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© 2010 Universal Weather and Aviation, Inc.
Universal Weather and Aviation, Inc. has compiled the content of this publication from various sources and believes it to be accurate at the time of distribution. Universal Weather and Aviation, Inc. shall not, however, be liable for factual or editorial errors contained herein. Readers should NOT act or rely on the information until they have confirmed its continuing accuracy.
Ranks of House, Senate GA Caucuses Continue to Swell
From NBAA (#10-5)
NBAA representatives and those for other general aviation groups were on hand last week as the Senate General Aviation (GA) Caucus formally launched with a Capitol Hill meeting to highlight the value of all general aviation, including business aviation. On the other side of Capitol Hill, the House GA Caucus recently added its 100th member. 'The growth of these caucuses underscores Congress's recognition that business aviation creates jobs, provides a lifeline to communities across the country, helps companies succeed and supports people in times of crisis,' said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. View the caucus rosters caucuses by visiting: http://www.nbaa.org/advocacy/ga-caucus/
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Bolen's Op-Ed: Business Aviation Critical To Haiti Relief
From NBAA (#10-5)
It's a well-known fact that business aviation is uniquely suited for providing a first response to natural disasters. A number of the missions provided by NBAA Members flew into small airports surrounding the earthquake-ravaged city of Port-Au-Prince, demonstrating that a strong network of community airports is invaluable when disasters occur. In an opinion piece published in the January 31 edition of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen notes that NBAA Members, including those in Texas, 'Are among the many whose employees are answering the call: donating their planes, their time and their skills to save lives and bring help to the people of Haiti.' To review Bolen's opinion piece, visit: http://www.star-telegram.com/1021/story/1934861.html
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Schedulers Conference Sees Third-Highest Attendance
From NBAA (#10-5)
NBAA's 21st Annual Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference concluded last week with its third-highest attendance at 2,282 Attendees. NBAA and its Scholarships and professional development achievement awards were presented to more than 70 participants. NBAA announced the names of 22 individuals who were awarded training scholarships and 52 recipients of certificates for their achievements in the NBAA Schedulers Professional Development Program (SPDP). For more information on the event, visit: http://www.nbaa.org/news/pr/2010/20100201-008.php
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DHS Reminds Pilots to Screen Passengers from Haiti
From NBAA (#10-4)
"In light of the extraordinary circumstances in Haiti, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are reminding pilots of business aircraft that they are required to screen all passengers prior to boarding flights to the United States. As part of the U.S. government's ongoing support of international recovery efforts after the January 12 earthquake, CBP is taking steps to ensure screening procedures are followed, to safeguard the well-being of unaccompanied children rescued in Haiti. For more information, visit: http://www.nbaa.org/customs/20100121/"
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Requirement for Visa Waiver Travelers Now Enforced
From NBAA (#10-4)
"The Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection are reminding U.S.-bound passengers traveling from Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries with operators approved to use the VWP that they are required to use the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). Beginning January 20, CBP initiated a 60-day transition to enforced ESTA compliance for air operators. VWP travelers without an approved ESTA may not be allowed to board a U.S.-bound plane. The online application can be found on the CBP web site. For more information, visit: http://www.nbaa.org/customs/"
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Deadline Approaching to Obtain Plastic Pilot Certificates
From NBAA (#10-4)
"According to the Federal Aviation Administration, paper-based airman certificates will expire on March 31. Expired certificates will prevent pilots from exercising their privileges, with the exception of temporary or student pilot certificates. Before the expiration date, pilots are required to obtain new, plastic-based airman certificate replacements for a $2.00 charge. In response to privacy concerns, an option has been made available for removing social security numbers from the new certificates. For more information or to submit a replacement certificate request online, visit: http://www.nbaa.org/faa/expiring-paper-certificates/"
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Updated FAA System Allows Earlier Receipt of GA Flight Plan Data
From NBAA (#10-4)
"After six years of collaboration between the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and NBAA, the FAA has deployed a new direct interface between the Flight Service FS21 system and the Traffic Flow Management system (TFMS). Before this interface was introduced, flight plans submitted more than three hours before departure were held and not transmitted to TFMS, resulting in an inaccurate reflection of general aviation demand information to traffic management. As a result of this updated interface, flight plan data can now be seen up to 17 hours prior to departure by traffic management, resulting in improved TFMS predictions of demand. Operators filing IFR flight plans through Flight Service should do so as early as possible to ensure the maximum effectiveness of this enhancement. For more information, contact NBAA's Bob Lamond at rlamond@nbaa.org or NBAA's Operations Service Group at info@nbaa.org."
