APCEDI ALERT 02F #1, 2004: Tropical Depression 02F Deepens West of Rotuma

Tropical Depression 02F (WTPS21) which has persisted in this area between the Santa Cruz Islands (Temotu Province, Solomon Islands) and Rotuma (Fiji) for the last week has now deepened and is threatening to become the season's first tropical storm. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center has issued the following alert. Currently the system is bringing intermittent squalls and and heavy rains to Rotuma.


TROPICAL DISTURBANCE SUMMARY:

(1) THE AREA OF CONVECTION PREVIOUSLY LOCATED NEAR 14.0S5; 174.3E5, IS NOW LOCATED NEAR 14.4S9 173.0E1, APPROXIMATELY 385 NM NORTHWEST OF SUVA, FIJI. A 121807Z9 QUIKSCAT PASS SHOWS A TIGHT LOW LEVEL CIRCULATION CENTER (LLCC). RECENT ANIMATED ENHANCED INFRARED SATELLITE IMAGERY REVEALS DEEP CONVECTION IS STARTING TO CONSOLIDATE, AND MICROWAVE IMAGERY SUGGESTS A PARTIALLY EXPOSED LLCC. UPPER LEVEL ANALYSIS INDICATES AN ENVIRONMENT OF LOW TO MODERATE VERTICAL WIND SHEAR AND FAVORABLE DIVERGENCE. MAXIMUM SURFACE WINDS ARE ESTIMATED AT 25 TO 30 KNOTS. MINIMUM SEA LEVEL PRESSURE IS ESTIMATED TO BE NEAR 1003 MB. SEE REF B (WTPS21 PGTW 122100) FOR FURTHER DETAILS. BASED ON IMPROVED ORGANIZATION, THE POTENTIAL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A
SIGNIFICANT TROPICAL CYCLONE WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS IS UPGRADED TO GOOD.

APCEDI will continue to provide daily updates on this storm. Should it form into a full fledged tropical storm, APCEDI will provide more regular updates.