Information for all New Zealand citizens - Cyclone Jasmine : Prealert 'Yellow'

Information for all New Zealand citizens

Cyclone Jasmine : Prealert 'Yellow'

Monday 6 February 2012

From 4pm Monday 6 February 2012, the French authorities placed New Caledonia on pre-alert 'yellow'. This means that a tropical depression has entered New Caledonia's meteorological observation zone.

Within 48 hours cyclone Jasmine is expected to be around 200km north of the Belep Islands (northern point of New Caledonia) and continue down the east of the territory. The pressure at the centre of the cyclone is currently estimated to be around 980 hPa (hector Pascals), with winds averaging an estimated 100 km/h and gusts of up to 150 km/h near the centre with very high seas.
 
We advise you to keep informed of the cyclone’s progress by listening to the local radio and consulting our website (www.nzembassy.com/newcaledonia), for updates.

The yellow prealert is the first in four stages of alerts for cyclones:

•    Yellow prealert: cyclone or strong tropical depression in New Caledonia's meteorological observation zone
•    Orange alert: probable arrival of a cyclone within at least 18 hours
•    Red alert: imminent arrival of cyclone
•    Grey alert: cyclone has passed but danger still exists

Useful websites for following the cyclone route include www.meteo.nc, http://severe.worldweather.wmo.int/  and www.nrlmry.navy.mil/tc_pages.[external links]

Attachment
Alert for Cyclones.pdf