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Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics Airspace Restrictions; Slots Required
Airspace restrictions will be in effect for the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games from 29 January 2010 to 24 March 2010. The actual event dates are from 12-28 February 2010 and from 12-21 March 2010. Arrival and departure slots will be required for all airports within the Olympic Control Area, including Vancouver International Airport (CYVR); Boundary Bay Airport (CZBB); and Abbotsford International Airport (CYXX). The Airport Reservation Office (ARO) has already begun accepting slot reservations.
In addition, the Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit (ISU) will require all aircraft, both cargo and passengers, be cleared through a security screening process at a portal/gateway airport prior to landing at an entry airport. The approved portal/gateway airports are:
- Abbotsford International Airport (CYXX)
- Calgary Airport Authority (CYYC)
- Kelowna International Airport (CYLW)
- Victoria Airport Authority (CYYJ)
- Boise Airport (KBOI)
- Reno-Tahoe International Airport (KRNO)
- Spokane International Airport (KGEG)
Hotel availability is also reportedly scarce with some availability in Victoria. Transportation via helicopter, seaplane, or ferry will be necessary from the island to and from Vancouver.
For additional information, see the following Web sites:
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Newly Added UVair Fuel Locations as of 4 February 2010
UVair welcomes new domestic (U.S.) FBO locations that have recently joined the UVair Fueling Program. Visit any of the UVair fuel member locations to receive negotiated savings and streamlined custom billing.
Call (713) 378-2727 or N. America Toll-Free (866) 882-4737, or visit uvair.com, to learn more about UVair, obtain a fuel price estimate, or find a UVair location near your home base or destination.
- ATP Jet Center (KDAB) - Daytona Beach, FL
- Flightways Columbus (KCSG) - Columbus, GA
- Gulf Air Center (KJKA) - Gulf Shores, AL
- Minot Aero Center (KMOT) - Minot, ND
- Saker Aviation (KAVP) - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA
- Suncoast Air Center (KVNC) - Venice, FL
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Low / No Fuel Announcements
Note: All times are UTC/Zulu unless otherwise indicated.
- (Various - Dominican Republic) UVair is fueling available as normal at these airports unless or until supplies are exhausted.
- MDCY - El Catey (Samana)
- MDPC - Punta Cana
- MDPP - Puerto Plata
- MDSD - Santo Domingo-Las Americas
- MDST - Santiago
- MDJB - Santo Domingo-Balaguer
- (ALL - Turkey) Petrol Ofisi is taking a pro-active approach to pending Turkish legislation that requires UVair to provide each customer's address on the face of all fuel releases. Gozen Air (LTFJ) is not yet requiring this, but will follow suit once this legislation becomes law. For the short term, Petrol Ofisi has agreed to accept the UVair card on demand and will have the crew member provide their company's address when they sign the fuel ticket. UVair is required to provide the address on any fuel release sent for those customers who don't hold a UVair card.
- (DGAA) Accra has no fuel available until further notice.
- (EDDH) Hamburg - Air BP available on GA ramp; Statoil available to all operators on commercial ramp.
- (EHBK) Maastricht - construction work at fuel depot means that fuel will only be delivered by truck through end of April. Advise volume requirements and confirm availability until work is completed. Large volume uplifts should expect delays.
- (HHAS) Asmara has no fuel available until further notice.
- (HKMO) Mombasa has no fuel available until further notice.
- (HUEN) Entebbe - fuel supply has returned to normal.
- (LEBL) Barcelona - because this office has standard business hours, 24 hours prior notice is required to obtain fuel, or by Thursday evening for weekend fueling.
- (LFRZ) St Nazaire has no fuel available through 1 March.
- (LGMK) Mykonos is not open 24 hours. 48 hours prior notice is required to fuel during the dormant period of November-March.
- (LGSR) Santorini - Shell offers only JP-8 fuel at this location. JP-8 is the equivalent of Jet A-1, but with additional additives.
- (LPHR) Horta, Azores has no fuel available until further notice.
- (LTFJ) Istanbul-Sabiha Gökçen - fuel is available as normal for passenger/cargo/business jets (G5, GLEX, etc.); however, fueling restrictions are in place for tech landings of large-bodied airliners (B727, B737, A310, etc.) through February.
- (MTPP) Port-au-Prince - UVair supplier Dinasa continues to fuel UVair cardholders as normal. Large volume uplifts should be confirmed in advance to avoid surprises.
- (MYEF) George Town, Exuma Island has fuel available only at Strachan’s Aviation and Odyssey Aviation with a fuel release, and at Executive Flight Support with the UVair card.
- (MYEM) Governor's Harbour has no fuel via supplier EARCO, but Executive Flight Support accepts the UVair card.
- (OMDB) Dubai - UVair fuel supplier Air BP requires prior notice for fueling. Fueling on arrival is recommended, as lengthy fueling delays are standard due to the logistics of transporting fuel across this large airport. Commercial operations take first priority, especially during the peak hours of 0430-0900. If fueling during these hours, delays will be extreme.
- (OPKC) Karachi - hydrant refueling is not available on parking bays 70-72 due to leakage in the main line; fuel will be provided by truck only. Expected to clear 11 March.
- (YBBN) Brisbane supplier has one tanker truck, approximate capacity 4200 USG. Customers requiring more fuel, or fueling during commercial high traffic periods 0600-0900 and 1500-2100 and finding a wait unacceptable, may consider alternative fueling through Shell (at a significantly higher price).
- (YSSY) Sydney-International - be aware that planned upgrade works on supply infrastructure will proceed at some point during this first quarter. Fuel issues may arise because of it.
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Airport Information & Scheduled Closings
Note: All times are UTC/Zulu unless otherwise indicated.
- (ALL - Iran) The CAA is no longer issuing overflight permits for private jets, business, and cargo flights operating to or from Afghanistan. Commercial flights are the only exception.
- (All - Israel) - Until further notice, all Israeli registered aircraft are banned from flying over or into northern Cyprus, including the Ercan (North Cyprus)/LCEN airport. Outgoing and incoming flights to and from northern Cyprus are not allowed into/out of Tel Aviv (LLTA).
- (ALL - United Arab Emirates) Due to security concerns, all civil aircraft departing Afghanistan will only be permitted to land if they departed from either Kabul or Khandahar with all passengers, luggage, and cargo having undergone security screening and clearance at these locations.
- (EGBE) Coventry is closed until further notice.
- (EHTE) Enschede is permanently closed until further notice, possibly reopening in 2011.
- (HKJK) Nairobi-Jomo Kenyatta will be closed daily between 2200-0100 from 29 Jan-9 April.
- (LCLK) Larnaca will be closed daily through 27 March as follows:
- 0300-0415 Sundays
- 0240-0400 and 2225-2345 Mondays
- 0300-0500 Tuesdays
- 0240-0500 Wednesdays
- 0240-0400 Thursdays
- 0140-0500 and 2225-2330 Fridays
- 2240-2330 Saturdays
- (LEVC) Valencia - Due to a special event, slots are required for non-based GA, training, air taxi, and cargo charters from 5-14 February. Slots must be requested by 5 February.
