TRMM News

The TRMM satellite had an excellant daylight view of tropical storm Harvey on 20 August 2011 at 1744 UTC ( 1:44 PM EDT) as the storm was coming ashore in Belize. An Air Force Reserve aircraft reported to the National Hurricane Center that Harvey's winds had increased to 63 kts (~72.5 mph) just before landfall. TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) data show that heavy thunderstorms were occurring over land northwest of the storm's center.

An area of potential tropical cyclone formation in the Atlantic Ocean about 800 miles east of the Lesser Antilles was seen by the TRMM satellite on 19 August 2011 at 1531 UTC (11:31 AM EDT). TRMM's Precipitation Radar (PR) revealed that powerful thunderstorm towers within this tropical wave reached to heights above 15 km (~9.3 miles).

Ocean water warmer than 26C is a necessary condition for tropical cyclones to support convection. A TMI based Sea Surface Temperature (SST) analysis for three days ending on 18 August 2011 is shown above. Tropical Storm Fernanda's path (overlaid in white) recently took it over ocean waters colder than 26 Celcius so it has weakened considerably. The TRMM satellite passed over Fernanda on 19 August 2011 at 0648 UTC. The TMI and PR rainfall analysis from this pass shows that there is now very little rainfall with the weakening storm. See earlier news about Tropical Storm Fernanda

The TRMM satellite had a good daytime view of the tropical wave that was upgraded to the Atlantic Ocean basin's eighth tropical depression on 19 August 2011 at 0300 UTC (18 August 11 PM EDT). An image from TRMM's pass on 18 August 2011 at 1757 UTC (1:37 PM EDT) is displayed above and reveals that the precipitation pattern was getting a little better organized but heavy rainfall didn't cover a large portion of 08L at that time. Tropical depression 08L is predicted by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) to weaken to a remnant low in the next three days while producing rain over Honduras

On 18 August 2011 at 0307 UTC (11:07 PM EDT) the TRMM satellite traveled above an area of organized shower activity in the Caribbean Sea that the National Hurricane Center (NHC) forecasts will soon become a tropical cyclone. TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) data show that this tropical wave south of Jamaica contained several areas of convective thunderstorms that were dropping rainfall at the rate of over 40 mm/hr (~1.6 inches). TRMM's PR data show that some thunderstorm towers in this stormy area were higher than 13 km (~8 miles).

A tropical depression (7E) off the southern coast of Mexico was upgraded by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) to tropical storm Greg shortly after the TRMM satellite saw it on 17 August 2011 at 0534 UTC. TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) showed that intense convective thunderstorms within the developing storm were dropping rainfall at rates greater than 30mm/hr (1.2 inches) in an area near the center of the storm. Greg is expected to enhance rainfall over the southwest coastline of mexico for the next day or so. Greg is forecast by the NHC to intensify to hurricane strength within 24 hours while

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) upgraded tropical depression 06E to tropical storm Fernanda on 16 August 2011 at 0800 UTC after seeing data from a TRMM pass at that time. A rainfall analysis from TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI) rainfall data shows that Fernanda contains areas of heavy rainfall. Fernanda was located about 2378 km (~1478 miles) east-southeast of the Hawaiian Islands with wind speeds of about 45 kts (~52 mph) and was moving toward the west at about 8 kts (~9.2 mph). The NHC discussion says that computer guidance indicates considerably more intensification is possible with

The TRMM satellite showed that tropical Storm Gert still contained a few potent thunderstorms when it traveled directly over head on 16 August 2011 at 0005 UTC. As predicted by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) Gert passed to the east of Bermuda. Gert is now expected to accelerate movement toward the northeast and dissipate in the cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has given an area of disturbed weather in the eastern Pacific Ocean a high probability (70%) of becoming a tropical cyclone. The TRMM satellite flew over this disturbance, located about 2,680km (~1,665 miles) east-southeastof the Hawaiian Islands, on 14 August 2011 at 2306 UTC. TRMM's Precipitation Radar (PR) revealed that numerous heavy thunderstorms in an area west of the low pressure center were dropping rain at the rate of over 50mm/hr (~2 inches). TRMM's PR also showed that a few thunderstorm towers near the center of the developing tropical cyclone

Tropical Storm Gert became the seventh named tropical cyclone in the Atlantic Ocean basin on Sunday August 14, 2011 at 1800 UTC ( 2 PM EDT). Gert was located southeast of Bermuda and appeared small but well organized when the TRMM satellite flew over on 15 August 2011 at 0101 UTC. A rainfall analysis from TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) shows a comma shaped area of moderate to heavy rainfall wrapping around the center of the small storm. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) expects Gert to intensify slightly while passing just to the east of Bermuda. Click here to see earlier TRMM information