V04 Processing Processing of GMI GPROF Retrievals Begins

V04 Processing processing of GMI GPROF retrievals began at 11:20 UTC, May 2. Please note the the GPM Near-realtime (NRT) subsystem began to run the V04A GPROF precipitation retrieval effective 11:20UTC, May 2, 2016. Information about changes in the version can be found in the document GMI.V4.Release.Notes_05.01.2016.pdf that is located in directory /NRTPUB/V4ReleaseInfo The biggest change in the retrieval is the use of an a-priori database constructed from Combined and KU actual mission retrievals rather than the pre-launch composite databases. Partner radiometer (both conincally scanning and

Severe Weather In Tornado Alley And Eastward

Severe spring thunderstorms frequently spawned tornadoes from the Gulf Coast north and eastward during the past week. Gulf moisture clashing with frontal systems moving over the United States provided much of the fuel for intense showers and severe thunderstorms. Flash flooding was often the result of the sudden onset of extremely heavy rainfall. Over 305 mm (12 inches) of rain was reported in southern Mississippi in a few hours one morning on April 28, 2016. NASA's Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals for GPM (IMERG) data were used to estimate the amount of rain that fell from April 22-29

F17 SSMIS Data Processing on Hold

There continues to be intermittent anomalies in the F17 37v channel. The science team is in the process of making a decision on how to proceed forward with the F17 SSMIS data. PPS will be halting L1C forward production of the F17 data until a decision is reached. Please note that this information pertains only to the PPS Standard Research products. Additional information will be sent for NRT (Near realtime) as appropriate. We apologize for any inconvenience or problems that this may cause and appreciate your continued patience. We will send notification updates whenever we receive new

Tropical Cyclone Fantala's Changes Observed By GPM

As expected, tropical cyclone Fantala reversed course and moved southeastward almost directly over it's earlier track. The tropical cyclone's intensity also fluctuated. Maximum winds dropped significantly as Fantala moved southeastward but have rebounded somewhat today. The GPM core observatory satellite flew over the tropical cyclone on April 19, 2016 at 1346Z when winds had dropped to about 95 kts (109 mph). At that time GPM's Microwave Imager (GMI) and Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) found that Fantala still contained extremely heavy rainfall in storms spiraling into the tropical

Slow-moving Frontal System Brings Heavy Rains, Flooding to Parts of Texas

A slow-moving frontal system associated with a stagnant upper-air pattern set the stage for heavy rains and flooding early this week from East Texas all the way up through the Central and Northern Plains. The hardest hit region was in and around the Houston area. On Monday, the National Weather Service reported that Houston International Airport broke its all time daily rainfall record with 9.92 inches of rain. Elsewhere in Harris County, over 17 inches of rain was recorded as of Monday evening. The main culprit was a stationary upper-level low pressure center spinning over the Central Rockies