Sep. 23, 2019 – Heavy Rainfall found in Tropical Storm Lorenzo by NASA
NASA calculated the rainfall rates in the Atlantic Ocean’s newest tropical cyclone, Lorenzo.
The GPM core satellite passed over the eastern Atlantic Ocean on Sept. 23 at 7:46 a.m. EDT (1146 UTC) and provided rainfall rates in Tropical Storm Lorenzo. The heaviest rainfall (pink) was occurring around the center, falling at a rate of over 36 mm (about 1.4 inch) per hour and at a rate of (orange) 25 mm (about 1 inch) per hour around a band of thunderstorms southeast of center. Credit: NASA/JAXA/NRL
NASA has the unique capability of peering under the clouds in storms and measuring the rate in which rain is falling. Global Precipitation Measurement mission or GPM core satellite passed over the region from its orbit in space and measured rainfall rates in the storms.
The Global Precipitation Measurement mission or GPM core satellite passed over the eastern North Atlantic Ocean on Sept. 23 at 7:46 a.m. EDT (1146 UTC) and provided rainfall rates in Tropical Storm Lorenzo. The heaviest rainfall was occurring around the center, falling at a rate of over 36 mm (about 1.4 inch) per hour and at a rate of 25 mm (about 1 inch) per hour around a band of thunderstorms southeast of center. Both the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, JAXA and NASA manage GPM.
Forecasters at NOAA’s National Hurricane Center or NHC noted at 11 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Lorenzo was located near latitude 11.1 degrees north and longitude 24.1 degrees west. Interests in the Cabo Verde Islands should monitor the progress of this system.
Lorenzo is moving toward the west near 18 mph (30 kph). Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 40 mph (65 kph) with higher gusts. Additional strengthening is forecast, and Lorenzo is expected to become a hurricane by Wednesday. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1006 millibars. A motion toward the west-northwest is expected starting tonight, and this is forecast to continue through the middle of the week. On the forecast track, the center of the tropical storm should pass well to the south of the Cabo Verde Islands today and tonight.
Hurricanes are the most powerful weather event on Earth. NASA’s expertise in space and scientific exploration contributes to essential services provided to the American people by other federal agencies, such as hurricane weather forecasting.
Sep. 23, 2019 – NASA Satellite Identified a Less-Organized Caribbean Tropical Storm Karen
Satellite imagery can be used to peer inside a storm as well as assess the storm’s outside shape to give forecasters understanding of what’s happening to it. NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite provided forecasters with a visible image of a less-organized Karen after it moved into the Caribbean Sea and encountered wind shear.
NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite passed over Tropical Storm Karen in the Caribbean Sea. Credit: NASA Worldview, Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS)
On Sunday, Sept. 22 at 5 a.m. EDT, NOAA’s National Hurricane Center said that Tropical Storm Karen formed just east of the Windward Islands. Twelve hours later, it had moved into the Caribbean Sea.
The shape of a tropical cyclone provides forecasters with an idea of its organization and strength. Imagery from Suomi NPP showed Karen had become less organized after it moved west from the Atlantic Ocean into the southeastern Caribbean Sea.
When outside winds batter a storm, it can change the shape of it and push much of the associated clouds and rain to one side of it. That’s what wind shear does. Karen encountered northeasterly wind shear when it moved into the Caribbean Sea and those winds continued to affect Karen on Sept. 23.
In general, wind shear is a measure of how the speed and direction of winds change with altitude. Tropical cyclones are like rotating cylinders of winds. Each level needs to be stacked on top each other vertically in order for the storm to maintain strength or intensify. Wind shear occurs when winds at different levels of the atmosphere push against the rotating cylinder of winds, weakening the rotation by pushing it apart at different levels.
The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument aboard Suomi NPP provided a visible image of Karen on Sept. 22. The Suomi NPP image revealed that the structure of Karen’s thunderstorms continued to lose organization during the afternoon hours and that the center become exposed to the north and northwest of the band of thunderstorms.
