The TRMM satellite passed directly above an intensifying tropical storm in the South Indian Ocean called KOJI on 8 March 2012 at 2053 UTC. The rainfall analysis above was made from TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) data. Those TRMM data reveal that KOJI was getting organized with bands of heavy rainfall spiraling into the storm's center. KOJI has been predicted to increase in intensity and reach hurricane force with peak winds of 70kts (~80 mph) on 10 March 2012. KOJI is predicted to remain at hurricane force for only one day and then weaken while traveling southwestward

This has been an active tropical cyclone season in the South Indian Ocean. The TRMM satellite passed over another forming tropical cyclone (15s) in the South Indian Ocean on 2 March 2012 at 0140 UTC. A rainfall analysis from TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) instruments is shown on the image above. This "top down" view shows that very heavy rainfall of over 50mm/hr (~2 inches) was occurring near the center of the storm's circulation. TRMM's Precipitation Radar (PR) was used in the image above to show the 3-D structure of the forming tropical cyclone. Powerful storm