TRMM

Tropical storm Pakhar was upgraded to typhoon intensity shortly after the TRMM satellite passed over head again on 29 March 2012 at 2114 UTC. An analysis of TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) rainfall are shown overlaid on an enhanced infrared image from the Visible and InfraRed Scanner (VIRS) instrument. TMI rainfall data indicated that the largest area of precipitation was located to the southwest of the storm's center. PR data shows that there were scattered powerful storms around Pakhar dropping rainfall at a rate of over 50mm/hr (~2 inches). Pakhar's is forecast to

The TRMM satellite flew almost directly over a newly formed tropical storm in the South China Sea on 29 March 2012 at 1122 UTC. Pakhar is the first typhoon to form in the northern hemisphere this year. The intensifying storm had wind speeds of about 45 kts (~52 mph) and was moving toward the west-northwest when viewed by this TRMM pass. Pakhar is predicted to be stronger with wind speeds of at least 60 kts (~69 mph) when it crosses into southeastern Vietnam on 31 March 2012. The rainfall analysis above used data from TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) instruments. It

Over the past month northeastern Australia has continued to receive record rainfall from the monsoon trough that has been draped over that area. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology has indicated that some recorded rainfall rates are seen only once in 100 years. Flooding rainfall amounts have been especially extreme near the coasts of northeastern Australia. For increased coverage, TRMM data can be used to calibrate rainfall estimates from other satellites. The TRMM-based, near-real time Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA) at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center is used to monitor

A tropical storm called LUA formed in the Indian Ocean off Australia's northwestern coast on 13 March 2012. This area of Australia is sparsely populated but LUA caused the shutdown of over one quarter of the country's crude oil production. The TRMM satellite flew over this area on 13 March 2012 at 1622 UTC. A Rainfall analysis using 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). This analysis indicates that rainfall intensity was mainly in the moderate range of 20 to 30 mm

The TRMM satellite passed directly above an intensifying tropical storm in the South Indian Ocean called KOJI on 8 March 2012 at 2053 UTC. The rainfall analysis above was made from TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) data. Those TRMM data reveal that KOJI was getting organized with bands of heavy rainfall spiraling into the storm's center. KOJI has been predicted to increase in intensity and reach hurricane force with peak winds of 70kts (~80 mph) on 10 March 2012. KOJI is predicted to remain at hurricane force for only one day and then weaken while traveling southwestward

This has been an active tropical cyclone season in the South Indian Ocean. The TRMM satellite passed over another forming tropical cyclone (15s) in the South Indian Ocean on 2 March 2012 at 0140 UTC. A rainfall analysis from TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) instruments is shown on the image above. This "top down" view shows that very heavy rainfall of over 50mm/hr (~2 inches) was occurring near the center of the storm's circulation. TRMM's Precipitation Radar (PR) was used in the image above to show the 3-D structure of the forming tropical cyclone. Powerful storm

The TRMM satellite had another revealing pass over the Mozambique Channel and Madagascar on 27 February 2012 at 2011 UTC. This area is being monitored for significant tropical cyclone development. TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) data were used in the rainfall analysis on the upper left. This analysis shows that very intense storms were being produced by a cyclonic circulation off northwestern Mozambique. These storms were dropping rainfall at a rate of over 50mm/hr (~2 inches) in the Mozambique Channel between Mozambique and Madagascar. The 3-D TRMM PR image on the

A weak tropical cyclone locally called Irina caused flooding over northern Madagascar less than two weeks after deadly flooding by Tropical Cyclone Giovanna . The lastest tropical cyclone didn't have very strong winds when it passed over the coastal city of Vohemar on Madagascar's northeastern coast but street flooding was reported. The rainfall analysis above was made at the Goddard Space Flight Center using data from a near-real time Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA). TRMM-based near-real time Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA) data are used to monitor rainfall over

The rainfall analysis above uses near-real-time, TRMM-based precipitation estimates (3B42)from a merger of all available satellite data. This Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA) done at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center provides estimates of rainfall over the global Tropics. This rainfall analysis shows the rainfall from February 8-15, 2012 that was mainly caused by tropical cyclone Giovanna when it passed over Madagascar. This analysis indicates that the highest rainfall totals of over 250mm (~10 inches) fell in the coastal area east of Madagascar's capitol of Antananarivo. In

The TRMM Satellite had a fairly good early morning view of powerful tropical cyclone Giovanna approaching Madagascar on 13 February 2012 at 0333 UTC. Rainfall from TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI) data is shown overlaid on a visible/infrared image from TRMM's Visible and InfraRed Scanner (VIRS) instrument. Giovanna was an intensifying category 4 tropical cyclone with with wind speeds estimated at over 125 kts (~144 mph) and is predicted by the JTWC to become slightly more powerful before hitting Madagascar.