APCEDI Alert SP/VA 21P Becky #2-2007: Cyclone Becky weakening between Southern Vanuatu and Loyalty Islands.

The RSMC-Nadi Tropical Cyclone Centre, the Joint Typhoon Warning Centre and Meteo France continue issuing guidance on Cyclone Becky that is weakening between Southern Vanuatu and the Loyalty Islands (Îles Loyauté) of New Caledonia (Nouvelle Caledonie).

Cyclone Becky peaked in intensity late yesterday at borderline Tropical Storm and minimal Category 1 Hurricane strength on the Saffir Simpson Scale. It is now weakening as it continues to past about 200 km west of the Southern Vanuatu islands and northeast of the Loyalty Islands (Îles Loyauté). Fortunately for both groups it looks like Becky will pass roughly equidistantly between both island groups so that no major islands will receive a direct hit from the storm. It will then continue to dissipate as it gets into the colder water of the Southern Ocean. Heavy rain, gusty wind and rough seas will occur throughout the area, but only minor damage such as beach erosion, some trees and branches down and some crop damage is expected

All interests in both the Southern Vanuatu islands including Erromango, Tanna and Anatom and the Loyalty Islands (Îles Loyauté) including Ouvéa, Lifou and Maré should stay on alert as the cyclone passes between the groups and heed any Government instructions.

From the RSMC-Nadi Tropical Cyclone Centre

STORM WARNING 035 ISSUED FROM RSMC NADI Mar 28/1913 UTC 2007 UTC.

TROPICAL CYCLONE BECKY CENTRE [980HPA] WAS LOCATED NEAR 20.5 SOUTH 168.0 EAST AT 281800 UTC. POSITION POOR.REPEAT POSITION 20.5S 168.0E AT 281800 UTC.
CYCLONE MOVING SOUTH AT ABOUT 06 KNOTS. CYCLONE WEAKENING.

EXPECT SUSTAINED WINDS OF 55 KNOTS CLOSE TO THE CENTRE DECREASING TO 40 KNOTS IN THE NEXT 12 TO 18 HOURS.
EXPECT WINDS OVER 47 KNOTS WITHIN 30 MILES OF CENTRE AND OVER 33 KNOTS WITHIN 80 MILES OF THE CENTRE IN THE NORTHERN SEMICIRCLE AND WITHIN 100 MILES OF CENTRE IN THE SOUTHERN SEMICIRCLE.

FORECAST POSITION NEAR 21.6S 167.9E AT 290600 UTC AND NEAR 22.4S 167.5E AT 291800 UTC.

ALL VESSELS WITHIN 300 NAUTICALS MILES OF THE CENTRE ARE REQUESTED TO SEND REPORTS EVERY THREE HOURS TO RSMC NADI. 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 GALE WARNING 034.

This will be the last APCEDI report on this system.

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

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