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 170600 SECURITE NEAR GALE WARNING FOR METAREA VIII (S) ISSUED BY METEO-FRANCE/TROPICAL CYCLONE CENTRE/LA REUNION 17/12/2008 AT 0600 UTC. WARNING NUMBER: 006/04 (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 SEAS LEVEL PRESSURE IN HECTOPASCALS (HPA) (INDICATIVE FIGURE). NEAR GALE WARNING BEGINNING OF VALIDITY: WEDNESDAY 17/12/2008 AT 0600 UTC. PHENOMENON: TROPICAL DEPRESSION 4 998 HPA POSITION: WITHIN 20 NM RADIUS OF POINT 10.3S / 66.5E (TEN DECIMAL THREE DEGREES SOUTH AND SIXTY SIX DECIMAL FIVE DEGREES EAST) AT 0600 UTC MOVEMENT: WEST-SOUTH-WEST 4 KT THREAT AREAS: SQUALLY WEATHER EXISTS WITHIN 60 NM RADIUS FROM THE CENTRE, EXTENDING UP TO 200 NM IN THE NORTHEASTERN SECTOR AND UP TO 300 NM IN THE SOUTHEASTERN QUADRANT. CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY EXTENDING LOCALLY BEYOND DIEGO-GARCIA IN THE EASTERN TO NORTHEASTERN SECTOR. NEAR GALE FORCE WINDS 30 KT AND ROUGH SEAS WITHIN 20 NM RADIUS FROM THE CENTRE EXTENDING UP TO 40 NM IN THE SOUTHERN SEMI-CIRCLE. STRONG GUSTS UNDER SQUALLS. FORECAST POSITION AND INTENSITY: 12H, VALID 2008/12/17 AT 18 UTC: 11.0S / 65.6E, MAX WIND = 30 KT, TROP. DEPRESSION. 24H, VALID 2008/12/18 AT 06 UTC: 12.0S / 64.5E, MAX WIND = 35 KT, MODERATE TROP. STORM. OTHER INFORMATIONS: THE LOW CENTRE HAS BEEN RELOCATED NORTH TO ITS PREVIOUS POSITION. STRONGER WINDS EXTEND FURTHER IN THE SOUTHERN SEMI-CIRCLE, DUE TO THE GRADIENT EFFECT WITH THE SUBTROPICAL HIGH PRESSURES. THIS DEPRESSION IS NOT EXPECTED TO DEEPEN MUCH SIGNIFICANTLY WITHIN THE NEXT 72 HOURS, IT COULD HOWEVER REACH THE MINIMAL TROPICAL STORM STAGE WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS.