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 220600 SECURITE GALE WARNING FOR METAREA VIII (S) ISSUED BY METEO-FRANCE/TROPICAL CYCLONE CENTRE/LA REUNION 22/02/2009 AT 0600 UTC. WARNING NUMBER: 005/09 (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 0600 UTC. PHENOMENON: MODERATE TROPICAL STORM 9 (HINA) 987 HPA POSITION: WITHIN 30 NM RADIUS OF POINT 16.0S / 78.4E (SIXTEEN DECIMAL ZERO DEGREES SOUTH AND SEVENTY EIGHT DECIMAL FOUR DEGREES EAST) AT 0600 UTC MOVEMENT: SOUTH-SOUTH-EAST 7 KT THREAT AREAS: SQUALLY WEATHER EXISTS WITHIN 200 NM RADIUS FROM THE CENTER, EXTENDING UP TO 350 NM IN THE EASTHERN SEMI-CIRCLE AND UP TO 450 NM IN THE SOUTHEASTERN QUADRANT. GALE FORCE WINDS 35/45 KT AND HIGH SEAS WITHIN 30 NM RADIUS OF THE CENTER, EXTENDING UP TO 70 NM IN THE SOUTHWESTERN QUADRANT. NEAR GALE FORCE WINDS 30 KT AND ROUGH TO VERY ROUGH SEAS WITHIN 70 NM RADIUS OF THE CENTRE, EXTENDING UP TO 140 NM IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR. STRONG GUSTS UNDER SQUALLS. FORECAST POSITION AND INTENSITY: 12H, VALID 2009/02/22 AT 18 UTC: 17.4S / 78.6E, MAX WIND = 60 KT, SEVERE TROP. STORM. 24H, VALID 2009/02/23 AT 06 UTC: 18.5S / 78.2E, MAX WIND = 50 KT, SEVERE TROP. STORM. OTHER INFORMATIONS: THE SYSTEM KEEPS ON INTENSIFYING. 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 BUT SHOULD BEGIN TO DETERIORATE WITHIN THE NEXT 12 TO 24 HOURS AND THE SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO REACH ITS MAX INTENSITY WITHIN THIS PERIOD. TRACK SHOULD MAINTAIN ALONG A SOUTHWARDS MOTION THEN SHOULD CURVE SOUTHWESTWARDS (BEYOND 24 H TO 36H).