Extreme Weather News

Today tropical Storm Ignacio became the 16th 2015 tropical cyclone to form in the eastern Pacific this year putting it a couple weeks ahead of last year’s pace. The GPM core observatory satellite saw Ignacio on August 25, 2015 at 2256 UTC. GPM’s Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) found rain falling at a rate of over 74 mm (2.9 inches) per hour with storm tops reaching to altitudes of close to 15 km (8.7 miles).

Rainfall associated with tropical depression Kilo recently dumped heavy rain in some areas of the state of Hawaii. Tropical depression Kilo changed course to move away from the Hawaiian Islands so it is no longer a threat but has recently been more energetic. The GPM core observatory satellite flew over on August 25, 2015 at 0121 UTC as Kilo approached Johnson Atoll and found that rainfall intensity had recently increased and the tropical depression's storm tops were very tall. GPM's Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) discovered that rain was falling at a rate of almost 65 mm (2.6 inches

A tropical depression labeled Kilo formed to the southeast of the Hawaiian Islands on August 20, 2015. The tropical cyclone has moved to the southwest of the Islands. The Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPHC) predicts that Kilo will strengthen into a hurricane as it moves in the general direction of the island of Kauai over the next five days. The GPM core observatory satellite measured the rainfall near Kilo on August 23, 2015 at 0131 UTC. GPM’s Microwave Imager (GMI) and GPM's Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) discovered that rain was falling at a rate of over 121 mm (4.8 inches)

Rain bands from typhoon Goni were hitting the island of Luzon in the northern Philippines when the GPM core observatory satellite flew over on August 20, 2015 at 0711 UTC (3:11 PM Philippine Standard Time). GPM's Microwave Imager (GMI) clearly showed the intensity of rain falling in Goni's inner and replacement outer eye wall. GMI found that precipitation was falling at a rate of over 88.0 (3.5 inches) in extreme rainfall south of Goni's distinct eye. Radar reflectivity data from GPM's Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) instrument was used in this view (from the east) to show the 3-D

Tropical Storm Danny became the 4th named storm of the season yesterday afternoon when it formed in the central Atlantic about 1660 miles east of the Windward Islands. Danny originated from an African easterly wave that moved off of the coast of Africa 4 days earlier on the 14th of August. Storms that form in this region are known as Cape Verde storms and typically form towards the height of hurricane season. In a typical season, there are about 10 named storms and 6 hurricanes. With this year being a potentially strong El Nino year, Atlantic hurricanes are usually suppressed. However, it only