Month: November 2019

Matmo – Northern Indian Ocean (was South China Sea)

Nov. 08, 2019 – NASA Finds a Stronger Matmo Headed for Landfall

Matmo strengthened from a tropical storm to a storm with hurricane-force in the overnight hours of Nov. 7 into Nov. 8. NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite passed over the Bay of Bengal, Northern Indian Ocean and found Matmo appeared more organized. Warnings are in effect in northeastern India and Bangladesh as Matmo approaches.

Suomi NPP image of Matmo
NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite passed over Cyclone Matmo on Nov. 8 and captured a visible image of the storm in the Bay of Bengal. Credit: NASA Worldview, Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS)

Visible imagery from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument aboard NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite on Nov. 8 showed Matmo appeared more circular indicating it may have intensified. The imagery also showed a large band on thunderstorms extending north from the center of circulation and over northeastern India and Bangladesh.

The satellite imagery showing better organization complemented the increase in Matmo’s maximum sustained winds. Sustained winds on Nov. 7 were near 55 knots (63 mph/102 kph). On Nov. 8 at 10 a.m. EST (1500 UTC), Matmo’s maximum sustained winds had increased to near 85 knots (98 mph/157 kph). Matmo was located near latitude 19.1 degrees north and longitude 88.1 degrees east, about 235 nautical miles south of Kolkata, India. Matmo is moving to the north.

Suomi NPP captures all three storms
NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite provided a panoramic image of 3 tropical cyclones in the northern hemisphere. Cyclone Matmo (left) in the Bay of Bengal, Northern Indian Ocean, Typhoon Nakri (center) in the South China Sea, and Tropical Storm Halong (right) in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean. Credit: NASA Worldview, Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS)

The India Meteorological Service (IMS) has issued a cyclone watch for the Odisha-West Bengal coasts. Odisha is a state in India. Odisha has 301 miles (485 kilometers) of coastline along the Bay of Bengal from Balasore to Ganjam. West Bengal is on the eastern bottleneck of India. It extends from the Himalayas (in the north) to the Bay of Bengal in the south. IMS said, “Matmo is expected to cross the West Bengal – Bangladesh Coasts between Sagar Islands (West Bengal) and Khepupara (Bangladesh), across Sunderban delta by midnight of November 9 [local time].”

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center expects Matmo to make landfall near the border of India and Bangladesh on Saturday, Nov. 9 and continue moving inland.

Typhoons and 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.

By Rob Gutro 
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Halong – Northwestern Pacific Ocean

Nov. 07, 2019 – NASA Satellite Imagery Finds Typhoon Halong Resembles a Boxing Glove

Typhoon Halong has packed quite a punch and imagery from NASA’s Terra satellite found that the storm resembled a boxing glove.

Aqua image of Halong
On Nov. 7, the MODIS instrument that flies aboard NASA’s Terra satellite took this image of Typhoon Halong and it resembled a boxing glove from space. Credit: NASA Worldview

On Nov. 7, NASA’s Terra satellite passed over the northwestern Pacific Ocean and the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer or MODIS instrument that flies aboard captured a visible image of Halong. The MODIS image showed powerful thunderstorms circling the center of circulation and a band of thunderstorms northeast of center. Combined, the storm looked like a boxing glove from space with the “thumb” as the band of storms that curved to the east of the center. Satellite imagery using microwaves revealed that there is an eye under that large area of thunderstorms circling the center.

At 10 a.m. EST (1500 UTC) on Nov. 7, the center of Typhoon Halong was located near latitude 24.8 degrees north and longitude 152.2 degrees east. That puts the center about 110 nautical miles west of Minami Tori Shima, Japan. Maximum sustained winds were near 90 knots (104 mph/167 kph).

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center or JTWC noted, “Halong will accelerate poleward [north] while gradually turning northeastward to east-northeastward. The environment will become more unfavorable with increasing vertical wind shear and cooling sea surface temperatures.” That means the storm will experience a weakening trend and after a day, the storm is expected to start transitioning into an extra-tropical storm.

Typhoons and 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.

By Rob Gutro
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Matmo – Northern Indian Ocean (was South China Sea)

Nov. 07, 2019 – NASA Observes Tropical Storm Matmo in North Central Bay of Bengal

NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite passed over the Bay of Bengal, Northern Indian Ocean and found that Tropical Storm Matmo was positioned in the center of that body of water.

Suomi NPP image of Matmo
NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite passed over Tropical Storm Matmo on Nov. 7 and captured a visible image of the storm in the Bay of Bengal. Credit: NASA Worldview, Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS)

Visible imagery from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument aboard NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite on Nov. 7 showed Matmo appeared somewhat elongated from north to south, because of a large band on thunderstorms extending north from the center of circulation.

On Nov. 7 at 4 a.m. EST (0900 UTC), Matmo had maximum sustained winds near 55 knots (63 mph/102 kph). Matmo was located near latitude 15.0 degrees north and longitude 88.7 degrees east, about 353 nautical miles east-southeast of Visakhapatnam, India. Matmo is moving to the northwest.

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center expects Matmo will move northwest, then later, north. The storm will strengthen to 85 knots, but will weaken rapidly to dissipate on approach to the north coast of the Bay of Bengal. Threatened landmasses include India and Bangladesh.

The India Meteorological Service has issued a cyclone watch for the Odisha-West Bengal coasts. Odisha is a state in India. Odisha has 301 miles (485 kilometers) of coastline along the Bay of Bengal from Balasore to Ganjam. West Bengal is on the eastern bottleneck of India. It extends from the Himalayas (in the north) to the Bay of Bengal in the south.

Matmo is forecast to make landfall just east of Kolkata on Nov. 9. Kolkata is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal.

Typhoons and 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.

By Rob Gutro 
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Nakri – Northwestern Pacific Ocean

Nov. 07, 2019 – NASA-NOAA Satellite Finds Tropical Storm Nakri Affecting Kalayaan

NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite passed over Tropical Storm Nakri and captured a visible image of the storm in the South China Sea. Although the bulk of the storm was not over any land areas, Nakri’s southwestern quadrant was over the island of Kalayaan, Palawan.

Suomi NPP image of Nakri
NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite passed over Tropical Storm Nakri on Nov. 7 and captured a visible image of the storm in the South China Sea. Although the bulk of the storm was not over any land areas, the southwestern quadrant was over the island of Kalayaan, Palawan. Credit: NASA Worldview, Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS)

Kalayaan is a municipality on Pagasa Island in the province of Palawan, Philippines. Kalayaan is part of the Spratly Group of Islands, west of the largest island of Palawan. Nakri is known in the Philippines as Quiel.

Visible imagery from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument aboard NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite on Nov. 7 showed Nakri has maintained strength. Satellite imagery showed a central dense overcast covered its low-level center of circulation. A central dense overcast is the large central area of thunderstorms surrounding its circulation center, caused by the formation of its eyewall. It can be round, angular, oval, or irregular in shape.

On Nov. 7 at 10 a.m. EST (1500 UTC), Nakri had maximum sustained winds near 60 knots (69 mph/111 kph). Nakri is expected to peak at 70 knots (81 mph/130 kph) on Nov. 8 and 9 before weakening. Nakri was located near latitude 3.5 degrees north and longitude 117.2 degrees east, about 543 nautical miles east-southeast of Da Nang, Vietnam. Nakri is moving to the north and is then expected to curve toward the west. Nakri is forecast to cross the South China Sea, and head toward Vietnam.

Vietnam’s National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting issued Tropical Storm Warning number 6 for the country as Nakri approaches.

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center expects Nakri to slowly track westward and make landfall in Vietnam in three days on Nov. 12, to the south of Danang.

Typhoons and 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.

By Rob Gutro 
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Halong – Northwestern Pacific Ocean

Nov. 06, 2019 – NASA-NOAA Satellite Finds Super Typhoon Halong Finally Weakening

Super Typhoon Halong has finally peaked in intensity and is now on a weakening trend. NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite passed over the Northwestern Pacific Ocean and provided a look at the storm.

Suomi NPP image of Halong
On Nov. 6, 2019, the VIIRS instrument aboard NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP provided a visible image of Super Typhoon Halong that showed the storm still maintained an eye and powerful bands of thunderstorms circling it, despite weakening slightly. Credit: NASA Worldview, Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS) / NOAA

On Nov. 5, Halong was a powerful Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. When the Suomi NPP satellite passed overhead on Nov. 6 the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument aboard provided a visible image of the storm, after it had weakened slightly to a Category 4 storm. The VIIRS imagery showed bands of thunderstorms wrapping into the 10 nautical-mile wide eye.

At 10 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC) on Nov. 6 (or 1 a.m. CHST on Nov. 7) the National Weather Service in Tiyan, Guam noted the eye of Super Typhoon Halong was located near latitude 22.0 degrees north and longitude 150.8 degrees rast. That puts the center of Halong about 255 miles southwest of Minamitorishima, 420 miles northeast of Pagan, 580 miles northeast of Saipan, and 710 miles northeast of Guam.

Halong was moving north-northeast at 6 mph. Halong is expected to maintain this north-northeast heading through Thursday, Nov. 7, with a gradual increase in forward speed. By Saturday, Nov. 9, Halong is forecast to move toward the east-northeast at a faster pace.

Maximum sustained winds have decreased to 155 mph. A Category 4 hurricane contains sustained winds between 130 and 156 mph (113 and 136 knots/209 and 251 kph). Typhoon force winds extend outward from the eye up to 35 miles and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 145 miles southeast of the center and up to 105 miles elsewhere.

Halong is forecast to weaken further today with a steady weakening trend expected to commence Friday, Nov. 8. On Nov. 8 upper-level winds are forecast to begin to affect the typhoon as Halong moves over cooler sea surface temperatures. Both of those factors are expected to help the storm transition into an extra-tropical cyclone.

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.

For updated forecasts, Visit: https://www.weather.gov/gum/Cyclones

By Rob Gutro 
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Nakri – Northwestern Pacific Ocean

Nov. 06, 2019 – Newly Formed Tropical Storm Nakri Seen by NASA-NOAA Satellite

NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite passed over the South China Sea and captured a visible image of newly formed Tropical Storm Nakri while it remained quasi-stationary and as it slowly organized.

Suomi NPP image of Nakri
On Nov. 6, 2019, the VIIRS instrument aboard NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP provided a visible image of Nakri that showed that it appeared more circular in shape than in the previous 24 hours, but the strongest convection was occurring west of the center. Credit: NASA Worldview, Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS) / NOAA

Nakri, known in the Philippines as Quiel, formed west of the central Philippines in the South China Sea part of the Northwestern Pacific Ocean. On Nov. 6, 2019, the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument aboard Suomi NPP provided a visible image of Nakri. The VIIRS image showed it had become better organized and more circular over the previous 24 hours, although infrared satellite imagery revealed the strongest thunderstorms appeared to be displaced west of the center. The data provided valuable information to forecasters at the Joint Typhoon Warning Center.

On Nov. 6 at 4 a.m. EDT (0900 UTC), Tropical Cyclone Nakri’s maximum sustained winds were near 35 knots (40 mph/65 kph). It was located near latitude 13.2 degrees north and longitude 116.4 degrees east, about 281 nautical miles west-southwest of Manila, Philippines. Nakri was quasi-stationary, moving very slowly to the east.

Forecasters at the Joint Typhoon Warning Center expect Nakri will move slowly east for the next day before turning west and heading toward Vietnam. The system is forecast to intensify to 50 knots (58 mph/93 kph) before making landfall in Vietnam on Nov. 10.

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.

By Rob Gutro 
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Maha – Northern Indian Ocean

Nov. 06, 2019 – NASA-NOAA Satellite Finds Tropical Cyclone Maha Weakening

NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite passed over the Northern Indian Ocean and provided forecasters at the Joint Typhoon Warning Center with a view of Tropical Cyclone Maha’s eroding structure that helped confirm it is weakening.

