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 221800 SECURITE STORM WARNING FOR METAREA VIII (S) ISSUED BY METEO-FRANCE/TROPICAL CYCLONE CENTRE/LA REUNION 22/02/2009 AT 1800 UTC. WARNING NUMBER: 007/09 (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). STORM WARNING BEGINNING OF VALIDITY: SUNDAY 22/02/2009 AT 1800 UTC. PHENOMENON: SEVERE TROPICAL STORM 9 (HINA) 980 HPA POSITION: WITHIN 20 NM RADIUS OF POINT 17.6S / 78.7E (SEVENTEEN DECIMAL SIX DEGREES SOUTH AND SEVENTY EIGHT DECIMAL SEVEN DEGREES EAST) AT 1800 UTC MOVEMENT: SOUTH-SOUTH-EAST 9 KT THREAT AREAS: SQUALLY WEATHER EXISTS WITHIN 160 NM RADIUS FROM THE CENTER, EXTENDING UP TO 350 NM IN THE EASTHERN SEMI-CIRCLE. STORMWINDS 50/55 KT AND HIGH TO VERY HIGH SEAS WITHIN 20 NM RADIUS FROM THE CENTER. GALE FORCE WINDS 35/45 KT AND VERY ROUGH TO HIGH SEAS WITHIN 40 NM RADIUS OF THE CENTER, EXTENDING UP TO 80 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 160 NM IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR. STRONG GUSTS UNDER SQUALLS. FORECAST POSITION AND INTENSITY: 12H, VALID 2009/02/23 AT 06 UTC: 18.3S / 78.4E, MAX WIND = 55 KT, SEVERE TROP. STORM. 24H, VALID 2009/02/23 AT 18 UTC: 18.7S / 77.4E, MAX WIND = 50 KT, SEVERE TROP. STORM. OTHER INFORMATIONS: 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 HOURS. SYSTEM SEEMS CLOSE TO ITS INTENSITY MAX AND SHOULD NOT REACH TROPICAL CYCLONE STAGE. TRACK SHOULD MAINTAIN ALONG A SOUTHWARDS MOTION THEN SHOULD CURVE SOUTHWESTWARDS (STARTING PROGRESSIVELY TOMORROW).