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 161200 SECURITE NEAR GALE WARNING FOR METAREA VIII (S) ISSUED BY METEO-FRANCE/TROPICAL CYCLONE CENTRE/LA REUNION 16/12/2007 AT 1200 UTC. WARNING NUMBER: 017/04 (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). NEAR GALE WARNING BEGINNING OF VALIDITY: SUNDAY 16/12/2007 AT 1200 UTC. PHENOMENON: TROPICAL DEPRESSION 4 (0420072008) 997 HPA POSITION: WITHIN 30 NM RADIUS OF POINT 16.9S / 64.8E (SIXTEEN DECIMAL NINE DEGREES SOUTH AND SIXTY FOUR DECIMAL EIGHT DEGREES EAST) AT 1200 UTC MOVEMENT: SOUTH-WEST 7 KT THREAT AREAS: SQUALLY WEATHER EXTENDS UP TO 290 NM RADIUS FROM THE CENTRE MAINLY IN THE SOUTHWESTERN SEMI-CIRCLE. NEAR GALE FORCE WINDS 30 KT REACHING VERY LOCALLY 35 KT IN THE SOUTHWESTERN QUADRANT AND ROUGH TO VERY ROUGH SEAS WITHIN 50 NM RADIUS OF THE CENTER EXTENDING UP TO 110 NM FROM THE CENTER IN THE SOUTHWESTERN QUADRANT AND UP TO 80 NM IN THE SOUTHEASTERN QUADRANT. STRONG GUSTS UNDER SQUALLS. FORECAST POSITION AND INTENSITY: 12H, VALID 2007/12/17 AT 00 UTC: 17.8S / 63.5E, MAX WIND = 35 KT, MODERATE TROP. STORM. 24H, VALID 2007/12/17 AT 12 UTC: 18.8S / 62.1E, MAX WIND = 35 KT, MODERATE TROP. STORM. OTHER INFORMATIONS: THE SYSTEM SHOULD KEEP ON TRACKING THAT WAY TOWARDS MASCAREIGNES ISLANDS, AND COULD TEMPORARILY ENCOUNTER LESS UNFAVORABLE CONDITIONS FOR INTENSIFICATION (MINIMAL TROPICAL STORM STATUS COULD BE REACHED WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS). NEVERTHELESS, IF IT INTENSIFIES, IT SHOULD NOT STRENGHEN FURTHER (MAINLY DUE TO TOO COOL SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURE, AND SOME OTHER POORLY FAVORABLE CONDITIONS), AND WEAKEN AS IT APPROCHING MAURITIUS.