- (LFPB) Paris-Le Bourget will be closed between 2200-2300 on 8 February.
- (LIEE) Cagliari ATS/AIS services may be affected due to strike from 0500 on 5 February-0500 on 6 February.
- (LLBG) Tel Aviv-Ben Gurion will be closed:
- Daily between 2340-0350 through 25 March.
- Daily between 2240-0250 from 26-27 March.
- (MGGT) Guatemala City will be closed daily between 0500-1130 from 12 January-11 March.
- (MTPP) Port-au-Prince is closed indefinitely due to the earthquake and disaster conditions. Only military and humanitarian ops are allowed. Overflights through city airspace are not permitted.
- (SAEZ) Buenos Aires-Ezeiza will be closed between 0400-0700 on 5 February.
- (SPIM) Lima will be closed daily between 0650-0840 from 4 January-18 February.
- (TNCA) Oranjestad will be closed daily between 0400-1100:
- Through 12 February.
- From 16 February-31 March.
- From 6 April-31 December.
- (UNNT) Novosibirsk will be closed daily between 0800-1000 through 27 March.
- (WSSL) Singapore-Seletar will be closed:
- Daily between 1030-0030 from 19-31 March.
- Between 1400-0030 on the 2nd and 18th days of every month through 31 March.
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Upcoming Aviation Shows, Conventions and Events
(Note: Some events may require parking slots/requests. All dates are 2009 unless otherwise noted.)
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24-25 February 2010
NBAA 17th Annual Leadership Conference
San Diego, CA
http://www.nbaa.org/events/leadership/2010/
16-18 March 2010
Aviation Industry Expo 2010 (AS3)
Las Vegas, NV
http://www.aviationindustryexpo.com/
29 March-1 April, 2010
NBAA 37th Annual International
Operators Conference
New Orleans, LA
May 4-6, 2010
EBACE
Geneva, Switzerland
http://www.ebace.aero/2010/
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July 7-8, 2010
CBAA
Calgary, Canada
http://www.cbaa.ca/convention/47th-annual-convention-trade-show-and-static-display/
August 12-14, 2010
LABACE
São Paulo, Brazil
October 19–21, 2010
NBAA Annual Meeting & Convention
Atlanta, GA
December 7-9, 2010
MEBA
Dubai, UAE
http://www.meba.aero/ |
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II. U.S. Department of State Briefings
No new notices at publication time. Visit http://travel.state.gov/ for the latest Travel Warnings, advisories, and up-to-date information on travel abroad.
Israel
Palestinian militants said Tuesday they had launched a large number of floating explosives into the Mediterranean Sea to avenge the death of a top Hamas commander, a day after two bomb-laden barrels washed up on Israel's coastline. Israeli authorities launched an intensive search for new bombs, closing miles of beaches, deploying robotic bomb squads and ordering surfers out of the wintry waters. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed Hamas and hinted at retaliation. Early Wednesday, Israeli warplanes struck two smuggling tunnels under the Gaza-Egypt border in response to the barrel bombs and the firing of a rocket from Gaza, the military said. Such airstrikes are automatic reactions to militant attacks. Abu Saed, a spokesman for the Popular Resistance Committees, a Gaza faction with close ties to Hamas, said the attack was meant to avenge the killing last month of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, a veteran Hamas operative who Israeli defense officials say was involved in smuggling rockets into Gaza.
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Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia said during a visit by Afghan President Hamid Karzai Tuesday that it will not get involved in peacemaking in Afghanistan unless the Taliban stops providing shelter and severs all ties with Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaida movement. Afghan President Hamid Karzai is visiting Saudi Arabia hoping for a active Saudi role in his plan to persuade Taliban militants to switch sides. He will meet with Saudi officials Wednesday after performing the pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca. Saudi Arabia has a unique relationship with Taliban since it was one of the few countries to recognize the regime before it was ousted in 2001 and has acted as an intermediary before. The Saudi conditions for participating in the talks with Taliban, especially expelling former Saudi citizen bin Laden, are not new, but Riyadh is making them clear amid a new international push to work with the Afghan militants.
