-WEST 7 KT THREAT AREAS: SQUALLY WEATHER EXISTS WITHIN 90 NM RADIUS OF THE CENTER, EXTENDING UP TO 400 NM IN THE SOUTH-EASTERN SEMI-CIRCLE. CLOCKWISE CIRCULATION 25/30 KT AND ROUGH SEAS NEAR THE CENTRE, BUT LOCALLY REACHING GALE FORCE WINDS 35/40 KT AND VERY ROUGH TO HIGH SEAS IN THE EASTERN SEMI-CIRCLE WITHIN 250 NM OF THE CENTRE, AND LOCALLY REACHING NEAR GALE FORCE WINDS 30 KT AND ROUGH TO VERY ROUGH SEAS IN THE EASTERN SEMI-CIRCLE WITHIN 300 NM OF THE CENTER. STRONG GUSTS UNDER SQUALLS. FORECAST POSITION AND INTENSITY: 12H, VALID 2006/03/05 AT 06 UTC: 19.5S / 52.5E, MAX WIND = 35 KT, TEMP. TROP. MODEREE. 24H, VALID 2006/03/05 AT 18 UTC: 20.9S / 51.7E, MAX WIND = 35 KT, TEMP. TROP. MODEREE. OTHER INFORMATIONS: THE SYSTEM INTENSITY REMAINS MODERATE, MAXIMUM WINDS EXTEND RATHER FAR FROM THE CENTER IN THE EASTERN SEMI-CIRCLE DUE TO THE GRADIENT WITH THE RIDGE EAST OF THE SYSTEM. "DIWA" IS EXPECTED TO TRACK MAINLY SOUTHWESTWARDS, IT IS EXPECTED TO GAIN FAVOURABLE CONDITIONS AND TO INTENSIFY GRADUALLY IN 36 TO 48 HOURS.