TROPICAL DEPRESSION BETSY, 5-9 October 

     After September 28th, the ITCZ was reactivated by a cold front
which was joined with a system centered near 43.0 degrees South
and 110.0 degrees East.  The satellite photos indicated several
vortii between 04.0 and 10.0 degrees South, to the east of 65.0
degrees East.  These vortii moved west, causing several isolated
storms.

     On the 29th, the center was located near 6.0 degrees South and
76.0 degrees East.  The winds near the center reached 20-30 knots.

     On the 30th, the vortii moved into the area of the ITCZ which
was still not particularly active.

     On October 2nd, a depression began forming between 0-10
degrees South and 67-78 degrees East.  The area was vast, but there
was no clear center of vorticity.

     On the 3rd, the depression began to form a clear vortex within
the eastern part of the associated cloud mass.  The center was
located near 8.0 degrees South and 68.3 degrees East.

     A weak high pressure belt extended along 25.0 degrees South
and 80.0 degrees East.

     On the 4th, the vortex was more clear.  The satellite photo
indicated curved lines within the the north-eastern semi-circle,
while the diameter of the primary cloud mass was diminishing.  The
entire system moved slowly west and was classified as stage C+.

     The winds remained weak.

     On the 5th, the anticyclone moved toward the east, while a
large trough appeared to the south-east of Madagascar.

     The vortex was centered near point 10.0 degrees South and 62.0
degrees East, and was clear and intense.  The speed of the system
increased and curved toward the south-west.

     On the 6th, at 0445 UT, the depression, which was centered
near point 11.5 degrees South and 58.5 degrees East, was named
Betsy.  It had not developed much further, however, the vortex was
still clear.  The winds remained weak and the action zone did not
exceed 5.0 degrees. 

     During the night, while the anticyclone located to the south
of the Mascareignes intensified, the depression turned toward the
west-north-west and passed about 150 km south of Agalega.  At
Agalega, the pressure was registered at 1006.0 mb, and the winds
remained below 15 knots.

     On the 7th, the satellite photo classified the system at stage
X1.  The center was located within the cloud mass, whose diameter
had diminished: 1.5 degrees.  Betsy continued west-north-west and
was located at 0600 UT at approximately 250 km to the west of
Agalega.

     On the 8th, a powerful anticyclone extended from New Amsterdam
to the south of the Mozambiqe Channel, and formed a ridge over the
north of Madagascar.  Betsy moved north-west and began to break-
apart. 

     According to ESSA 8, the center was located near point 8.0
degrees South and 48.0 degrees East and the diameter did not exceed
1 degree.  Several strong wind gusts blew over the extreme north-
east of Madagascar (35-40 kt). This was caused by the meridional
anticyclone.

     On the 9th, there was no trace of Betsy that remained.  It had
disappeared to the north of the Comores.

Influence on the Reunion: nothing.

Influence on the Comores:
     Weak rainfall was registered: 13 mm at Moroni between the 6th
and the 7th.  From the 8th to the 9th, the rainfall measured about
2 to 3 mm, however the winds remained mild.