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Yemen
There have been reports of renewed clashes with rebels in northern Yemen, days after a ceasefire offer was turned down by the government in Sanaa. The Yemeni army said it overran several rebel positions in the northern district of Saada where fighting has been going on for months. But rebels, known as Houthis, denied there had been any attacks on them. A rebel ceasefire was turned down on Sunday by the government who said the rebels had not met a key condition. "Army forces were able to destroy a number of rebel hideouts in the Saada district," the AFP news agency quoted military sources as saying.
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Nigeria
Nigeria's main rebel group vowed Tuesday to carry out fresh attacks on oil facilities "in the weeks to come" in the key Niger Delta region. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) said it "re-states its warning to oil companies regarding their staff who they are putting in harm's way by their continued presence on our soil." "MEND hereby promises to re-visit the Trans-Ramos pipeline which we attacked in June last year after it has been repaired, as well as other oil facilities around the Niger Delta in the weeks to come," it said in an e-mailed statement. The group on Saturday called off a truce it declared on October 25 and threatened an "all-out onslaught". The announcement was a fresh blow for authorities in Africa's oil and gas giant amid uncertainty over the health of the country's president, in hospital in Saudi Arabia for more than two months.
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Mexico
A shootout that began in a shopping center and spilled onto a highway in northern Mexico caused the death of seven suspected drug cartel gunmen and one federal police officer while freeing two kidnap victims, police said. Federal police acting on a report of a kidnapping went to a shopping mall in the city of Torreon Monday night and were met with gunfire, the Federal Public Safety Department said Tuesday. Police and soldiers then chased the kidnappers onto a nearby highway, where the main shootout occurred. One suspect and three policemen were wounded, as were two kidnap victims. Police said the shootout apparently involved members of the Zetas drug gang, a group of hit men allied with the Gulf cartel who have expanded from drug trafficking into kidnapping and extortion. The Zetas have been involved in some of the most bloody confrontations in the drug war that has cost more than 15,000 lives in Mexico over the last three years.
Gunmen have slain a Mexican journalist — the third such killing so far this year — and a top prosecutor said Tuesday there are few clues. Albertano Guinto, the acting attorney general in the Pacific coast state of Guerrero, said it was not yet clear if the death of Jorge Ochoa Martinez was linked to his work as director of El Sol de la Costa, a small newspaper that covers mostly local politics and community issues southeast of Acapulco. Ochoa Martinez was shot in the face as he left a food stand in the town of Ayutla on Friday. Two other Mexican journalists were killed in early January, and 12 reporters were killed in Mexico during 2009. The governmental National Human Rights Commission said that 60 journalists have been killed since 2000, with eight others kidnapped or vanished. "In Mexico, increasing numbers of journalists are the victims of threats, intimidation, persecution attacks and kidnappings in the course of performing their work," the commission said in a statement Monday.
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Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico's governor is activating the National Guard to battle crime in the U.S. territory. Gov. Luis Fortuno said Monday night's executive order activating the Guard is intended as a temporary measure while new police recruits are trained. "Nobody, especially me, can be happy with the number of killings last year. We have to do much more to stop this," Fortuno said in his state of the commonwealth speech. In 2009, Puerto Rico, with nearly 4 million people, had its third-worst year for homicides on record, with more than 890 people slain. Officials said traffickers flooding the island with drug money were making it one of the most violent places under the American flag. Capt. Paul Dahlen, the Puerto Rico Guard's public affairs officer, said Tuesday that as many as 1,000 soldiers will join police patrolling in high-crime areas of San Juan, Bayamon, Carolina and Ponce. About 100 of them will be focused on repairing police squad cars. Training for the troops going out on crime-fighting operations will begin this weekend. It's not yet clear when they will start joining patrols.
