Tropical depression 02E was upgraded to tropical storm Beatriz on 19 June 2011 at 1800 UTC (1100 AM PDT). The TRMM satellite flew over on the same date at 1105 UTC( 0400 AM PDT) obtaining data used in the image shown above. Beatriz was already well organized with TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) data showing that thunderstorms were dropping heavy rainfall in a large area near the center of the forming storm. PR data revealed that some of these powerful storms were reaching heights above 15 km (9.3 miles).
Another Tropical Cyclone Develops Near The Philippines
The sixth western Pacific tropical cyclone (06W) of 2011 has developed near the Philippines. Tropical storm AERE, super syphoon SONGDA and Tropical Storm SARIKA have already affected the Philippines this year. The TRMM satellite had an early morning look at the forming depression on 16 June 2011 at 2130 UTC. A precipitation analysis from TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) shows that 06W wasn't well organized but contained areas of moderate to heavy rainfall located east of the Philippines. 06W is expected to intensify to a tropical storm, brush the northeastern coast of
TRMM Sees Adrian's Eye
Hurricane Adrian's eye was clearly seen by the TRMM satellite when it passed over on 10 June 2011 at 1608 UTC. The heavy rainfall completely surrounding Adrian's well defined eye was revealed with TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI) data obtained at the same time. Hurricane Adrain, located southwest Mexico , was classified as a dangerous category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson scale with sustained wind speeds estimated at 115 kts (~132 mph).
Adrian now a Powerful Hurricane
The TRMM satellite captured data used in this dramatic image of Hurricane Adrian when it passed directly above on 9 June 2011 at 0714 UTC. The increasingly powerful hurricane had sustained winds estimated to be close to 80 kts (~92 mph) at the time of this pass. TRMM's Precipitation Radar (PR) instrument revealed that beneath the clouds there were intense thunderstorms dropping rain at a rate of over 50 mm/hr (~2 inches) in a nearly circular eye wall. The PR also indicated that some thunderstorms in the eye wall were shooting up to heights above 15 km (~9.3 miles). Click here to see a
Tropical Storm Adrian Seen Forming
Tropical Depression ONE-E was well on it's way to becoming tropical storm ADRIAN when the TRMM satellite flew over again on 7 June 2011 at 1717 UTC. Rainfall data from TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) show that bands of rainfall were starting to get organized. A red tropical storm symbol shows the location of the future storm's center of circulation. TRMM's PR showed thunderstorm towers as high as 15 km (~9.3 miles) in rain bands west of ADRIAN's center.