NOAA’s National Hurricane Center or NHC noted on Sept. 23 that despite Karen’s disorganized appearance, it is expected to bring heavy rains and gusty winds to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, including Vieques and Culebra, and British Virgin Islands.
At 11 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Karen was located near latitude 14.9 degrees north, and longitude 64.8 degrees west. Karen was about 255 miles (415 km) south-southeast of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Karen is moving toward the north-northwest near 12 mph (19 km/h), and this general motion is forecast to continue today. A turn toward the north is expected by Tuesday. Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph (65 kph) with higher gusts. Little overall change in strength is forecast during the next 48 hours. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles (165 km) from the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1007 millibars.
On the forecast track, the center of Karen will pass near or over Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands Tuesday morning, Sept. 24. Karen will move over the western Atlantic to the north of Puerto Rico on Tuesday night and Wednesday.
Hurricanes are the most powerful weather event on Earth. NASA’s expertise in space and scientific exploration contributes to essential services provided to the American people by other federal agencies, such as hurricane weather forecasting.
Sep. 23, 2019 – NASA Satellite Imagery Shows Wind Shear Affecting Tropical Storm Jerry
Forecasters use a variety of satellite imagery to understand what’s happening in a storm, and sometimes just a visible picture can tell a lot. NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite provided forecasters with a visible image of the storm that showed wind shear was pushing clouds away from the storm’s center.
NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite passed over Tropical Storm Jerry and revealed wind shear was pushing the bulk of its clouds to the east-northeast of its center. Credit: NASA Worldview, Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS)
The shape of a tropical cyclone provides forecasters with an idea of its organization and strength. When outside winds batter a storm it can change the shape of it and push much of the associated clouds and rain to one side of it. That’s what wind shear does.
In general, wind shear is a measure of how the speed and direction of winds change with altitude. Tropical cyclones are like rotating cylinders of winds. Each level needs to be stacked on top each other vertically in order for the storm to maintain strength or intensify. Wind shear occurs when winds at different levels of the atmosphere push against the rotating cylinder of winds, weakening the rotation by pushing it apart at different levels.
Visible imagery from NASA satellites help forecasters understand if a storm is organizing or weakening, or if it is being affected by vertical wind shear. The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument aboard Suomi NPP provided a visible image of Jerry on Sept. 22. The image showed the bulk of clouds associated with Jerry were pushed to the east-northeast, indicating a west-southwesterly wind shear.
NOAA’s National Hurricane Center or NHC noted that wind shear was affecting the storm on Monday, September 23, 2019. NHC noted that strong winds shear associated with an upper atmospheric, elongated low pressure area located off the southeastern U.S. coast continues to affect Jerry. That system is creating winds from the west-southwest that are pushing the bulk of Jerry’s clouds and showers to the east-northeast.
On Monday, September 23, 2019, NOAA’s National Hurricane Center issued a tropical storm warning for Bermuda.
At 11 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC), NHC reported the center of Tropical Storm Jerry was located near latitude 28.1 degrees north and longitude 68.0 degrees west. Jerry is about 345 miles (560 km) Southwest of Bermuda. Jerry is moving toward the north-northwest near 7 mph (11 kph), and this general motion should continue today. Maximum sustained winds are near 65 mph (100 kph) with higher gusts. Gradual weakening is expected during the next few days. The estimated minimum central pressure is 991 millibars.
A turn to the north is expected tonight followed by a turn to the northeast on Tuesday. On the forecast track, the center of Jerry is expected to pass near Bermuda by Tuesday night or early Wednesday. Jerry is expected to produce 1 to 3 inches of rainfall across Bermuda through Wednesday. Swells generated by Jerry are beginning to increase along the coast of Bermuda, and they will continue to affect the island during the next few days.
