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 170000 SECURITE NEAR GALE WARNING FOR METAREA VIII (S) ISSUED BY METEO-FRANCE/TROPICAL CYCLONE CENTRE/LA REUNION 17/12/2007 AT 0000 UTC. WARNING NUMBER: 019/04 (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: MONDAY 17/12/2007 AT 0000 UTC. PHENOMENON: TROPICAL DEPRESSION 4 (0420072008) 997 HPA POSITION: WITHIN 20 NM RADIUS OF POINT 18.5S / 63.2E (EIGHTEEN DECIMAL FIVE DEGREES SOUTH AND SIXTY THREE DECIMAL TWO DEGREES EAST) AT 0000 UTC MOVEMENT: SOUTH-WEST 12 KT THREAT AREAS: SQUALLY WEATHER EXISTS WITHIN 60 NM RADIUS OF THE CENTRE, EXTENDING UP TO 280 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 150 NM FROM THE CENTER IN THE SOUTHWESTERN QUADRANT AND UP TO 110 NM IN THE SOUTHEASTERN QUADRANT. STRONG GUSTS UNDER SQUALLS. FORECAST POSITION AND INTENSITY: 12H, VALID 2007/12/17 AT 12 UTC: 19.3S / 61.7E, MAX WIND = 35 KT, MODERATE TROP. STORM. 24H, VALID 2007/12/18 AT 00 UTC: 19.9S / 60.3E, MAX WIND = 35 KT, MODERATE TROP. STORM. OTHER INFORMATIONS: THE SYSTEM HAS ACCELERATED OVER THE LAST 6 HOURS. IT 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.