TRMM

The development of tropical cyclones in the Atlantic Ocean basin has been very slow recently but tropical cyclones have formed in the Eastern Pacific Ocean at a near normal or greater than normal pace. Sixteen tropical cyclones per season usually form in the eastern Pacific and tropical storm Lorena is number fourteen. The TRMM satellite flew above this most recent Eastern Pacific tropical storm on September 6, 2013 at 0824 UTC. TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) data show that Lorena did not contain large areas of precipitation. Those data do show that Lorena had one

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) upgraded a low pressure center south of Puerto Rico to tropical depression number seven on September 4, 2013 at 2100 UTC (5:00 PM EDT). The tropical depression was then again upgraded to tropical storm Gabrielle on September 5, 2013 at 0300 UTC (11 PM EDT). Gabrielle was subsequently downgraded to a tropical depression at 1500 UTC (11 AM EDT). The TRMM satellite's Microwave Imager (TMI) had a fairly good look at tropical storm Gabrielle very early this morning at 0614 UTC (2:14 AM EDT). TRMM's TMI found rain falling at a rate of over 56mm/hr (~2.2 inches) in

Tropical storm Toraji quickly followed tropical storm Kong-rey and has started to again saturate Japan with flooding rainfall. The TRMM satellite flew over Toraji on September 3, 2013 at 1220 UTC. Rainfall estimates using data collected by TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) instruments with this orbit are displayed in the left image. TRMM PR measured rain falling at a rate of 133 mm/hr (~5.2 inches) in an area just north of Toraji's center of circulation. The image on the right shows a 3-D view from the south of this area using TRMM PR data.

The TRMM satellite flew directly above western Taiwan on August 28, 2013 at 2108 UTC when tropical storm Kong-Rey was dropping enormous amounts of rain. Flooding from torrential rainfall with totals of over 500mm (~19.7 inches) have been reported in western Taiwan. This rainfall analysis from TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) instruments revealed that precipitation was falling at a rate of over 205mm/hr (~8 inches) in intense bands of rain over southwestern Taiwan. Tropical storm Kong-Rey's location when TRMM flew over is shown with a red symbol. This TRMM orbit also

Tropical storm Kong-Rey formed in the western Pacific Ocean east of the Philippines on August 26, 2013. Kong-rey passed to the northeast of the Philippines and is predicted to cross over northeastern Taiwan tomorrow. In about three days it is then predicted to be the first tropical cyclone of 2013 to hit southern Japan. The TRMM satellite had an early morning view of tropical storm Kong-Rey on August 27, 2013 at 2203 UTC (~6:03 AM local time). A precipitation analysis from TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) instruments is shown on the left above overlaid on an enhanced

Heavy rain with tropical storm Fernand generated mudslides that caused the reported deaths of 13 people in the Mexican state of Veracruz. TRMM precipitation data are used to calibrate rainfall estimates from other satellites. The resulting TRMM- based, near-real time Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA) at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center is used to estimate rainfall over a wide portion of the globe. The analysis above shows estimated TMPA rainfall totals for the period from August 20-27, 2013 when Fernand was developing and moving through the area. Total Rainfall greater than

Tropical storm Fernand was drenching the state of Veracruz on Mexico's Gulf Of Mexico coast when the TRMM satellite flew over on August 26, 2012 at 0534 UTC. A rainfall analysis from TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) instruments is shown overlaid on an enhanced infrared image from TRMM's Visible and InfraRed Scanner (VIRS). TRMM PR found rain falling at a rate of over 118mm/hr (~4.6 inches) in rain bands north of Fernand's center of circulation. TRMM PR data revealed that Fernand had a fairly well defined center. TRMM's Precipitation Radar (PR) data were used in the

Torrential rain and powerful winds accompanied typhoon Utor when it came ashore in southern China's Guangdong province. The TRMM satellite flew above as typhoon Utor was headed toward southern China on August 13, 2013 at 2156 UTC. At the time of this TRMM pass typhoon Utor was a powerful typhoon with wind speeds reaching over 85kts (~98mph). A rainfall analysis from TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) instruments is shown overlaid on an infrared image from TRMM's Visible and InfraRed Scanner (VIRS). Bands of intense rainfall are shown spiraling into the eye that was

A category four typhoon called UTOR hit the Philippines with wind speeds of about 120kts (~138 mph). It has been reported that at least one person was killed and 20 fishermen are missing. Landslides are also likely due to heavy rainfall that is occurring over the Philippine's rugged mountainous terrain. The image above used data collected by the TRMM satellite when it passed over UTOR on August 12, 2013 at 0621 UTC as it was exiting the Philippines into the South China Sea. TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) data are shown overlaid on a combination Infrared/Visible

As predicted by the National Hurricane Center (NHC), hurricane Henriette has started a weakening trend. The TRMM satellite flew over Henriette again on August 9, 2013 at 0122 UTC (~ 4 PM local time). The image above shows a comparison between this latest orbit and another visible image from TRMM's previous orbit on August 8, 2013 at 1709 UTC. The eye that was apparent in the previous image was no longer distinct in the latest TRMM pass. The image of the right shows that rain was still falling at a rate of over 161mm/hr (~6.3 inches) near the center of the hurricane. The image above shows a