Hurricanes are the most powerful weather event on Earth. NASA’s expertise in space and scientific exploration contributes to essential services provided to the American people by other federal agencies, such as hurricane weather forecasting.
As Tropical Storm Lorena was nearing landfall in northwestern Mexico, NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite provided forecasters with an image of the storm. By Monday, Sept. 23, Lorena’s remnants were affecting the southern U.S. and bringing heavy rainfall to Arizona.
NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite passed over Tropical Storm Lorena as it was approaching landfall in northwestern Mexico on Sept. 21 at 4:42 p.m. EDT (2042 UTC). Credit: NASA Worldview, Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS)
Visible imagery from NASA satellites help forecasters understand if a storm is organizing or weakening. The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument aboard Suomi NPP provided a visible image of Lorena on Sept. 21 at 4:42 p.m. EDT (2042 UTC).
The shape of a tropical cyclone provides forecasters with an idea of its organization and strength, and NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite provided a visible image of the storm to forecasters as its center was approaching landfall. The storm already appeared elongated from south to north after its northeastern side had begun moving over the high terrain of northwestern Mexico. Lorena made a slow track to the coast and made landfall about 12 hours later.
Lorena’s Final Advisory
At 11 am EDT on Sunday, Sept. 22, NOAA’s National Hurricane Center issued the final advisory on the system. By that time, Post-Tropical Cyclone Lorena crossed the coast of northwestern Mexico in the morning. The center of the disturbance was estimated near latitude 28.8 degrees north and longitude 111.5 degrees west. The post-tropical cyclone was moving toward the north near 9 mph (15 kph). Maximum sustained winds associated with this system are near 30 mph (45 kph) with higher gusts.
After landfall, Lorena’s remnant clouds and rain moved north into Arizona.
Lorena’s Remnants in Arizona on Sept. 23
NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center College Park, Md. reported, “Moisture from the remnants of Lorena will contribute to heavy rain, strong to severe thunderstorms and possible flooding across the Southwest through Tuesday. There should be enough moisture in place to support a significant rainfall event with widespread 1 to 2 inch rainfall totals with much higher amounts locally, with the greatest amounts in central and southern Arizona. This degree of rainfall warrants flash flood concerns, and a Moderate Risk of excessive rainfall is in effect for that region. Some strong to severe thunderstorms will also be possible.”
Hurricanes are the most powerful weather event on Earth. NASA’s expertise in space and scientific exploration contributes to essential services provided to the American people by other federal agencies, such as hurricane weather forecasting.
Sep. 23, 2019 – NASA Satellite Data Shows Tapah Becoming Extra-Tropical
Tropical Storm Tapah had taken on an elongated shape as it moved through the Sea of Japan, between South Korea and Japan. When the Global Precipitation Measurement mission or GPM core satellite passed over Tapah, it measured rainfall as the storm was becoming extra-tropical.
The GPM core satellite passed over transitioning Tropical Storm Tapah in the northwestern Pacific Ocean on Sept. 22 at 8:00 p.m. EDT (0000 UTC) and found the heaviest rainfall (pink) in the northeastern side of the storm falling at a rate of over 36 mm (about 1.4 inch) per hour. Credit: NASA/JAXA/NRL
GPM passed over Tapah on Sept. 22 at 0000 UTC (Sept. 21 at 8 p.m. EDT). GPM found the heaviest rainfall in the northeastern side of the storm, where it was falling at a rate of over 36 mm (about 1.4 inch) per hour. Heavy rainfall was also visible in a band of thunderstorms feeding into the center from the northeastern quadrant where rain was falling at a rate of 25 mm (1 inch) per hour. Rainfall around the rest of the storm was light. The storm also appeared elongated in GPM imagery which is an indication of a storm becoming extra-tropical.
