Extreme Weather News

The GPM core observatory satellite's Microwave Imager (GMI) instrument had a fairly good view of tropical cyclone GITA on February 2018 at 0316 UTC. GPM's Dual Frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) swath only scanned the area west of GITA's main area of precipitation. The weakening tropical cyclone was passing the southeastern tip of New Caledonia. Although weakening, GITA still had winds estimated at over 90 kts (104 mph). Rainfall derived from GMI data showed that the heaviest precipitation, falling at rate of about 51 mm (2 inches) per hour, was shown west of GITA's low level circulation

Tropical cyclone GITA recently battered and drenched first Samoa and then Tonga as it passed close to both island groups. GITA was a tropical storm with winds of about 40 kts (46 mph) when it passed to the south of Samoa but still caused widespread destruction and flooding. The president of the United States approved a disaster declaration for Samoa. The tropical cyclone's winds had increased to about 125 kts (144 mph) when it battered Tonga as the equivalent of a category four hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale. Destructive winds were the main cause of destruction but heavy

Recently formed tropical cyclone GITA was drenching Samo when the GPM core observatory satellite passed above on February 9, 2018 at 1426 UTC. Data collected by GPM's Microwave Imager (GMI) and Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) instruments showed the area and intensity of precipitation associated with the tropical cyclone. The area covered by GPM's radar swath is shown in lighter shades. GITA was producing heavy rainfall over a large area that included the islands. The center of the intensifying tropical cyclone was located just to the south of the islands. Rainfall in that area was

The GPM core observatory satellite passed above weakening tropical cyclone CEBILE on February 6, 2018 at 1151 UTC. CEBILE's maximum sustained winds had decreased to about 40 kts (46 mph). The satellite showed that most of the convective rainfall in the sheared tropical cyclone was southeast of CEBILE's center of circulation. Dual Frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) data received by GPM with this pass showed that the northeastern side of the eye wall was eroding while continuous heavy precipitation was found by GPM in the southeastern quadrant of the storm. The area scanned by GPM's DPR is

Tropical Cyclone CEBILE formed four days ago in the southwest Indian Ocean southeast of Diego Garcia. Today CEBILE became the most powerful tropical cyclone to form in the southern hemisphere this year. Maximum sustained wind speeds within CEBILE were estimated at 120kts (138 mph) early today making CEBILE the equivalent of a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale. The GPM core observatory satellite passed directly above the well defined circular eye of tropical cyclone CEBILE on January 31, 2018 at 0034 UTC. Rainfall intensity and coverage within CEBILE were revealed