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 191800 SECURITE NEAR GALE WARNING FOR METAREA VIII (S) ISSUED BY METEO-FRANCE/TROPICAL CYCLONE CENTRE/LA REUNION 19/11/2008 AT 1800 UTC. WARNING NUMBER: 003/03 (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: WEDNESDAY 19/11/2008 AT 1800 UTC. PHENOMENON: TROPICAL DEPRESSION 3 998 HPA POSITION: WITHIN 30 NM RADIUS OF POINT 9.6S / 80.9E (NINE DECIMAL SIX DEGREES SOUTH AND EIGHTY DECIMAL NINE DEGREES EAST) AT 1800 UTC MOVEMENT: EAST 10 KT THREAT AREAS: SQUALLY WEATHER EXISTS WITHIN 100 NM FROM THE CENTRE, EXTENDING UP TO 200 NM IN THE EASTERN SECTOR CLOCKWISE CIRCULATION 20/25 KT AND MODERATE TO ROUGH SEAS WITHIN 60 NM RADIUS OF THE CENTRE, REACHING 30 KT AND ROUGH TO VERY ROUGH SEAS NEAR THE CENTER IN THE NORTHERN SECTOR AND VOLACCLY IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR. STRONG GUSTS UNDER SQUALLS. FORECAST POSITION AND INTENSITY: 12H, VALID 2008/11/20 AT 06 UTC: 10.0S / 83.9E, MAX WIND = 30 KT, TROP. DEPRESSION. 24H, VALID 2008/11/20 AT 18 UTC: 9.5S / 87.2E, MAX WIND = 35 KT, MODERATE TROP. STORM. OTHER INFORMATIONS: THE SYSTEM IS ACCELERATING EASTWARDS, WHILE INTENSIFYING VERY SLOWLY. IT SHOULD CROSS THE 90TH EASTERN PARALLEL ON THE FRIDAY 21TH. THE ACTIVE CLOUD CLUSTER IS SMALL, COMPACT, AND IS WRAPING ABOVE THE LOW LEVEL CENTER. ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS REMAIN MODERATLY FAVORABLE FOR INTENSIFICATION DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS, AND IT COULD REACH, VERY TEMPORARILLY, THE TROPICAL STORM INTENSITY. BEYOND, UPPER LEVEL ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS (INTENSIFYING NORTHERLY WINDS) SHOULD NOT ALLOW THE SYSTEM TO MAINTAIN ITS INTENSITY.