Violent winds and heavy rains from Cyclone Emnati threaten Reunion, – Réunion 1ère

The intense cyclone Emnati will pass as close as possible to our coasts this Sunday, February 20, in the night. Reunion has been on hurricane red alert since 9 p.m. Stay at home, you are confined until the alert is lifted.

Tomorrow, Monday, schools, nurseries and universities will remain closed. The airport is closed. Reunion is at a standstill while Cyclone Emnati moves away.

Réunion La 1ère accompanies you during this hurricane night on radio, TV and the internet. Follow our LIVE on the situation below:

11:30 p.m. The wind is blowing hard at the Plaine des Cafres

According to a listener, the wind is blowing hard at the Plaine des Cafres. “I listened to you with my walkman during Batisrai because there was no more electricity”, says Nelly.

Gusts have been recorded at 110 km / h at the Plaine de Cafres in recent hours, according to Météo France.

11:15 p.m. Calm weather in Le Tampon, the wind picks up in Petite-Ile

At Le Tampon, a listener explains that he “there is not a leaf that moves at this hour”, “unlike the passage of cyclone Batsirai”. “We assume that it will come”, he adds. Two weeks ago, Le Tampon had been hit hard by the winds and rains of Cyclone Batsirai.

In the South, a listener announces that the wind is starting to pick up in Petite-Ile. The inhabitants of Petite-Ile have had no water since 7:30 p.m. due to the preventive water cuts put in place.

10:55 p.m. The last point of Meteo France Reunion

According to the latest report from Météo France Réunion, at 10 p.m., the intense cyclone Emnati was located 375 km north of our coasts. He was 360 km away, at 7 p.m. It moves at the speed of 9 km/h. The system has slowed down for the past few hours.

• Maximum winds (averaged over 10 minutes) estimated at sea: 175 km/h.
• Estimated maximum gusts at sea: 240 km/h.
• Estimated pressure at the center: 947 hPa.
• Position on February 20 at 10 p.m. local: 17.6 South / 54.6 East.
• Distance from the Reunion coast: 375 km to the sector: NORTH-NORTH-WEST
• Movement: WEST, at 9 km/h.

10:40 p.m. Gusts of wind on the North, the South and the interior of the island

On Réunion La 1ère, Sébastien Langlade, forecaster at Météo France: at 10 p.m., the intense cyclone Emnati is 380 km to the north, northwest of Réunion. It is a little farther from 7 p.m.

In the next few hours, it will evolve 350 km from our island for the rest of the night. “We remain on a peripheral influence of the system for Reunion, we mainly have winds more than rain”, explains Sébastien Langlade.

The winds blow violently on the North, South coasts, and inside the island.

Gusts are recorded at 110 km / h at the Plaine de Cafres, 130 km / h at Piton Maïdo, between 80 and 90 km / h at Gillot, nearly 100 km / h at Cilaos.

The cyclone will start to move away from Reunion tomorrow morning, but we will remain under its windy and rainy influence on the outskirts.

10:30 p.m. Live on Réunion La 1ère radio, TV, internet

All night long, Réunion La 1ère accompanies you on radio, TV and on the internet. You can reach us on 02 62 99 2000.

Live with you during the passage of cyclone Emnati

10:20 p.m. The Tresta Star battered by the cyclonic swell

In Saint-Philippe, the Tresta Star threatens to break in two and suffers the swell of cyclone Emnati. The Mauritian ship ran aground at Tremblet during the passage of Cyclone Batsirai on February 3. Since then, depollution has been underway, but oil slicks have escaped from the holds of the ship. Depollution operations are suspended for the passage of cyclone Emnati.

Watch the report from Réunion La 1ère:

In Saint-Philippe, the Tresta Star threatens to break in two and suffers the swell of cyclone Emnati. Report

10:05 p.m. No school, nursery and university on Monday

Schools, nurseries, after-school care and collective care for minors will remain closed on Monday 21 February. A new update will be made as soon as possible, to inform families of the date of resumption of classes. Read our article by clicking here. All University sites and campuses are also closed until further notice.