That means that a tropical cyclone has lost its “tropical” characteristics. NOAA’s National Hurricane Center defines “extra-tropical” as a transition that implies both poleward displacement (meaning it moves toward the north or south pole) of the cyclone and the conversion of the cyclone’s primary energy source from the release of latent heat of condensation to baroclinic (the temperature contrast between warm and cold air masses) processes. It is important to note that cyclones can become extratropical and still retain winds of hurricane or tropical storm force.
As Tropical Storm Tapah was transitioning into an extra-tropical storm at 5 a.m. EDT (0900 UTC) on Sunday, Sept. 22, it was centered near 32.8 north latitude and 127.9 east longitude, about 97 miles west-southwest of Sasebo, Japan. Tapah was moving to the northeast and had maximum sustained winds near 55 knots (63 mph). That location was from the Joint Typhoon Warning Center’s final advisory on the system.
Hurricanes are the most powerful weather event on Earth. NASA’s expertise in space and scientific exploration contributes to essential services provided to the American people by other federal agencies, such as hurricane weather forecasting.
GPM is a joint mission between NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, JAXA.
Sep. 20, 2019 – NASA Catches Tropical Storm Tapah by the Tail
Tropical Storm Tapah has a huge “tail” on NASA satellite imagery. NASA’s Terra satellite captured an image of the northwestern Pacific Ocean storm that revealed a large band of thunderstorms that resemble a large tail. The NASA imagery also indicated that the storm is getting better organized.
On Sept. 19, the MODIS instrument that flies aboard NASA’s Terra satellite took this image of Tropical Storm Tapah. From the storm’s center a large band of thunderstorms resembling a tail extended from its western side, and stretched through the East China Sea and all the way north into the Sea of Japan. Credit: NASA Worldview
On Sept. 19, the Moderate Imaging Spectroradiometer or MODIS instrument that flies aboard NASA’s Terra satellite provided a visible image of Tapah. The image showed the center of the storm was a good distance east of Taiwan and the northern Philippines. From the storm’s center a large band of thunderstorms extended from its western side, and stretched through the East China Sea all the way north into the Sea of Japan. That large thunderstorm band made up Tapah’s “tail.”
The image also showed that there is a large band of powerful thunderstorms circling Tapah’s low-level center of circulation. The shape of the storm is a clue to forecasters that a storm is either strengthening or weakening. If a storm takes on a more rounded shape it is getting more organized and strengthening. Conversely, if it becomes less rounded or elongated, it is a sign the storm is weakening. Tapah has appeared to become more symmetrical in the MODIS imagery, indicating it is getting better organized.
At 11 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC) on Sept. 20, the center of Tropical Storm Tapah was located near latitude 24.6 degrees north and longitude 127.1 degrees east. That puts the center about 147 nautical miles south of Kadena Air Force Base, Okinawa, Japan. Maximum sustained winds were near 50 knots (57 mph/92 kph).
The Joint Typhoon Warning Center or JTWC noted that Tapah was moving to the north-northeast. JTWC uses satellite imagery in their forecasts and has indicated that Tapah is strengthening. The JTWC forecast takes Tapah on a curved path to the northwest then northeast and through the Sea of Japan over Sept. 22 and 23.
Hurricanes are the most powerful weather event on Earth. NASA’s expertise in space and scientific exploration contributes to essential services provided to the American people by other federal agencies, such as hurricane weather forecasting.
Sep. 20, 2019 – NASA Finds a Tiny Tropical Storm Kiko
NASA’s Terra satellite is one in a fleet of NASA satellites that provide data for research. Terra captured an image of Tropical Storm Kiko in the Eastern Pacific Ocean which showed the extent of the small storm.
On Sept. 19, the MODIS instrument that flies aboard NASA’s Terra satellite provided this image of Tropical Storm Kiko moving toward the Central Pacific Ocean. Credit: NASA Worldview
On Sept. 19, the Moderate Imaging Spectroradiometer or MODIS instrument that flies aboard Terra provided a visible image on Kiko. The image showed that the storm is compact. Tropical-storm-force winds only extend outward up to 45 miles (75 km) from the center making the storm about 90 miles (150km) in diameter.
