The TRMM satellite has been collecting data that improves understanding of rainfall in the tropics since it's launch in 1997. The satellite also provides timely data about the development of tropical cyclones. One of these tropical cyclones called Chanda was hitting the coast of Madagascar when TRMM saw it on 8 January 2012 at 2213 UTC. A red tropical storm symbol is shown at Chandra's approximate location. Data from TRMM's Precipitation Radar (PR) and Microwave Imager (TMI) instruments shows that Chanda was dropping light to moderate rainfall over large areas of southern Madagascar. Deadly

In the last week the South American Convergence Zone (SACZ) has caused heavy rains and severe floods in Southeastern Brazil's states Minas Gerais, Espirito Santo and Rio de Janeiro. NOAA's Hydrological Prediction Center (HPC) is forecasting an intensification of the SACZ in the next days over that area. Flooding and mudslides from days of heavy rain in southeastern Brazil has forced thousands to flee their homes. Rainfall estimates from the TRMM-based, near-real time Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA) at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center are shown above for the week from 30

At least 33 people were killed when tropical cyclone Thane with reported winds of up to 85 mph hit the southeastern coast of India Friday morning. The TRMM satellite saw the tropical cyclone several times from it's birth in the Bay of Bengal to it's strengthening to hurricane force before penetrating the Indian coast. Thane was a tropical storm with winds of about 40kts when TRMM passed above on 26 December 2011 at 1305 UTC. The storm was starting to organize with TRMM Precipitation Radar (PR) revealing a large area of powerful storms surrounding the northern side. A TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI

Washi, known locally in the Philippines as Sendong, began as a tropical depression on the 13th of December 2011 in the West Pacific Ocean about 2150 km (~1333 miles) due east of the southern Philippines. Washi only intensified slightly and never exceeded tropical storm intensity as it tracked due west towards the southern Philippines' island of Mindanao. Washi made landfall on the east coast of Mindanao on the afternoon of the 16th as a moderate tropical storm with sustained winds reported at 55 knots (~63 mph). Despite its modest intensity, Washi had a huge impact on the island. As Washi made

As expected tropical storm Washi (27W) had strengthened when the TRMM satellite passed over on 15 December 2011 at 1515 UTC collecting data used in the rainfall analysis shown above. TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) data are shown overlaid on an enhanced infrared image from the satellite's Visible and InfraRed Scanner (VIRS). This rainfall analysis shows that Washi was much better organized with very heavy rainfall of over 50mm/hr (~2 inches) revealed by TRMM PR within bands spiraling into the center of the storm. The 3-D image above used Precipitation Radar data from

Tropical Cyclones can form in the western Pacific Ocean at any time during the year but they occur most frequently during the months of June through November so tropical storm 27W is a little unusual. The TRMM satellite saw what was then tropical depression 27W on 13 December 2011 at 1533 UTC. It was upgraded to a Tropical storm by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) the next day at 0900 UTC. TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) shows that moderate rainfall was located in clusters of strong convective storms within the developing tropical cyclone. Tropical storm 27W has been predicted to

Tropical Cyclone Alenga's wind speeds increased to a maximum of about 90kts (~104 mph). Alenga had weakened from this maximum intensity when the TRMM satellite passed directly above in the early evening of 8 December 2011 at 1005 UTC. A precipitation analysis from TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) are shown above overlaid on a Visible/Infrared image from Visible and InfraRed Scanner (VIRS) data. This analysis shows that very heavy rainfall of over 50 mm/hr (~2 inches) was being produced by intense storms in Alenga's eye wall. The image below shows a 3-D vertical slice