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 031200 SECURITE GALE WARNING FOR METAREA VIII (S) ISSUED BY METEO-FRANCE/TROPICAL CYCLONE CENTRE/LA REUNION 03/02/2009 AT 1200 UTC. WARNING NUMBER: 007/08 (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 03/02/2009 AT 1200 UTC. PHENOMENON: MODERATE TROPICAL STORM 8 (GAEL) 997 HPA POSITION: 17.6S / 63.3E (SEVENTEEN DECIMAL SIX DEGREES SOUTH AND SIXTY THREE DECIMAL THREE DEGREES EAST) AT 1200 UTC MOVEMENT: WEST-SOUTH-WEST 14 KT THREAT AREAS: SQUALLY WEATHER EXISTS WITHIN 100 NM RADIUS FROM THE CENTER EXTENDING UP TO 200 NM IN THE SOUTWESTERN QUADRANT AND UP TO 300 NM IN THE NORTHWESTERN QUADRANT. NEAR GALE FORCE WINDS 30 KT AND ROUGH SEAS WITHIN 80 NM RADIUS FROM THE CENTER, EXTENDING UP TO 110 NM IN THE NORTHERN SEMI-CIRCLE LOCALLY REACHING GALE FORCE WINDS 35 KT AND ROUGH TO VERY ROUGH SEAS WITHIN 60 NM RADIUS FROM THE CENTER. STRONG GUSTS UNDER SQUALLS. FORECAST POSITION AND INTENSITY: 12H, VALID 2009/02/04 AT 00 UTC: 18.2S / 61.5E, MAX WIND = 40 KT, MODERATE TROP. STORM. 24H, VALID 2009/02/04 AT 12 UTC: 18.6S / 59.5E, MAX WIND = 50 KT, MODERATE TROP. STORM. OTHER INFORMATIONS: SYSTEM UNDERGOES UNFAVOURABLE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS LINKED TO RATHER STRONG EASTERLY UPPER LEVEL WINDS BUT THIS CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO IMPROVE WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS. THE LOW LEVEL CIRCULATION CENTER IS STILL EXPOSED EAST OF THE RAINY-THUNDERY MAIN ACTIVITY. SLOW DEVELOPMENT IS STILL EXPECTED ON A GLOBALLY WEST-SOUTHWESTWARDS TRACK.