Since the MODIS image, a pair of microwave satellite images between (5 a.m. and 7 a.m. EDT) 0900 and 1100 UTC on Sept. 20 revealed that Kiko has redeveloped a well-defined low-level inner circulation. NOAA’s National Hurricane Center (NHC) said, “However, most of the deep convection (strongest thunderstorms) associated with the tropical storm is located northeast of the center, a result of moderate southwesterly [wind] shear.”
At 11 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Kiko was located near latitude 17.7 degrees north and longitude 130.2 degrees west. That puts the center about 1,360 miles (2,190 km) west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California, Mexico. Kiko is moving toward the north-northwest at near 6 mph (9 km/h). A turn toward the west is expected tonight, followed by a turn toward the west-southwest over the weekend. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 60 mph (95 kph) with higher gusts. Slight additional strengthening is possible today, but only small changes in intensity are expected during the next several days. The estimated minimum central pressure is 999 millibars.
Hurricanes are the most powerful weather event on Earth. NASA’s expertise in space and scientific exploration contributes to essential services provided to the American people by other federal agencies, such as hurricane weather forecasting.
Sep. 20, 2019 – NASA Analyzes Rainfall Rates Hurricane Lorena Over Mexico, and Mario Nearby
Two tropical cyclones are very close together near the coast of western Mexico. Hurricane Lorena was moving over the southern tip of Baja California, and Tropical Storm Mario was south of Lorena over the Eastern Pacific Ocean. NASA calculated the rainfall rates happening in both of those tropical cyclones.
The GPM core satellite passed over the Eastern Pacific Ocean on Sept. 20 at 3:36 a.m. EDT (0736 UTC) and provided rainfall rates in Hurricane Lorena and Tropical Storm Mario, close in proximity. The heaviest rainfall (pink) was occurring in the eastern side of Lorena, falling at a rate of over 36 mm (about 1.4 inch) per hour and at a rate of (orange) 25 mm (about 1 inch) per hour around the center and band of thunderstorms east of center. GPM also showed rain rates of (orange) 25 mm (about 1 inch) per hour around the center of Mario. Credit: NASA/JAXA/NRL
NASA has the unique capability of peering under the clouds in storms and measuring the rate in which rain is falling. The Global Precipitation Measurement mission or GPM core satellite passed over the region from its orbit in space and measured rainfall rates in these storms.
GPM passed over the Eastern Pacific Ocean on Sept. 20 at 3:36 a.m. EDT (0736 UTC) and provided rainfall rates in Hurricane Lorena and Tropical Storm Mario, close in proximity. The heaviest rainfall was occurring in the eastern side of Lorena, falling at a rate of over 36 mm (about 1.4 inch) per hour and at a rate of 25 mm (about 1 inch) per hour around the center and band of thunderstorms east of center.
Forecasters at NOAA’s National Hurricane Center or NHC incorporate the rainfall data into their forecasts. NHC said that Lorena is expected to produce rainfall accumulations of 3 to 6 inches, with maximum amounts around 8 inches, across the far southern Baja California Sur. This rainfall may result in flash flooding.
GPM also showed rain rates of 25 mm (about 1 inch) per hour around the center of Mario. Microwave imagery has indicated that Mario has been able to maintain its low-level structure, but deep convection was mostly southwest of the cyclone’s surface center, although that was outside of the GPM overpass. Both the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, JAXA and NASA manage GPM.
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Baja California peninsula from La Paz to Puerto Cortes, a Hurricane Watch is in effect for the East coast of the Baja California peninsula north of La Paz to San Evaristo. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Puerto Cortes to Cabo San Lazaro, a Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for the east coast of the Baja California peninsula north of San Evaristo to Loreto and for the west coast of the Baja California peninsula north of Cabo San Lazaro to Puerto San Andresito.
