GPM Sees Powerful Storms Within Tropical Storm Ida

GPM Sees Powerful Storms Within Tropical Storm IDA

The GPM core observatory satellite found that tropical Storm IDA contained some very powerful convective thunderstorms when the satellite passed over on September 21, 2015 at 0902 UTC (05:02 AM EDT). The satellite passed directly above the most powerful storms within IDA where rain was measured by GPM's Microwave Imager (GMI) and Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) instruments. DPR found that some thunderstorms were dropping rain at a rate of over 142 mm (5.6 inches) per hour.

GPM Sees Powerful Storms Within Tropical Storm IDA

GPM's DPR (Ku Band) radar data were used examine the 3-D structure of precipitation within tropical storm IDA. Some powerful convective storms within IDA were found to reach extremely high altitudes well above 17 km (10.5 miles). These very tall thunderstorms in the middle of a tropical cyclone are often a sign of intensification.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) predicts that Ida will become even more powerful and may become a hurricane within the next couple days.