Extreme Weather News

Both yesterday and today the GPM core observatory satellite had excellent views of tropical cyclone Uriah in the South Indian Ocean. Uriah was intensifying with winds of about 115 kts (132 mph) on February 17, 2016 at 1651 UTC when the GPM satellite passed above. A rainfall analysis derived from GPM's Microwave Imager (GMI) and Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) data collected with that pass revealed that Uriah had a well defined circular eye. Rain was measured by DPR falling at a rate of over 179 mm (7 inches) per hour on the southern side of Uriah's eye wall. GPM passed over again on

Over the past view days the GPM core observatory satellite has had good looks at tropical cyclone URIAH in the South Indian Ocean west of Australia. On February 15, 2016 at 1706 UTC GPM flew directly over the center of the tropical cyclone and measured rainfall in a well defined circulation. GPM's Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) instrument discovered that rain was falling at a rate of over 127 mm (5 inches) per hour in a band of intense storms south of the cyclone's center. When GPM's Radar sliced through tropical storm URIAH on February 15, 2016 it also found that the intense

Tropical cyclone activity has recently increased in the South Pacific Ocean. Four tropical cyclones have formed in this area in 2016. The GPM core observatory satellite had an excellent view of tropical cyclone Winston on February 11, 2016 at 1253 UTC. Winston was located east of Vanuatu with tropical storm force winds of about 55 kts when GPM passed over head. Winston's rainfall was measured by GPM's Microwave Imager (GMI) and Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) instruments. GPM's radar data revealed that Winston was dropping rain at a rate of over 60 mm (2.4 inches) per hour on the

The GPM core observatory satellite flew over a forming tropical cyclone in the South Indian Ocean between Madagascar and Reunion on February 8, 2016 at 2137 UTC. Low vertical wind shear will assist in the evolution of the tropical low as it moves slowly toward the southwest. Rainfall derived from GPM's Microwave Imager (GMI) and Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) data revealed that powerful convective storms near Madagascar's eastern coast were found to be dropping rain at a rate of over 94 mm (3.7 inches) per hour. 3-D measurements were made of convective storm tops with GPM's radar

On February 8, 2016 at 0800 UTC (3 AM EST) the GPM core observatory satellite flew above an intensifying storm in the Atlantic Ocean off the United State's East Coast. This storm is forecast by the National Weather Service (NWS) to bring strong winds, heavy rainfall, and coastal flooding to the Carolina's. Although the center of the storm is well off the coast, bands of precipitation from the storm are also expected to bring heavy snow to eastern New England. A rainfall analysis derived from data collected by GPM's Microwave Imager (GMI) and Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) instruments