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 180600 SECURITE GALE WARNING FOR METAREA VII AND METAREA VIII (S) ISSUED BY METEO-FRANCE/TROPICAL CYCLONE CENTRE/LA REUNION 18/12/2007 AT 0600 UTC. WARNING NUMBER: 24/4 (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: TUESDAY 18/12/2007 AT 0600 UTC. PHENOMENON: MODERATE TROPICAL STORM 4 (CELINA) 994 HPA POSITION: 21.0S / 59.8E (TWENTY ONE DECIMAL ZERO DEGREES SOUTH AND FIFTY NINE DECIMAL EIGHT DEGREES EAST) AT 0600 UTC MOVEMENT: SOUTH-WEST 6 KT THREAT AREAS: SQUALLY WEATHER EXTENDS UP TO 170 NM RADIUS FROM THE CENTRE MAINLY IN THE SOUTHWESTERN SEMI-CIRCLE. GALE FORCE WINDS 35 KT AND VERY ROUGH SEAS WITHIN 20 NM RADIUS OF THE CENTER. NEAR GALE FORCE WINDS 30 KT AND ROUGH TO VERY ROUGH SEAS WITHIN 30 NM RADIUS OF THE CENTER EXTENDING UP TO 90 NM FROM THE CENTER IN THE SOUTHERN SEMI CIRCLE. STRONG GUSTS UNDER SQUALLS. FORECAST POSITION AND INTENSITY: 12H, VALID 2007/12/18 AT 18 UTC: 21.5S / 58.6E, MAX WIND = 30 KT, TROP. DEPRESSION. 24H, VALID 2007/12/19 AT 06 UTC: 21.8S / 57.1E, MAX WIND = 30 KT, TROP. DEPRESSION. OTHER INFORMATIONS: CELINA IS KEEPING ON TRACKING SOUTHWESTWARDS AND PRESENTS CLEAR SIGNS OF WEAKENING (LOW LEVEL CIRCULATION CENTER VISIBLE, CENTERED NORTHWEST OF THE MAIN ACTIVE PART). THE SYSTEM IS NEVERTHELESS STILL CLASSIFIED AS A TROPICAL STORM DUE TO THE INTENSITY OF THE WINDS BLOWING NEAR THE CENTER, WHICH ARE ESTIMATED ACCORDING TO THE QUIKSCAT SATELLITE DATA OF 0215 Z. THE SYSTEM SHOULD CURVE WESTWARDS THEN WEST-NORTHWESTWARDS DUE TO THE REBUILDING SUBTROPICAL HIGH PRESSURES, AND COME CLOSER TO REUNION ISLAND. SYSTEM SHOULD WEAKEN OVER THE FORECAST PERIOD.