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 220000 SECURITE GALE WARNING FOR METAREA VIII (S) ISSUED BY METEO-FRANCE/TROPICAL CYCLONE CENTRE/LA REUNION 22/02/2009 AT 0000 UTC. WARNING NUMBER: 004/09 (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). GALE WARNING BEGINNING OF VALIDITY: SUNDAY 22/02/2009 AT 0000 UTC. PHENOMENON: MODERATE TROPICAL STORM 9 (HINA) 995 HPA POSITION: WITHIN 20 NM RADIUS OF POINT 15.0S / 78.0E (FIFTEEN DECIMAL ZERO DEGREES SOUTH AND SEVENTY EIGHT DECIMAL ZERO DEGREES EAST) AT 0000 UTC MOVEMENT: SOUTH-SOUTH-EAST 6 KT THREAT AREAS: SQUALLY WEATHER EXISTS WITHIN 180 NM RADIUS FROM THE CENTER, EXTENDING UP TO 320 NM IN THE EASTHERN SEMI-CIRCLE. GALE FORCE WINDS 35 KT AND HIGH SEAS CLOSE TO THE CENTRE. NEAR GALE FORCE WINDS 30 KT AND ROUGH TO VERY ROUGH SEAS WITHIN 40 NM RADIUS OF THE CENTRE, EXTENDING UP TO 50 NM IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR. STRONG GUSTS UNDER SQUALLS. FORECAST POSITION AND INTENSITY: 12H, VALID 2009/02/22 AT 12 UTC: 16.1S / 78.5E, MAX WIND = 50 KT, SEVERE TROP. STORM. 24H, VALID 2009/02/23 AT 00 UTC: 17.3S / 78.5E, MAX WIND = 60 KT, SEVERE TROP. STORM. OTHER INFORMATIONS: THE SYSTEM KEEPS ON INTENSIFYING, AND HAS BEEN NAMED AT 0000Z. STRONG WINDS EXTEND FAR FROM THE CENTER IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR DUE TO THE GRADIENT WITH THE SUBTROPICAL HIGH PRESSURES. ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS ARE CURRENTLY FAVORABLE, AND THE SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO REGULARLY INTENSIFY FOR THE NEXT 24H ALONG A SOUTHWARDS THEN SOUTHWESTWARDS (BEYOND 24 H TO 36H) TRACK.