Cyclones Gita's Rainfall Measured With GPM's Microwave Imager (GMI)

Cyclones Gita's Rainfall Measured With GPM's Microwave Imager (GMI)

The GPM core observatory satellite's Microwave Imager (GMI) instrument had a fairly good view of tropical cyclone GITA on February 2018 at 0316 UTC. GPM's Dual Frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) swath only scanned the area west of GITA's main area of precipitation. The weakening tropical cyclone was passing the southeastern tip of New Caledonia. Although weakening, GITA still had winds estimated at over 90 kts (104 mph). Rainfall derived from GMI data showed that the heaviest precipitation, falling at rate of about 51 mm (2 inches) per hour, was shown west of GITA's low level circulation.

Strong vertical wind shear are now sapping tropical cyclone GITA's strength. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) predicts that the tropical cyclone will continue to weaken as GITA moves southwestward and encounters cooler ocean waters. GITA is expected to change course and move toward the southeast in a few days. A recent JTWC forecast indicates that GITA will transition to an extra-tropical low and move to a location between New Zealand's North and South Islands on February 20, 2018

Images and caption by Hal Pierce (SSAI/NASA GSFC)