Intensifying Atsani Viewed By GPM

Atsani is a typhoon today but was an intensifying tropical storm moving over the open waters of the Pacific Ocean on August 16, 2015 when the GPM core observatory satellite flew above at 0601 UTC. An analysis of precipitation derived from GPM's Microwave Imager (GMI) and Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) instruments is shown overlaid on a 0600 UTC MTSAT-2 visible infrared image. This analysis revealed that very heavy rain that was located south of the storm's center of circulation.

Intensifying Atsani Viewed By GPM

Rain there was found to be falling at a rate of over 90 mm (3.5 inches) per hour. A simulated 3-D view of rainfall in this area constructed from Ku Band radar data shows that the tops of these storms were reaching heights of 16.8 km (10.4 miles).

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) forecasts that Atsani will intensify and may attain super typhoon status in a few days with winds of 130 kts (149.5 mph). On that date Atsani would be located over the waters of the Pacific Ocean far to the southwest of Japan.

Intensifying Atsani Viewed By GPM