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Philippines
Suspected communist rebels tortured and killed a government militiaman despite pleas from his family in Catanduanes province last Monday, a regional military spokesperson said. In a statement issued Tuesday, Major Harold Cabunoc of the Army's 9th Infantry Battalion, identified the victim as Elmer Eusebio, who was attacked by seven New People's Army (NPA) rebels inside his home in Sta. Cruz village in Pandan town about 4:30 p.m. Monday. At the time of the attack, Eusebio was playing with his children when the insurgents barged into his home and dragged him outside. "In front of his weeping family members, the NPA rebels tortured Eusebio until he was bleeding profusely due to rifle butt strokes. He was repeatedly shot in different parts of his body by the unknown bandit leader," Cabunoc said. As the leader of the rebel group hit Eusebio, the other insurgents were reportedly shouting, "Mabuhay ang Hukbong Bayan (Long live the New People's Army)," he added.
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This Week's Global Forecast
TROPICAL
There is one tropical system at this time. T.C. Oli is about 200 miles west of Bora Bora moving towards the east at 12 knots with sustained winds of 65 knots.
VOLCANOES
Etna, Italy has an ash cloud from 11,000 to 8,000 feet, moving toward the east at 15 knots. Soufriere Hills, West Indies has an ash cloud from 10,000 feet to the surface, moving toward the northwest at 05 knots. Sakura-Jima, Kyushu, Japan has an ash cloud from 7,000 feet to the surface, moving towards the southeast at 25 knots. Tungurahua, Ecuador has an ash cloud from 20,000 feet to the surface, moving towards the northwest at 15 knots. Suwanose-Jima, Ryukyu has an ash cloud from 10,000 feet to the surface, moving towards the east at 40 knots.
NORTH AMERICA
A developing storm will be impacting the southern Plains over the next few days, then will push eastward and affect the Carolinas up to New Jersey over the weekend. Rainshowers and thunderstorms can be expected across the south, and rain can be expected for the southern Plains. As it progresses eastward, snow can be expected from Illinois to the Mid Atlantic. The heaviest snow can be expected Friday and Saturday over Virginia and Maryland. Low pressure over the Canadian Maritimes will produce rainshowers through tomorrow across the area.
ATLANTIC/EUROPE
A cold front in the western Atlantic, south of the Canadian Maritimes, will produce rainshowers across the region. A cold front approaching the UK will produce rainshowers for Ireland, the UK, and Iberian Peninsula. Low pressure over Eastern Europe will bring snow from Finland to Poland, and across the Balkans.
ASIA
Snowshowers can be expected across central and eastern Russia as a slow moving cold front moves over the region. Patchy morning fog is likely over the central coast of China. Heavy snow can be expected across the Kamchatka peninsula as low pressure stalls over the area.
SE ASIA/PACIFIC
Thunderstorms are likely over Indonesia, especially during the afternoon and evening. A strong low pressure area and its associated cold front over the western North Pacific will produce rainshowers and moderate low level turbulence.
SOUTH AMERICA
Clusters of thunderstorms will continue over central and northern portions of the continent. A stationary frontal boundary over southeastern Brazil could produce rainshowers and thunderstorms across the region. A strong cold front pushing through southern Chile/Argentina will bring rainshowers to the region.
AFRICA
Thunderstorms are likely over central Africa. Low pressure over Madagascar will produce rainshowers and thunderstorms across the region. Patchy morning fog is likely over portions of the Ivory Coast.
AUSTRALIA/SOUTH PACIFIC
Low pressure over east-central Australia will produce rainshowers across the region. Afternoon showers and thunderstorms can be expected for extreme northern Australia as tropical moisture returns during their summertime pattern.
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