9:55 p.m. The coastal road could be closed tonight

The coastal road is closed on the sea side, traffic is no longer possible in the Saint-Denis / La Possession direction. A detour is via the Route de la Montagne.

For the moment, it is still possible to travel on the mountain side lanes in the direction of La Posssession / Saint-Denis. However, the prefect of Reunion has warned that the coastal road could be closed by this evening.

Travel is prohibited on red alert, except for the emergency services.

Watch the report from Réunion La 1ère:

Cyclonic swell: the coastal road closed? An expected decision

9:40 p.m. Gusts at 125 km / h at Maïdo

On Réunion La 1ère, Sébastien Langlade, forecaster at Météo France, recalls that the cyclone will pass as close as possible during the night, but at more than 300 km. “The most extreme conditions of the system will remain at sea, but Reunion will be under the degradation of its periphery”adds the forecaster.

For the moment, the North and South regions are the windiest. Gusts of 80/90 km/h are recorded in Saint-Denis. Gusts between 100 and 110 km / h recorded on the heights, in the Mountain. At the Port, the weather stations record gusts of more than 100 km/h. In the heights, 112 km / h recorded at the Plaine des Cafres, and 125 km / h currently at Maïdo. For now, the rains are moderate and occur in the interior of the island, on Salazie and Mafate. It rains more on the Volcan massif.

9:25 p.m. Activation of a public information unit 02 62 41 00 00

The prefecture announces the opening of a public information unit (CIP) to
• inform the population about the red alert instructions;
• Respond to the concerns of Reunion Islanders;
• redirect calls to appropriate contacts.
To contact the public information unit, call the single crisis number (freephone): 02 62 41 00 00.

This cell does not respond to emergency calls.

If necessary contact:
– SAMU on 15 or 112 in case of difficulties,
– Firefighters 18,
– Police and Gendarmerie 17.

For points on weather conditions, you can contact directly the
Meteo-France answering machines:
– 08.92.68.08.08 for weather forecasts
– 08.97.65.01.01 for the cyclone point

9:20 p.m. Rains and floods in Saint-Joseph

The effects of Emnati were felt in the South this afternoon. At Saint-Joseph, the aprons are closed. The Remparts and Langevin rivers are in flood.

Watch the report from Réunion La 1ère:

Emnati: wind and rain in the south

9:15 p.m. Different effects across the island

Wind in La Possession, not a drop of rain in Saint-Leu, and showers in Mafate, according to listeners to Réunion La 1ère.

The prefect of Reunion, Jacques Billant, had warned: “The effects of the cyclone will not be the same throughout the territory. The winds will be intense in the Hauts and the West”.

8:43 p.m. Accommodation centers and emergency numbers by municipality

The island is on red alert and the municipalities have set up accommodation centers and emergency numbers. Find the list by clicking in our article here.

8:42 p.m. Emnati 360 km to the North

According to the latest report from Météo France Réunion, at 7 p.m., the intense cyclone Emnati was located 360 km north of our coasts. It moves towards the West, South West, at the speed of 13 km/h. The system has slowed down for the past few hours.

The passage closest to Reunion should take place during Sunday night, at nearly 350km. The gusts currently close to 100km/h in the coastal areas and 120km/h in the highlands, could reach 120km/h on the coast and 130 to 140km/h in the highlands overnight and Monday morning.

8:41 p.m. Wave-Submersion Enhanced Vigilance

As the system progresses, the NE swell generated by Batsirai increases. Wave-submersion vigilance has applied since 4 p.m. to the entire coast. It is reinforced for the eastern part, from north to south.

8:40 p.m. Red alert in effect at 9 p.m.

The prefect of Reunion has decided to trigger the red alert at 9 p.m. Do not go out under any circumstances, Reunion is confined during the red alert. Write down the emergency telephone numbers: the town hall of your municipality; 15 in the event of a medical problem (or 112 in the event of difficulty) and 18 for other requests for help. Traffic is prohibited, except for emergency services and services working on crisis management.