1676896458 Intense Tropical Cyclone Freddy Reunion not going on alert Reunion

Intense Tropical Cyclone Freddy: Reunion not going on alert Reunion the 1st

This Monday, February 20, Réunion will remain on an orange hurricane warning until tomorrow, Tuesday. The prefect of Réunion, Jérôme Filippini, has decided not to raise the red alert. However, it prohibits access to the north and east coasts by prefectural decree. Violent Tropical Cyclone Freddy will pass closer to our coasts tonight and early next night.

LP • Posted Feb 20, 2023 at 2:46 PM, updated Feb 20, 2023 at 3:15 PM.

This Monday, February 20, Réunion will not go into the red arm of the hurricane, announces the prefect of Réunion, Jérôme Filippini. He decided to keep the department on alert during a 2:30 p.m. press conference.

Follow the press conference live here:

“The red alert is reserved for an extremely serious scenario and it will not be an extremely serious scenario,” said Jérôme Filippini.

“However, in the coming hours there will be real risks related to wind and waves,” warns the prefect, who has decided to “issue a prefectural decree to ban access to the coast in the north and east of the island from 5 p.m. “. “I ask you to stay away from the coast, the spectacle can be attractive, but it can also be deadly!” he continues.

“I do not decree general confinement tonight, but I urge you to be responsible, do not go out unnecessarily this night between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m.!” The prefect of Reunion declared.

Violent Tropical Cyclone Freddy will pass as close to our shores as possible off the Coastal Route early next night, around 10pm or 11pm.


Update in the prefecture on Monday February 20 • ©Imaz Press Reunion

At 1 p.m. Cyclone Freddy was 330 km from Réunion. “Freddy is finally approaching Réunion,” explains Emmanuel Cloppet, Interregional Director of Météo-France for Réunion in the Indian Ocean. The latest predictions allow us to rule out a direct passage across the island and predict a passage of more than 150 km from our shores, we will therefore escape the influence of the heart of the system, where the most deteriorated impacts are concentrated”.

The swell might be the most noticeable element of this cyclone. “A very large swell will break in the evening on the north and east coasts and throughout the night,” assures Météo France Réunion.

An orange diving wave watch goes into effect at 4:00 p.m. Its level is raised to red for the night as Freddy gets closer. Also, an orange vigilance for strong winds comes into effect.

“Wind speeds of around 100 to 110 km/h are expected on the coast and 130 km/h in the Hauts, these values ​​do not reach those of cyclone winds,” assures Météo France Réunion, which reminds the rain not a noticeable phenomenon of this cyclone be.

The prefect also announced that schools will remain closed tomorrow, Tuesday, February 21. School transport is not provided.