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 161800 SECURITE NEAR GALE WARNING FOR METAREA VIII (S) ISSUED BY METEO-FRANCE/TROPICAL CYCLONE CENTRE/LA REUNION 16/12/2007 AT 1800 UTC. WARNING NUMBER: 018/04 (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 1800 UTC. PHENOMENON: TROPICAL DEPRESSION 4 (0420072008) 997 HPA POSITION: WITHIN 20 NM RADIUS OF POINT 17.5S / 64.2E (SEVENTEEN DECIMAL FIVE DEGREES SOUTH AND SIXTY FOUR DECIMAL TWO DEGREES EAST) AT 1800 UTC MOVEMENT: SOUTH-WEST 7 KT THREAT AREAS: SQUALLY WEATHER EXISTS WITHIN 60 NM RADIUS OF THE CENTRE, EXTENDING UP TO 250 NM RADIUS FROM THE CENTRE 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 30 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 06 UTC: 18.4S / 62.6E, MAX WIND = 35 KT, MODERATE TROP. STORM. 24H, VALID 2007/12/17 AT 18 UTC: 19.0S / 61.2E, MAX WIND = 35 KT, MODERATE TROP. STORM. OTHER INFORMATIONS: THE SYSTEM SHOULD KEEP ON REGULARLY TRACKING TOWARDS MASCARENES ISLANDS, AND COULD TEMPORARILY ENCOUNTER LESS UNFAVORABLE CONDITIONS FOR INTENSIFICATION (MINIMAL MODERATE TROPICAL STORM STAGE COULD BE REACHED WITHIN THE NEXT 12 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 COMES CLOSER TO MAURITIUS ISLAND. WINDS EXTENSION IS MEASURED THANKS TO SATELLITE DATA. WINDS EXTENSION IS WIDER IN THE SOUTHERN SEMI-CIRCLE DUE TO THE GRADIENT EFFECT WITH THE SUBTROPICAL HIGH PRESSURES.