Suomi NPP image of Maha
On Nov. 6, 2019, the VIIRS instrument aboard NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP provided a visible image of Maha that showed it was less circular in shape as it approached the coast of northwestern India. Credit: NASA/NOAA/NRL

On Nov. 6, 2019, the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument aboard Suomi NPP provided a visible image of Maha that showed it was less circular. Dry air was wrapping into the center of the storm inhibiting thunderstorm development. Maha appeared less circular in the imagery.

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 as Maha is doing.

On Nov. 6 at 4 a.m. EDT (0900 UTC), Tropical Cyclone Maha’s maximum sustained winds were near 50 knots (58 mph/93 kph). It was located near latitude 19.8 degrees north and longitude 66.9 degrees east, about 300 nautical miles south of Karachi, Pakistan.

Forecasters at the Joint Typhoon Warning Center expect Maha to continue moving east and weakening. The system is expected to skirt the Saurashtra coast and dissipate before making landfall north of Mumbai in northwestern India.

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.

For updated forecasts from the India Meteorological Department, Visit: http://www.rsmcnewdelhi.imd.gov.in/

By Rob Gutro 
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Halong – Northwestern Pacific Ocean

Nov. 05, 2019 – NASA Finds Thick Ring of Powerful Storms around Super Typhoon Halong’s Eye

Typhoon Halong continued to strengthen and has become a super typhoon in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean. Infrared imagery from an instrument aboard NASA’s Terra revealed a thick ring of very high, powerful storms with very cold cloud top temperatures circling the eye.

Terra image of Halong
On Nov. 5 at 6:40 a.m. EST (1140 UTC), the MODIS instrument that flies aboard NASA’s Terra satellite showed a thick band of powerful thunderstorms surrounding Halong’s open eye. Those storms had cloud top temperatures as cold as or colder than (in yellow/light green) minus 80 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 62.2 Celsius). Credit: NASA/NRL

Tropical cyclones are made of up hundreds of thunderstorms, and infrared data can show where the strongest storms are located. They can do that because infrared data provides temperature information, and the strongest thunderstorms that reach highest into the atmosphere have the coldest cloud top temperatures.

On Nov. 5 at 6:40 a.m. EST (1140 UTC), the Moderate Imaging Spectroradiometer or MODIS instrument that flies aboard NASA’s Terra satellite used infrared light to analyze the strength of storms within the tropical cyclone. MODIS found the strongest storms in the very thick and large area of thunderstorms circling Halong’s eight nautical-mile wide eye. Those storms had cloud top temperatures as cold as or colder than minus 80 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 62.2 Celsius). NASA research has found that cloud top temperatures that cold indicate strong storms with the potential to generate heavy rainfall.

On Nov. 5 at 10 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC), Super typhoon Halong had maximum sustained winds near 140 knots (161 mph 259 kph). That makes Halong a powerful Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

Halong was located near latitude 19.9 degrees north and longitude 150.8 degrees east, about 603 nautical miles east-southeast of Iwo To island, Japan. Halong was moving to the northwest.

Forecasters at the Joint Typhoon Warning Center expect Halong will move northwest and then to the north, then northeast. The storm is now at peak intensity and is expected to weaken after today.

Hurricanes are the most powerful weather event on Earth. NASA researches these storms to determine how they rapidly intensify, develop and behave. 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.

By Rob Gutro
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Maha – Northern Indian Ocean

Nov. 05, 2019 – NASA Looks at Tropical Cyclone Maha’s Water Vapor Concentration

When NASA’s Aqua satellite passed over the Northern Indian Ocean, water vapor data provided information about the intensity of Tropical Cyclone Maha.

Aqua image of Maha
NASA’s Aqua satellite passed over Tropical Cyclone Maha in the Eastern Pacific Ocean on Nov. 5 at 3:50 a.m. EST (0850 UTC) and found highest concentrations of water vapor (brown) and coldest cloud top temperatures in fragmented thunderstorms around the low-level center of circulation and northeast of the center. Credits: NASA/NRL

NASA’s Aqua satellite passed Tropical Cyclone Maha on Nov. 5 at 3:47 a.m. EST (0847 UTC) the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer or MODIS instrument gathered water vapor content and temperature information. The MODIS image showed highest concentrations of water vapor and coldest cloud top temperatures were in a fragmented band of thunderstorms around the low-level center of circulation as well as northeast of the center.

