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

WTIO20 FMEE 261200 SECURITE STORM WARNING FOR METAREA VIII (S) ISSUED BY METEO-FRANCE/TROPICAL CYCLONE CENTRE/LA REUNION 26/02/2007 AT 1200 UTC. WARNING NUMBER: 022/11 (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). STORM WARNING BEGINNING OF VALIDITY: MONDAY 26/02/2007 AT 1200 UTC. PHENOMENON: SEVERE TROPICAL STORM 11 (HUMBA) 980 HPA POSITION: 23.2S / 77.4E (TWENTY THREE DECIMAL TWO DEGREES SOUTH AND SEVENTY SEVEN DECIMAL FOUR DEGREES EAST) AT 1200 UTC MOVEMENT: SOUTH 8 KT THREAT AREAS: SQUALLY WEATHER EXISTS WITHIN 80 NM RADIUS FROM THE CENTER, EXTENDING UP TO MORE THAN 500 NM IN THE SOUTHEASTERN QUADRANT. STORM FORCE WINDS 50/55KT AND HIGH TO VERY HIGH SEAS WITHIN 30 NM RADIUS FROM THE CENTER, REACHING LOCALLY 55/60KT IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR. GALE FORCE WINDS 35/45KT AND VERY ROUGH SEAS TO HIGH SEAS WITHIN 90 NM RADIUS FROM THE CENTER. NEAR GALE FORCE WINDS 30KT AND ROUGH TO VERY ROUGH SEAS WITHIN 150 NM RADIUS OF THE CENTER, EXTENDING UP TO 300 NM IN THE SOUTERN SEMI-CIRCLE STRONG GUSTS UNDER SQUALLS. FORECAST POSITION AND INTENSITY: 12H, VALID 2007/02/27 AT 00 UTC: 25.0S / 77.6E, MAX WIND = 50 KT, SEVERE TROP. STORM. 24H, VALID 2007/02/27 AT 12 UTC: 26.8S / 77.7E, MAX WIND = 50 KT, SEVERE TROP. STORM. OTHER INFORMATIONS: "HUMBA" RESISTS RATHER WELL TO THE INCREASING NORTHWESTERLY VERTICAL WIND SHEAR, WITH DEEP CONVECTION WHICH HAS REBUILT NEAR THE CENTER DURING THE LAST 8 HOURS, RESULTING A STATIONNARY INTENSITY OF SEVERE TROPICAL STORM. DUE TO THIS NORTHWESTERLY VERTICAL WINDSHEAR, THE LOW LEVEL CENTER IS LOCATED ON THE NORTHWESTERN EDGE OF DEEP CONVECTION. LOW LEVEL CIRCULATION IS STILL WELL ESTABLISHED, WITH STRONG WINDS MAINLY IN THE SOUTHERN GRADIENT DUE TO GRADIENT EFFECT WITH SUBTROPICAL HIGH PRESSURES. "HUMBA" IS EXPECTED TO KEEP ON TRACKING MAINLY SOUTHWARDS BECOMING EXTRATROPICAL OVER SEAS SOUTH OF 25 SOUTH WHERE SST ARE UNDER 26 DEGRES CELSIUS..