TRMM

The TRMM satellite flew over newly designated tropical depression 08W in the western Pacific Ocean on 11 July 2011 at 0637 UTC. The rainfall analysis on the left above, derived from TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) data, shows that numerous convective thunderstorms were dropping moderate to heavy rainfall over a large area of the Pacific Ocean near 18.1N 157.3E. The Naval Maritime Forecast Center Pearl Harbor, HI (NMFC-PH) predicts that 08W will become a typhoon over the open waters of the Pacific with 65kt (~75 mph) winds by 13 July 2011. The 3-D display above uses PR

Tropical depression Three was showing much better organization with more heavy rainfall when the TRMM satellite saw it again on 7 July 2011 at 1636 UTC. Data from TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) showed that heavy rainfall was present in a large area over the center of the intensifying depression and in a feeder band to the west of the center. There were also a few showers shown along the Mexican coast to the northwest of the storm.

The TRMM satellite passed over an area of low pressure in the eastern Pacific Ocean south of Mexico on 7 July 2011 at 0234 UTC. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami, Florida upgraded this area of low pressure to a tropical depression at 1500 UTC ( 08:00 AM PDT) making it the third tropical depression in the eastern Pacific this hurricane season. Conditions are expected to be favorable for the depression to become a tropical storm within the next couple days. The rainfall analysis from TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) data was overlaid on an infrared image from

Arlene formed into a tropical storm on the evening of 28 June 2011 in the Bay of Campeche in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico from an area of low pressure that had formed the day before just west of the Yucatan Peninsula. Arlene did not have time to fully develop and came ashore as a strong tropical storm two days later on the morning of 30 June near Cabo Rojo along Mexico's east coast with sustained winds reported at 65 mph. Although wind damage from the storm was relatively minor, Arlene brings the threat of heavy rains and flash flooding to the region as it continues to move inland. The

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) named Tropical Storm Arlene the first tropical storm of the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season on 29 June 2011 at 0000 UTC (7 PM CDT). The TRMM satellite had a good look at Arlene when it passed above on 29 June 2011 at 0502 UTC (0:02 AM CDT). At that time Arlene's winds were estimated to be about 34 knots (~39 mph) indicating that it was barely a tropical storm. TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) data were used in the analysis on the upper left and show that Arlene was getting better organized and contained scattered heavy thunderstorms

The TRMM satellite again flew over tropical storm Arlene on 30 June 2011 at 0408 UTC before the first tropical storm of the Atlantic hurricane season came ashore in Mexico. Arlene had become a strong tropical storm with sustained winds of about 55 kts (~63 mph). The rainfall analysis above is from TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR). It shows that Arlene contained areas of very heavy rainfall. A few rain showers from Arlene were starting to reach Mexico and extreme southern Texas but at that time the most intense storms were still located in the Gulf Of Mexico east of

The TRMM satellite flew over an area of disturbed weather labeled 95L affecting southern Mexico on 27 June 2011 at 2148 UTC (5:48 PM EDT). The TRMM rainfall analysis shown above used TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) data. It shows that heavy rainfall of over 50mm (~2 inches) associated with 95L was occurring in southern Mexico northwest of Veracruz and over the Yucatan Peninsula. Some of this very heavy rainfall may result in flash flooding and mudslides. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is watching this area and has indicated that there is a slight chance that a

Tropical depression 02E was upgraded to tropical storm Beatriz on 19 June 2011 at 1800 UTC (1100 AM PDT). The TRMM satellite flew over on the same date at 1105 UTC( 0400 AM PDT) obtaining data used in the image shown above. Beatriz was already well organized with TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) data showing that thunderstorms were dropping heavy rainfall in a large area near the center of the forming storm. PR data revealed that some of these powerful storms were reaching heights above 15 km (9.3 miles).

The sixth western Pacific tropical cyclone (06W) of 2011 has developed near the Philippines. Tropical storm AERE, super syphoon SONGDA and Tropical Storm SARIKA have already affected the Philippines this year. The TRMM satellite had an early morning look at the forming depression on 16 June 2011 at 2130 UTC. A precipitation analysis from TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) shows that 06W wasn't well organized but contained areas of moderate to heavy rainfall located east of the Philippines. 06W is expected to intensify to a tropical storm, brush the northeastern coast of

Hurricane Adrian's eye was clearly seen by the TRMM satellite when it passed over on 10 June 2011 at 1608 UTC. The heavy rainfall completely surrounding Adrian's well defined eye was revealed with TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI) data obtained at the same time. Hurricane Adrain, located southwest Mexico , was classified as a dangerous category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson scale with sustained wind speeds estimated at 115 kts (~132 mph).