MODIS data also showed the coldest cloud top temperatures were as cold as or colder than minus 70 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 56.6 degrees Celsius) in those storms. Storms with cloud top temperatures that cold have the capability to produce heavy rainfall.

Water vapor analysis of tropical cyclones tells forecasters how much potential a storm has to develop. Water vapor releases latent heat as it condenses into liquid. That liquid becomes clouds and thunderstorms that make up a tropical cyclone. Temperature is important when trying to understand how strong storms can be. The higher the cloud tops, the colder and the stronger they are.

AIRS image of Maha
The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder instrument aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite provided temperature data on the cloud tops of Maha on Nov. 5 at 3:47 a.m. EST (0847 UTC). Coldest cloud top temperatures (and strongest storms) were as cold as or colder than minus 70 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 56.6 degrees Celsius). Credit: NASA/JPL, Heidar Thrastarson

Around the same time as the MODIS water vapor imagery, the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder instrument aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite provided temperature data on the cloud tops. AIRS confirmed that the coldest cloud top temperatures were as cold as or colder than minus 70 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 56.6 degrees Celsius).

At 10 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC), the center of Tropical Cyclone Maha was located near latitude 19.8 degrees north and longitude 63.8 degrees east. That puts the center just 49 miles south-southwest of Karachi, Pakistan. Maha is moving to the east-northeast and has maximum sustained winds near 85 knots (98 mph/157 kph).

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center said that Maha has turned around and is now weakening, and is expected to dissipate before making landfall in northwestern India.

NASA’s Aqua satellite is one in a fleet of NASA satellites that provide data for hurricane research.

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.

By Rob Gutro
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Matmo – Northern Indian Ocean (was South China Sea)

Nov. 05, 2019 – NASA Tracking Remnants of Tropical Cyclone Matmo

NASA’s Aqua satellite captured an image of the remnants of Tropical Cyclone Matmo in the Northern Indian Ocean is it headed north toward Bangladesh. The visible image showed that the low pressure area appeared better organized and forecasters are watching it for regeneration. Matmo is known in Pakistan as Tropical Cyclone Bulbul.

Aqua image of Matmo
On Nov. 5 at 2:05 a.m. EDT (0705 UTC) the MODIS instrument that flies aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite provided a visible image of Matmo’s remnants. The MODIS image showed that the low pressure area is developing thunderstorms around its center and western quadrant. Credit: NASA/NRL

Over the past week, Matmo made landfall in Vietnam and continued moving west where it re-emerged into the Andaman Sea, Northern Indian Ocean.  On Nov. 4 at 1 p.m. EDT (1800 UTC) Matmo’s center of circulation was located near latitude 13.3 degrees north and longitude 92.2 degrees east. That’s about 514 nautical miles south of Chittagong, Bangladesh.

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center noted that, “Global computer models are depicting a slow-developing system reaching 35 knots (40 mph/65 kph) after 72 hours while on a meandering north-northwestward track. Development potential for the remnants of 23W (Matmo) is being assessed as ‘medium’ based on its current structure, despite the late formation timeline in global models.” Maximum sustained surface winds were estimated at 20 knots (23 mph/37 kph) to 25 knots (29 mph/46 kph).

On Nov. 5 at 2:05 a.m. EDT (0705 UTC) the Moderate Imaging Spectroradiometer or MODIS instrument that flies aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite provided a visible image of Matmo’s remnants. The MODIS image showed the low pressure area is developing thunderstorms around its center and western quadrant. Forecasters are looking at the visible imagery, in addition to other satellite imagery, to determine if the storm has regenerated.

JTWC noted that the potential for the development of a significant tropical cyclone within the next 24 hours has upgraded to medium.

NASA’s Aqua satellite is one in a fleet of NASA satellites that provide data for hurricane research.

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.

For updated forecasts, visit: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov

By Rob Gutro
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center