Compact Hurricane Lorena on Sept. 20, 2019
NASA satellite data has also shown that Lorena is a compact hurricane. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 10 miles (20 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles (95 km).
At 11 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC), the center of Hurricane Lorena was located near latitude 22.7 North, longitude 109.0 West. Lorena is moving toward the west at near 2 mph (4 kph), and a turn toward the west-northwest with some increase in forward speed is expected on Saturday, Sept. 20. Maximum sustained winds are near 75 mph (120 kph) with higher gusts. Some additional strengthening is possible today, but weakening is likely to begin by Saturday night, and then either degenerate into a remnant low, or become absorbed by Tropical Storm Mario in a couple of days. The estimated minimum central pressure is 987 millibars.
On the forecast track, the center of Lorena will pass near or over the southern portion of the Baja California peninsula later today, and then gradually move away from the west coast of the peninsula tonight and Saturday.
Tropical Storm Mario on Sept. 20, 2019
At 11 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Mario was located near latitude 17.9 degrees north and longitude 110.1 degrees west. That is about 345 miles (555 km) south of the southern tip of Baja California, Mexico.
Mario is moving toward the north-northeast at near 5 mph (7 kph). A sharp turn toward the north and then toward the northwest is expected later today. A turn toward the west-northwest is forecast on Saturday; however, confidence in the forecast is low. Maximum sustained winds are near 65 mph (100 kph) with higher gusts. Some strengthening is possible today, with weakening expected to begin on Saturday and continue through Sunday night.
The estimated minimum central pressure is 994 millibars. Interests in the southern Baja California peninsula should monitor the progress of Mario.
Hurricanes are the most powerful weather event on Earth. NASA’s expertise in space and scientific exploration contributes to essential services provided to the American people by other federal agencies, such as hurricane weather forecasting.
Sep. 20, 2019 – Hurricane Jerry Gets its Temperature Taken by NASA-NOAA Satellite
NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite passed over the North Atlantic Ocean and used infrared light to obtain temperature information about Hurricane Jerry’s cold cloud tops.
NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite passed over Hurricane Jerry and the VIIRS instrument aboard captured this image of the storm on Sept. 20 at 12:42 a.m. EDT (0442 UTC). Suomi NPP found that the strongest thunderstorms around the center had cloud top temperatures as cold as minus 70 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 56.6 Celsius). Credit: NASA/NOAA/NRL
Tropical Storm Jerry strengthened into a hurricane on Sept. 19 by 11 a.m. EDT.
NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite used infrared light to analyze the strength of storms within the structure of Hurricane Jerry. Infrared data provides temperature information, and the strongest thunderstorms that reach high into the atmosphere have the coldest cloud top temperatures. This data is helpful to forecasters because storms are not uniform around tropical cyclones and it helps pinpoint where the strongest storms are located.
On Sept. 20 at 12:42 a.m. EDT (0442 UTC), the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument aboard Suomi NPP found that the strongest thunderstorms circling Jerry’s center had cloud top temperatures as cold as minus 70 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 56.6 Celsius). NASA research has shown that cloud top temperatures that cold indicate strong storms have the potential to generate heavy rainfall.
NOAA’s National Hurricane Center (NHC) said that those heavy rains are possible over the Northern Leeward Islands. Jerry is expected to produce 1 to 3 inches of rainfall, with isolated maximum totals of 4 to 6 inches from Barbuda northwest across St. Maarten, Anguilla, and Anegada. This rainfall may produce life-threatening flash floods. Jerry is forecast to produce total rainfall accumulations of 1 to 2 inches with maximum amounts of 3 inches across the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
On Sept. 22, a Tropical Storm Watch was in effect for St. Maarten, St. Martin, St. Barthelemy, Saba and St. Eustatius.
