Late on March 2, 2016, the GPM NRT system will begin using V04 algorithms for: Level 1B GMI Level 1C GMI Level 1 Radar Level 2 Radar Level 2 Combined V04 is the first version that uses GPM as the calibrator for the constellation rather than TRMM. The GPROF database is built using the combined observations. GMI is extremely well calibrated and the brightness temperatures in 1B and 1C are an important improvement over those in V03. V04 also made improved retrievals in the Ku, Ka, and DPR Level 2 products. Combined has also made retrieval improvements in this version. GPROF the algorithm used for

The GPM core observatory satellite flew over an area of disturbed weather in the South Pacific near Bora Bora early today where a tropical cyclone may be forming. On February 29, 2016 at 0456 UTC GPM's Microwave Imager (GMI) saw rain falling at an estimated rate of almost 48 mm (1.9 inches) per hour in an area of deep convection south of a tropical low. GPM's Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) instrument measured cloud top heights at an altitude of over 10.5 km (6.5 miles) in rain showers between Bora Bora and Tahiti.

PPS will commence Version 4 processing of GPM and Partner satellite products in early March 2016. All current Version 3 products will be processed through February 29, 2016. Once the current products are completed there will be a delay before the first version 4 products will be made available to the public. The first data date for version 4 will be March 1, 2016. Once PPS has verified the processing and products for version 4 they will be released and made available from our ftp site. At this time PPS will commence reprocessing. GPM products will be reprocessed back to launch, March 2014

The GPM core observatory satellite flew directly above tropical cyclone Winston on February 20, 2016 at 0941 UTC. Tropical cyclone Winston had sustained winds estimated at 155 kts (178 mph) at that time. A rainfall analysis derived from data collected by GPM's Microwave Imager (GMI) and Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) instruments found that in addition to powerful winds Winston was dropping rain at a rate of over 169 mm (6.7 inches) per hour in the western side of the eye. Tropical cyclone WINSTON is the most powerful storm to hit Fiji. At least one fatality has already occurred. The

UPDATE 2/22/16: The network upgrades have finished and normal service has been restored. Due to scheduled external GSFC network upgrades, PPS will experience intermittent and unpredictable network outages during the period of Friday February 19, 2016 (starting 8:00PM EST-0100 UTC) through Monday February 22, 2016 (3:00 AM EST-0800 UTC). This work will impact access to the following PPS services: PPS ftp production data (arthurhou) PPS ftp NRT data-Near Realtime (jsimpson) PPS Public website: http://pps.gsfc.nasa.gov/ STORM: https://storm.pps.eosdis.nasa.gov/ PMM website: http://pmm.nasa.gov