Hurricanes

Yesterday Sandy dropped to tropical storm intensity but the National Hurricane Center (NHC) decided on October 27,2012 at 1500 UTC (11 AM EDT) that Sandy was again a minimal hurricane. The rainfall analysis on the right was made from TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) data collected when TRMM flew above less than an hour later at 1552 UTC (11:52 AM EDT). This analysis includes some rainfall that was beyond the reach of land based radar observations.

Hurricane Sandy, located east of the Carolina's, has maintained minimal hurricane strength while following it's forecast track toward the northeast. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) predicts that Sandy will make a turn toward the Mid-Atlantic coast tomorrow. As a post-tropical low Sandy is then predicted to produce extremely heavy rainfall and dangerously high winds over a large area of the North-East after landfall. The TRMM satellite collected data when it flew over hurricane Sandy again today at 1456 UTC (10:56 AM EDT). An analysis of rainfall from TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and

The reported death toll from hurricane Sandy's flooding and high winds has now reached above 120. Over 70 deaths were caused by Sandy in the Caribbean and recent reports bring the total to greater than 50 in the United States. Much of the recent deadly flooding along the northeastern United States coastlines was caused by super storm Sandy's storm surge. Strong winds from Sandy persistently pushed Atlantic ocean waters toward the coast. High tides that occurred at the same time also magnified the effects of the storm surge. Some flooding was also caused by long periods of heavy rainfall that

The TRMM satellite flew over hurricane Carlotta again on Friday June 15, 2012 at 1018 UTC. TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) showed that Carlotta was much better organized and revealed a developing eye. Heavy rainfall in bands spiraling into the center of Carlotta are shown by TRMM's Precipitation Radar (PR). Past positions and the National Hurricane Center's forecast positions are shown overlaid in white. Carlotta is forecast to become a category two hurricane tomorrow with sustained wind speeds increasing to 85kts (~98 mph) as it nears the Mexican coast.

The TRMM satellite passed above hurricane Bud early this morning at 0429 UTC (9:30 PM PDT May 24, 2012). A large area of moderate to heavy rainfall with rates of over 30mm/hr (~1.2 inches) was revealed in Bud by TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) instrument. The rainfall analysis was overlaid on an enhanced infrared image derived from TRMM's Visible and InfraRed Scanner (VIRS). Bud's past and predicted locations are shown overlaid in white. Heavy rainfall from hurricane Bud's slow movement may result in severe flooding and dangerous landslides as it moves over Mexico's rugged coastal terrain.

Hurricane Kenneth (in the eastern Pacific Ocean) reached powerful category four hurricane strength with wind speeds of 125 kts (~144 mph) on Tuesday 22 November 2011. The TRMM satellite passed directly above Kenneth as it was rapidly weakening on Wednesday 23 November 2011 at 0455 UTC. A rainfall analysis from TRMM's Micrwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) instruments is shown overlaid on an infrared image from TRMM's Visible and InfraRed Scanner (VIRS). Very heavy rainfall of over 50mm/hr (~2 inches) is shown by this analysis occurring in the northeastern side of Kenneth's eye wall

The TRMM satellite passed over rapidly dissipating tropical storm Rina twice on 28 October 2011. The images shown above were made using TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) data collected by the first orbit before daylight at 0753 UTC (3:53 AM EDT). Tropical storm Rita was still dropping heavy rainfall in a small area off the northeastern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula but an even larger area of convective rainfall had formed to the north-northwest of Rina. The image on the upper right , looking toward the east, was made from TRMM's Precipitation Radar (PR) data. It reveals

The TRMM satellite had a good daytime view of a much smaller tropical storm Rina on 27 October 2011 at 1522 UTC (10:22 AM CTD). Rina had decreased in size and strength due to vertical wind shear and dry air entrainment. Rainfall from TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) shows that heavy rainfall with the much diminished tropical cyclone was then only located off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. Click here to see a movie that fades from the visible image to the rainfall image.