At 8 a.m. EDT (1200 UTC), the center of Hurricane Jerry was located near latitude 18.5 degrees North and longitude 59.6 degrees West. That puts Jerry’s center about 155 miles (245 km) east-northeast of Barbuda. Jerry was moving toward the west-northwest near 16 mph (26 kph). Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 100 mph (155 kph) with higher gusts. A gradual weakening trend is forecast to continue today, but Jerry is expected to remain a hurricane during the next few days. An Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft has recently reported a minimum central pressure of 989 millibars.
On the forecast track, NHC forecasters expect the center of Jerry will move north of the northern Leeward Islands later today, pass well north of Puerto Rico on Saturday, and be well east-northeast of the southeastern Bahamas on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019.
Interests elsewhere in the northern Leeward Islands should monitor the progress of Jerry.
Hurricanes are the most powerful weather event on Earth. NASA’s expertise in space and scientific exploration contributes to essential services provided to the American people by other federal agencies, such as hurricane weather forecasting.
Sep. 20, 2019 – NASA Data Shows Humberto Now Post-Tropical
Satellite data has confirmed that Humberto, once a major hurricane is now a post-tropical cyclone. NASA’s Terra Satellite provided a visible image of Post-Tropical Cyclone Humberto as it continued moving in an easterly direction through the North Atlantic Ocean.
On Sept. 19, the MODIS instrument that flies aboard NASA’s Terra provided a visible image of Post-Tropical Cyclone Humberto moving through the North Atlantic Ocean. Credit: NASA Worldview, Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS).
At 11 a.m. EDT on Sept. 19, Humberto was still a powerful hurricane, but the system was in the process of transitioning to an extratropical cyclone. NASA satellite images indicated that frontal features had formed as indicated by its elongated appearance. Cooler and drier air was also wrapping around the western and southern sides of the circulation.
On Sept. 19 at 1:30 p.m. EDT, the Moderate Imaging Spectroradiometer or MODIS instrument that flies aboard NASA’s Terra satellite provided a visible image of Humberto and it was almost a post-tropical cyclone. The image and other satellite images showed a well-defined cold and warm front, but they did not appear to be fully connected to the center of circulation. The MODIS image indicated Humberto was still producing an area of strong thunderstorms northwest of the exposed low-level center.
By 11 p.m. EDT, satellite images showed little strong thunderstorm development, and it was well to the north of the center of the cyclone. Imagery also showed cold air stratocumulus clouds over the western and southern portions. Those cold clouds are indicative of cold air advection (cold air moving in) that is characteristic of an extratropical cyclone. As a result, Humberto was designated post-tropical and the final advisory on the system was issued by the National Hurricane Center.
A Post-Tropical Storm is a generic term for a former tropical cyclone that no longer possesses sufficient tropical characteristics to be considered a tropical cyclone. Former tropical cyclones that have become fully extratropical, subtropical, or remnant lows, are three classes of post-tropical cyclones. In any case, they no longer possesses sufficient tropical characteristics to be considered a tropical cyclone. However, post-tropical cyclones can continue carrying heavy rains and high winds.
At 11 p.m. EDT on Sept. 19 (0300 UTC on Sept. 20), the center of Hurricane Humberto was located near latitude 40.0 degrees north and longitude 58.0 degrees west making the center about 525 nautical miles south-southwest of Cape Race, Newfoundland, Canada. Humberto is moving toward the north-northeast and had maximum sustained winds near 85 knots (98 mph/157 kph).
Humberto is expected to be a large and powerful extratropical cyclone for a couple of days before it is absorbed by another extratropical low-pressure area over the North Atlantic Ocean.
NOAA’s National Hurricane Center noted that large swells would continue to affect Bermuda, the northwestern Bahamas, and the east coast of the United States from east-central Florida to the Mid-Atlantic states during the next couple of days. These swells could create life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
Hurricanes are the most powerful weather event on Earth. NASA’s expertise in space and scientific exploration contributes to essential services provided to the American people by other federal agencies, such as hurricane weather forecasting.
