Weather

Earth’s climate is changing. The accumulation of greenhouse gases has affected the oceans and ice systems as well as the atmosphere, which in turn impacts the water cycle. To predict future changes in weather and climate and estimate environmental variables, scientists use sophisticated computer models. These models rely on available global data to describe the conditions that exist today to project how conditions may change in the future. GPM’s Weather, Climate, and Land Surface Modeling Applications area promotes the use of precipitation measurements from GPM satellites to help model future behavior of precipitation patterns and climate.

Snow Much to Measure! GPM Ground Validation Instruments Take a Look at Falling Snow

The NASA GPM Ground Validation Field Campaign at UConn took place in Storrs, Connecticut. The site has multiple instruments provided by the GPM Ground Validation Program. Credit: Diego Cerrai.

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Though the last traces of winter are melting away and spring showers are in full swing across the U.S., the story of snow is not quite over for the season. In mid-April, two winter field campaigns involving NASA researchers are wrapping up, bringing with them unprecedented observations of snowfall. Understanding when, where, and how much snow is falling is critical for scientists and the public alike. In the short-term, accurate snowfall data can help weather forecasters prepare communities and plan against hazardous road conditions, power outages, and health risks. Over the long-term, these

Map of the U.S. showing IMERG rainfall totals over the south and central U.S.

Tuesday, April 8, 2025

This past week, a slow-moving, upper-level system moving through the central U.S. triggered several days of severe weather. The system caused numerous tornadoes, as well as heavy rains and flooding from the Deep South up through the middle Mississippi River Valley and into the Ohio River valley. The situation began when an upper-level area of low pressure situated over the northeast Pacific pivoted down into the central Rockies, creating a deep trough of low pressure aloft that extended down into the northern Baja. This channeled strong jet stream winds from south of the Four Corners region up

Screenshot of IMERG rain rates on October 29, 2024

Thursday, November 7, 2024

During the 10-day period from Oct. 26 through Nov. 4, 2024, parts of central-eastern and southern Spain saw unusually heavy flooding that resulted in heavy infrastructure damage and over 200 fatalities, according to the Associated Press. In this animation, NASA’s IMERG multi-satellite data product shows estimated rain rates (blue/yellow shading) and accumulations (green/purple shading) from the flooding rainfall. Cloudiness is also shown in white/gray shading, from geosynchronous infrared satellite observations. Download video (right-click -> "Save As") The flooding was caused by heavy

Friday, October 11, 2024

While the GPM Core Observatory’s instruments show exceptional detail in Milton’s rainfall structure in several overpasses throughout the week, the IMERG global multi-satellite product provides a broader overview of precipitation along Milton’s track as a continuous picture from development through landfall. Download this video (right-click -> "save as") The above animation shows IMERG precipitation rates (in blue/yellow shading) and accumulations (in green/purple shading) from Oct. 5-10, 2024. Cloudiness is shown in shades of white/gray using infrared geosynchronous satellite data. While

Map of IMERG rainfall totals from Hurricane Helene.

Friday, September 27, 2024

After tracking through the eastern Gulf of Mexico and battering much of the west coast of Florida with strong winds and storm surge, Hurricane Helene made landfall in the Big Bend region of Florida’s northwest coast at 11:10 pm EDT about 10 miles west-southwest of Perry, Florida, as a powerful Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds reported at 140 mph by the National Hurricane Center (NHC). Hurricane Idalia, a strong Category 3 storm at the time, also made landfall in the Big Bend last year. Animation of NASA IMERG precipitation rates and totals from Hurricane Helene from Sept. 23 -

A grid showing many examples of the data GPM has collected in its 10 years of operation.

Tuesday, August 20, 2024

The joint NASA / JAXA Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission has been tracking rain and snow around the globe for over 10 years, providing valuable insights into Earth's weather and climate. Now in its tenth year of operation, we look at ten events brought to light by this groundbreaking mission.

Thursday, May 23, 2024

Too little or too much precipitation can mean the difference between life and death. Join us as we learn about the impacts of having too much or too little precipitation and the disasters that can occur as a result. Discover what we are learning about the connection between extreme weather events and climate change. Find out the many ways that NASA is helping us monitor and respond to natural hazards and disasters.

Friday, April 5, 2024

May 9, 2024, 8:00 p.m. ET Overview In this webinar we will explore Earth’s weather and climate through the lens of NASA. Learn the difference between weather and climate, why it’s challenging to accurately predict the weather, and explore different weather and climate models. Also, learn how NASA’s “Earth to Sky” program is engaging with interpreters across the U.S. to collaborate and share this and other information with the public. Resources Resource Packet Speakers Dr. Marshall Shepherd Dr. J. Marshall Shepherd is a leading international weather-climate expert and is the Georgia Athletic

Screenshot of the IMERG animation showing rainfall totals from the atmospheric river in Jan. and Feb. 2024.

Thursday, February 8, 2024

A pair of powerful atmospheric river events brought heavy precipitation across much of coastal California this week, resulting in record rainfall totals, extensive flooding, numerous landslides, hurricane-force winds, and power outages. These types of atmospheric river events that impact the U.S. West Coast are also known as the “Pineapple Express” due to their transport of moisture up from the Tropics originating around Hawaii. The first event had the greatest impact on northern and central California. It was initiated when a large low-pressure trough located in the northeast Pacific

Map of IMERG precipitation estimates from recent flooding rainfall in Greece.

Friday, September 8, 2023

On Sept. 4, 2023, a low-pressure system developed over southeastern Europe that would lead to devastating floods over Greece and other parts of the region. The system was given the name “Daniel” by local meteorological agencies. Daniel was dynamically driven by strong cyclonic flow in the upper-level winds over southeastern Europe. The upper-levels winds combined with low-level winds from the northeast which supplied moisture from the unusually warm waters of the Aegean and Black Seas to central Greece. According to satellite infrared and microwave estimates from NASA's MUR and NOAA’s OISST v2

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Snow Much to Measure! GPM Ground Validation Instruments Take a Look at Falling Snow

Slow-moving System Brings Severe Weather, Flooding to parts of the U.S. South and Midwest

IMERG Estimates Flooding Rainfall in Spain

IMERG Observes Heavy Precipitation from Hurricane Milton

Powerful Hurricane Helene Makes Landfall in Florida’s Big Bend

A Decade of Global Precipitation Measurement

Webinar 5: Precipitation Extremes and Impacts

Webinar 4: Weather and Climate

Atmospheric Rivers Bring Heavy Rain, Flooding to California

IMERG Captures Flooding Rainfall in Greece