APCEDI ALERT 04F #1, 2004: Tropical Storm 04F (Judy) Forms South of Tahiti

A persistent tropical depression to the east and south of Papeete and the Society Islands which has been lingering in the area for a week has formed into a tropical storm which has been named by the Fiji Meteorological Office as Judy. This is a minimal strength tropical storm and already has characteristics of becoming extratropical. However heavy rain and gales can be expected at Hereheretue, Tubuai and other islands in the Tuamotu and Austral Groups. Neither the French Government nor the Joint Typhoon Warning Centre have posted any storm announcements yet.

FROM FIJI METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE
http://www.met.gov.fj/aifs_prods/10140.txt

PART 1 : WARNINGGALE WARNING 043 ISSUED FROM RSMC NADI DEC 25/0650 UTC 2004. TROPICAL CYCLONE JUDY CENTRE [989 HPA] WAS LOCATED NEAR 20 DECIMAL 9 SOUTH 145 DECIMAL 7 WEST AT 250600 UTC. POSITION POOR. REPEAT POSITION 20.9S 145.7W AT 250600 UTC. CYCLONE MOVING SOUTH-SOUTHWEST AT ABOUT 06 KNOTS. EXPECT SUSTAINED WINDS OF 35 TO 40 KNOTS CLOSE TO CENTRE. EXPECT WINDS OVER 33 KNOTS WITHIN 60 MILES OF CENTRE IN NORTHERN SEMI-CIRCLE AND WITHIN 210 MILES OF CENTRE IN THE SOUTHERN SEMI-CIRCLE. FORECAST POSITION NEAR 22.1S 146.3W AT 251800 UTC AND NEAR 23.8S 146.9W AT 260600 UTC. SHIPS WITHIN 300 MILES OF CENTRE ARE REQUESTED TO SEND REPORTS EVERY THREE HOURS.VOS REPORTING SHIPS USE NORMAL CHANNELS. OTHER VESSELS FAX PLUS 679 6720190 OR EMAIL NADITCC AT MET DOT GOV DOT FJ. THIS WARNING CANCELS AND REPLACES WARNING 042.

A good satellite picture of the system can be found on the following Meteo France Site
http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/polynesie/satellite/internet.jpg


This storm system is outside of the normal APCEDI coverage area, but we will monitor this unusual storm which will likely go extratropical in the next few days and then move south out of French Polynesian Territory.

Kevin Vang
APCEDI Coordinator
http://www.afap.org/apcedi/