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 011200 SECURITE GALE WARNING FOR METAREA VII AND METAREA VIII (S) ISSUED BY METEO-FRANCE/TROPICAL CYCLONE CENTRE/LA REUNION 01/02/2008 AT 1200 UTC. WARNING NUMBER: 025/09 (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 SEAS LEVEL PRESSURE IN HECTOPASCALS (HPA) (INDICATIVE FIGURE). GALE WARNING BEGINNING OF VALIDITY: FRIDAY 01/02/2008 AT 1200 UTC. PHENOMENON: MODERATE TROPICAL STORM 9 (GULA) 992 HPA POSITION: WITHIN 20 NM RADIUS OF POINT 26.4S / 55.3E (TWENTY SIX DECIMAL FOUR DEGREES SOUTH AND FIFTY FIVE DECIMAL THREE DEGREES EAST) AT 1200 UTC MOVEMENT: EAST-SOUTH-EAST 6 KT THREAT AREAS: SQUALLY WEATHER EXISTS WITHIN 60 NM RADIUS OF THE CENTER EXTENDING TO 300 NM IN THE SOUTHERN SEMI-CIRCLE. GALE FORCE WINDS 35/45 KT AND VERY ROUGH SEAS WITHIN 40 NM RADIUS OF THE CENTER EXTENDING UP TO 200 NM IN THE EASTERN SEMI-CIRCLE. NEAR GALE FORCE WINDS 30 KT AND ROUGH SEAS WITHIN 60 NM RADIUS OF THE CENTER, EXTENDING UP TO 300 NM IN THE EASTERN SEMI-CIRCLE. STRONG GUSTS UNDER SQUALLS. FORECAST POSITION AND INTENSITY: 12H, VALID 2008/02/02 AT 00 UTC: 29.1S / 58.5E, MAX WIND = 35 KT, BECOMING EXTRATROPICAL. 24H, VALID 2008/02/02 AT 12 UTC: 32.3S / 61.3E, MAX WIND = 35 KT, EXTRATROPICAL. OTHER INFORMATIONS: THE SYSTEM IS NOTHWESTLY SHEARED, THE CENTER IS NOW COMPLETLY EXPOSED ON THE NORTHWESTERN EDGE OF THE RESIDUAL CONVECTION. ASYMMETRICAL CLOCKWISE CIRCULATION DUE TO THE FAST MOTION OF THE SYSTEM. GULA HAS CLEARLY SLOWN DOWN DURING THE VERY LAST HOURS, STOPPED BY THE SUBTROPICAL RIDGE , IT IS GOING TO RECURVED SOUTHWARDS THEN MORE SOUTHEASTWARDS, WHILE INITIATING ITS VERY SOON EXTRATROPICAL TRANSITION PHASE BEFORE BEING EXPELLED INTO THE MID-LATITUDE WESTERLIES.