Tropical Depression Ruby: gusts of 150 to 170 km / h and 100 to 150 minutes of rain – New Caledonia the 1st – Overseas the 1st

Gusts of 150 to 170 km / h were recorded in Poingam this morning. The strong tropical depression Ruby continues its progression towards the south-east. At 6 a.m., it was 20.1 South and 163.6 East. At 8 am, the atmospheric pressure was 982 hPa in Ouégoa. The phenomenon could reach the stage of tropical cyclone.

Its intended track is a passage along the East Coast, between this morning and the end of the afternoon. She is expected in the far south and on the Ile des Pins in the early evening.

During the next 24 hours, rains of 100 to 150 mm are expected, on both coasts, see locally 200 to 250 mm. “These accumulations will be added to the rains of the last 24 hours which have already reached locally 200 to 250 mm on the southern half of the east coast and the extreme south”, informs Météo France, in its latest meteorological bulletin.

© Joël Santino

“The rains could be particularly intense with a high risk of significant floods”, continues the document.

The system is very compact and very small and it is enough for it to pass a little further from the east coast to have conditions which vary very strongly, warns the forecaster. You really have to beware

Julien Leduc, chief forecaster at Météo France

At sea, hollows can reach 8 meters, offshore, and an excess of 1 meter to 1.5 meters is possible on the East Coast and in the Loyalty Islands.

© Stéphanie Chenais / NC the 1st

Belep, Ouégoa, Poum and now Koné are without electricity. Canala, Kaala-Gomen and Koumac are also experiencing interruptions in energy distribution. Secondary axes are cut in the far North, the RT1 is, for the moment, passable in Bourail.

About sixty people found refuge in the accommodation centers set up by the municipalities of the North province. At Boulouparis, the Haute Ouaménie raft would be impracticable. Alert 2 is maintained throughout the country. “People must stay safe in homes”, insists Philippe Buama, who invites us to be vigilant by the deceptive calm that can arise when passing through the eye of the phenomenon.

© Joël Santino

• Do not walk, cycle or use any motorized means of locomotion
• Stay confined inside homes or reception centers provided by the municipalities
• Make sure you stay away from the bay windows
• If the situation deteriorates, identify the most resistant places in the room and stick to them and protect yourself
• Monitor the resistance of the shelter and its openings, redoubling your vigilance at night
• Be aware of the risk of flooding
• Be constantly vigilant despite cyclonic lulls. It is forbidden to go out, especially during the passage of the eye of the cyclone
• Wait for instructions from the authorities to leave your home, shelters or reception center

The Koné river rises without overflowing after the overnight rains due to the Ruby depression

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© Nathan Poaouteta / NC the 1st

The next Météo France bulletin is scheduled for 11 a.m. Stay informed on our branches, by following our live and our publications on social networks.