TRMM

The TRMM satellite again flew almost directly above intensifying tropical cyclone Mahasen (01B) on May 11, 2013 at 2157 UTC. Rainfall data from TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) instruments are shown overlaid on an infrared image from the Visible and InfraRed Scanner (VIRS). TRMM PR data found that the heaviest rainfall was falling at a rate of over 142 mm/hr (~5.6 inches) in a band of powerful storms well to the southwest of Mahasen's center. At the time of this TRMM pass Mahasen's winds were estimated to be about 50kts (~58 mph). Mahasen's winds are predicted to

The TRMM satellite passed above a developing tropical cyclone in the northern Indian Ocean west of Indonesia on May 9, 2013 at 2211 UTC. This image shows that tropical cyclone 01B was already fairly well organized. TRMM's Precipitation Radar (PR) instrument indicated that rainfall was falling at a rate over 178 mm/hr (~5.8 inches) in an area of strong convection in the middle of the forming tropical cyclone. The tropical cyclone is a little unusual because it formed only 4.8 degrees north of the equator. Coriolis force, an artifact of the earth's rotation, is weaker near the equator so

Cyclone Zane, which as of 12:00 UTC (10:00 pm Australian Eastern Standard Time or AEST) 1 May 2013, was located about 215 km (~133 miles) due east of the coast of Queensland, Australia. TRMM captured this recent image of Cyclone Zane at 11:48 UTC (9:48 pm AEST) 1 May 2013. At the time, the center of circulation was located about 215 km (~133 miles) due east of the coast of Queensland, Australia and was heading west-northwest. TRMM reveals that Zane is still not very well organized with no eye visible and very little evidence of banding (curvature) in the rain area. At the time of this image

Warm moist air from the Gulf of Mexico collided with a cold front resulting in extremely heavy rainfall in eastern Texas over the weekend. Rapid flooding resulted from reported rainfall of up to seven inches near Houston, Texas. The rainfall analysis was derived from the TRMM-based, near-real time Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA) at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. These rainfall data are derived from a TRMM-calibrated merger of various other satellite rainfall data. TMPA rainfall totals are shown here for the 3-day period from April 26-29, 2013. This analysis shows that

An advancing frontal system extending from the Great Lakes region all the way down to the Gulf Coast supported a line of widespread storms and thunderstorms that brought heavy rain to parts of Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, and Indiana. The hardest hit area was northern Illinois where flooding was reported in and around Chicago. The scenario was set up by a deep upper-level trough that moved out of the Rockies and into the Plains. Strong southerly winds ahead of the trough allowed warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico to stream northwards all the way up to Lake Michigan. The TRMM-based, near-real

The TRMM satellite flew directly over an intensifying tropical cyclone called Imelda in the South Indian Ocean on April 8, 2013 at 0447 UTC. This rainfall analysis used data collected with TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) instruments. This analysis shows a large area of rainfall on the western side of the developing tropical cyclone. TRMM PR found that some powerful convective storms in this area were dropping rain a rate of over 86mm/hr (~3.4 inches).

Hundreds of people in central Peru were recently flooded out of their homes. Rivers left their banks washing away buildings and highways while areas of Peru along the coast of the Pacific Ocean were relatively dry. Flooding from heavy rainfall in some areas of Peru was occurring at the end of the normal rainy season. Data from the TRMM satellite are used to calibrate rainfall data merged from various satellite sources. TRMM-based, near-real time Multi-satellite Precipitation Analyses (TMPA) at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center are used to monitor rainfall over the global Tropics. TMPA

Tropical cyclone Sandra formed in the Coral Sea south off the Solomon Islands on March 7, 2013. Sandra intensified over the open waters of the Coral Sea and became a very powerful tropical cyclone with winds of about 110 kts (~127 mph). Sandra has started weakening but is predicted to buffet northern New Caledonia with tropical storm force winds on March 12, 2013. Sandra's approximate past and forecast locations are shown overlaid in white. The TRMM satellite passed above Sandra on March 10, 2013 at 2219 UTC. A rainfall analysis using data captured by TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) instrument

On March 11, 2013 the TRMM satellite twice flew above weakening tropical cyclone Sandra as it was passing to the west of New Caledonia in the southern Pacific Ocean. TRMM's Precipitation Radar (PR) had a very good view of Sandra as it passed directly above the tropical cyclone on March 11, 2013 at 1312 UTC. TRMM PR measured rainfall at the extreme rate of over 206 mm/hr (~8 inches) in an area southwest of Sandra's eye. Those TRMM PR data also showed that very little rain was occurring north of the weakening tropical cyclone's eye. Click here to see a simulated Flyby over Sandra using 3-D TRMM

In addition to high winds tropical cyclone Rusty's heavy rainfall caused flooding in north-western Australia. The TRMM satellite's main purpose is the accurate measurement of tropical rainfall around the globe. TRMM is also 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 provides estimates of rainfall over the global Tropics. TMPA rainfall totals in association with tropical cyclone Rusty are shown for the period from February 21-28, 2013. Rusty's approximate 0000Z