July 25, 2020 – NASA Sees a Poorly Organized Tropical Storm Gonzalo Nearing Trinidad and Tobago
Tropical Storm Gonzalo was approaching the southern Windward Islands when NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite passed overhead from space and snapped a visible image of the storm. On July 25, 2020, heavy rain from Gonzalo was nearing Trinidad and Tobago and warnings were posted.
The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is a dual island nation and the southernmost island country in the Caribbean. Trinidad Island is about 7 miles (11 km) off the northeastern coast of Venezuela.
Credits: NASA Worldview, Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS).
NASA-NOAA Satellite Imagery Shows Poor Organization
The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument aboard Suomi NPP provided a visible image of the Gonzalo on July 24 as it was nearing Trinidad and Tobago, and the southern Windward Islands. Gonzalo appeared poorly organized. Even at 11 p.m. EDT on July 24, although there was an increase in deep convection in association with Gonzalo, data from an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft continued to show that the tropical cyclone is poorly organized. That did not improve on July 25 as the surface circulation was still poorly defined, and barely closed. That means that little change in intensity is forecast as the cyclone approaches the southern Windward Islands during the afternoon hours on July 25.
Tropical Storm Warning in Effect on July 25
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Tobago, Grenada and its dependencies. Interests elsewhere in the Windward Islands should monitor the progress of this system.
Status of Gonzalo on Saturday, July 25, 2020
At 8 a.m. EDT (1200 UTC), NOAA’s National Hurricane Center or NHC noted the center of Tropical Storm Gonzalo was located near latitude 10.3 degrees north and longitude 59.8 degrees west. That is about 100 miles (165 km) east of Trinidad.
Gonzalo is moving toward the west near 18 mph (30 kph). A general westward to west-northwestward motion is expected for the next couple of days. Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph (65 kph) with higher gusts. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1009 millibars.
Gonzalo’s Forecast Track
Little change in strength is forecast before Gonzalo reaches the southern Windward Islands later today. On the forecast track, Gonzalo will move across the southern Windward Islands this afternoon or evening and over the southeastern Caribbean Sea on Sunday, July 26. Weakening is expected after Gonzalo moves over the southeastern Caribbean Sea, and the system is forecast to dissipate by Sunday night or Monday.
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For updated forecasts, visit: www.nhc.noaa.gov
For past NASA updates on Gonzalo visit: https://blogs.nasa.gov/hurricanes/tag/gonzalo-2020/