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 161800 SECURITE GALE WARNING FOR METAREA VII AND METAREA VIII (S) ISSUED BY METEO-FRANCE/TROPICAL CYCLONE CENTRE/LA REUNION 16/02/2007 AT 1800 UTC. WARNING NUMBER: 019/09 (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: FRIDAY 16/02/2007 AT 1800 UTC. PHENOMENON: MODERATE TROPICAL STORM 9 (FAVIO) 990 HPA POSITION: WITHIN 20 NM RADIUS OF POINT 23.9S / 57.5E (TWENTY THREE DECIMAL NINE DEGREES SOUTH AND FIFTY SEVEN DECIMAL FIVE DEGREES EAST) AT 1800 UTC MOVEMENT: SOUTH-WEST 13 KT THREAT AREAS: SQUALLY WEATHER EXISTS WITHIN 80 NM RADIUS FROM THE CENTER, EXTENDING LOCALLY UP TO 250 NM IN THE EASTERN SECTOR. GALE FORCE WINDS 35/40KT AND VERY ROUGH SEAS NEAR THE CENTRE, EXTENDING UP TO 20 NM IN THE SOUTHEASTERN SEMI-CIRCLE. NEAR GALE FORCE WINDS 30 KT AND ROUGH TO VERY ROUGH SEAS WITHIN 30 NM RADIUS OF THE CENTER, EXTENDING UP TO 150 NM IN THE SOUTHEASTERN SEMI-CIRCLE. STRONG GUSTS UNDER SQUALLS. FORECAST POSITION AND INTENSITY: 12H, VALID 2007/02/17 AT 06 UTC: 25.0S / 55.0E, MAX WIND = 35 KT, MODERATE TROP. STORM. 24H, VALID 2007/02/17 AT 18 UTC: 25.7S / 52.8E, MAX WIND = 35 KT, MODERATE TROP. STORM. OTHER INFORMATIONS: CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY ASSOCIATED TO FAVIO HAS BECOME FLUCTUATING FOR THE PAST FEW HOURS. THE STRONGEST WINDS ARE LOCATED IN THE SOUTHEASTERN SEMI-CIRCLE DUE TO THE OWN SPEED OF THE SYSTEM AND TO THE GRADIENT WITH THE SUBTROPICAL HIGH PRESSURES ANCHORED IN THE SOUTHEAST AND STEERING THE SYSTEM. THE SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO KEEP ON GENERALLY TRACKING SOUTHWESTWARDS, AND TO MAINTAIN THE MINIMAL STAGE OF MODERATE TROPICAL STORM.