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
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WTIO20 FMEE 211800 SECURITE NEAR GALE WARNING FOR METAREA VIII (S) ISSUED BY METEO-FRANCE/TROPICAL CYCLONE CENTRE/LA REUNION 21/02/2009 AT 1800 UTC. WARNING NUMBER: 003/09 (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 SEA LEVEL PRESSURE IN HECTOPASCALS (HPA) (INDICATIVE FIGURE). NEAR GALE WARNING BEGINNING OF VALIDITY: SATURDAY 21/02/2009 AT 1800 UTC. PHENOMENON: TROPICAL DEPRESSION 9 997 HPA POSITION: WITHIN 20 NM RADIUS OF POINT 14.6S / 77.8E (FOURTEEN DECIMAL SIX DEGREES SOUTH AND SEVENTY SEVEN DECIMAL EIGHT DEGREES EAST) AT 1800 UTC MOVEMENT: SOUTH-SOUTH-EAST 7 KT THREAT AREAS: SQUALLY WEATHER EXISTS WITHIN 180 NM RADIUS FROM THE CENTER, EXTENDING UP TO 300 NM IN THE EASTHERN SEMI-CIRCLE. NEAR GALE FORCE WINDS 30 KT AND ROUGH TO VERY ROUGH SEAS WITHIN 30 NM RADIUS OF THE CENTRE, AND FAR FROM THE CENTER, IN THE MONSOON FLOW IN THE NORTHERN SEMI-CIRCLE, AND ALSO IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR. STRONG GUSTS UNDER SQUALLS. FORECAST POSITION AND INTENSITY: 12H, VALID 2009/02/22 AT 06 UTC: 15.5S / 78.1E, MAX WIND = 40 KT, MODERATE TROP. STORM. 24H, VALID 2009/02/22 AT 18 UTC: 16.3S / 78.1E, MAX WIND = 45 KT, MODERATE TROP. STORM. OTHER INFORMATIONS: CENTRE RELOCATED SOUTHWARDS. THUNDERY ACTIVITY IS ORGANIZING AND THE SYSTEM IS INTENSIFYING. STRONGEST WINDS ARE ALSO LOCATED FAR FROM THE CENTER WITHIN THE MONSOON FLOW IN THE NORTHERN SEMI-CIRCLE, AND IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR DUE TO THE GRADIENT WITH THE SUBTROPICAL HIGH PRESSURES. ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE, AND THE SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO REGULARLY INTENSIFY FOR THE NEXT 24 TO 36H ALONG A SOUTHWARDS THEN SOUTHWESTWARDS (BEYOND 24 H TO 36H) TRACK.