September 2020 – Page 7 – Hurricane And Typhoon Updates

Rene – Atlantic Ocean

Sep. 08, 2020 – NASA-NOAA Satellite Sees New Tropical Storm Rene Drenching Cabo Verde Islands

NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite provided forecasters with a visible image of the latest tropical cyclone in the North Atlantic hurricane season. Tropical Storm Rene was bringing tropical-storm force winds and rain to the Cabo Verde Islands.

Suomi NPP image of Rene — On Sept. 8, NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite provided forecasters with a visible image of Tropical Storm Rene over the Cabo Verde islands in the eastern North Atlantic Ocean. The African coast is seen to the east (right). Credit: NASA Worldview, Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS)

Cabo Verde, also known as Cape Verde, is a country consisting of a chain of islands, located about 385 miles (620 km) off the west coast of Africa.

Tropical Depression 18 developed on Monday, Sept. 7 in the far eastern North Atlantic Ocean, about 250 miles (405 km) east-southeast of the Cabo Verde Islands. By 5 p.m. EDT (2100 UTC) on Sept. 7, the depression strengthened into a tropical storm and was renamed Rene.

On Sept. 8, a Tropical Storm Warning was in effect for the Cabo Verde Islands. The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument aboard Suomi NPP provided a visible image of Rene when it passed overhead. The imagery showed that the tropical storm has a well-defined circulation. However, the banding of thunderstorms around the center has shown no increased organization since Sept. 7.

At 11 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC) on Sept. 8, Tropical Storm Rene was bringing tropical-storm force winds and heavy rain to the western Cabo Verde Islands. The center of Tropical Storm Rene was located near latitude 16.5 degrees north and longitude 26.5 degrees west. Rene was moving toward the west near 16 mph (26 kph), and a motion toward the west to west-northwest is expected over the next two or three days. Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph (65 kph) with higher gusts. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1001 millibars.

On the forecast track, the center of Rene will move away from the Cabo Verde Islands later today. Little change in strength is expected today, followed by gradual strengthening on Thursday and Friday. Rene is forecast to become a hurricane in a couple of days.

NASA Researches Tropical Cyclones

Hurricanes/tropical cyclones are the most powerful weather events 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 more than five decades, NASA has used the vantage point of space to understand and explore our home planet, improve lives and safeguard our future. NASA brings together technology, science, and unique global Earth observations to provide societal benefits and strengthen our nation. Advancing knowledge of our home planet contributes directly to America’s leadership in space and scientific exploration.

For updated forecasts. Visit: www.nhc.noaa.gov

By Rob Gutro
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Haishen – Northwestern Pacific Ocean

Sep. 08, 2020 – NASA Satellites Catch Typhoon Haishen Before and After Landfall

Formerly a typhoon, Tropical Storm Haishen made landfall in South Korea on Monday, Sept. 2 and continued moving north toward China. NASA’s Aqua satellite provided an infrared view of Haishen as a typhoon before landfall and a visible image after landfall as an extra-tropical storm.

AIRS image of Haishen — On Sept. 3 at 11:53 p.m. EDT (Sept. 4 at 0353) NASA’s Aqua satellite analyzed Typhoon Haishen using the AIRS found coldest cloud top temperatures as cold as or colder than minus 80 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 62.2 degrees Celsius) around a very clear and open eye. Credit: NASA JPL/Heidar Thrastarson

Infrared View of Haishen as a Typhoon

One of the ways NASA researches tropical cyclones is using infrared data that provides temperature information. The AIRS instrument aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite captured a look at those temperatures in Haishen and gave insight into the size of the storm and its rainfall potential.

Cloud top temperatures provide information to forecasters about where the strongest storms are located within a tropical cyclone. Tropical cyclones do not always have uniform strength, and some sides have stronger sides than others. The stronger the storms, the higher they extend into the troposphere, and they have the colder cloud temperatures. NASA provides that data to forecasters so they can incorporate in their forecasts.

On Sept. 3 at 11:53 p.m. EDT (Sept. 4 at 0353), NASA’s Aqua satellite analyzed the storm using the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder or AIRS instrument. At the time, Haishen was a Super Typhoon with maximum sustained winds near 135 knots (155 mph/250 kph) and strengthened to a Category 5 hurricane/typhoon later that day.

AIRS found coldest cloud top temperatures as cold as or colder than minus 80 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 62.2 degrees Celsius) around a very clear and open eye. NASA research has shown that cloud top temperatures that cold indicate strong storms that have the capability to create heavy rain.

Haishen Batters Kyushu, Japan

Before Typhoon Haishen made landfall, it moved past southwestern Japan, knocking out power to around 475,000 houses in Kyushu. Haishen brought very heavy rain, storm surge, flooding and landslides as it moved west of Kyushu toward South Korea. In Japan, over 100 people were reported injured, two people died and four people were reported missing.

Typhoon Haishen made its landfall in South Korea’s southeastern coast on Monday, Sept. 7.

Haishen’s Final Bulletin

At 11 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC) on Sept. 7, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JWTC) issued their final bulletin on Tropical Storm Haishen. At that time, Haishen was located near latitude 40.7 degrees north and longitude 128.9 degrees east, about 233 miles north-northeast of Osan Air Base, South Korea. Haishen was moving quickly to the north at 24 knots (28 mph/44 kph). Maximum sustained winds were near 35 knots (40 mph/65 kph). Haishen was moving north and is becoming extra-tropical.

Aqua image of Haishen — On Sept. 7 at 11:40 p.m. EDT (0340 UTC, Sept. 8), the Moderate Imaging Spectroradiometer or MODIS instrument that flies aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite provided a visible image of Extra-Tropical Storm Haishen over eastern China. Haishen’s eastern quadrant extended over the northern Sea of Japan. Credit: NASA/NRL

A Visible Image of an Extra-tropical Storm

On Sept. 7 at 11:40 p.m. EDT (0340 UTC, Sept. 8), the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer or MODIS instrument that flies aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite provided a visible image of Extra-Tropical Storm Haishen over eastern China. Haishen’s eastern quadrant extended over the northern Sea of Japan.

After landfall in South Korea and a track north to China, Haishen moved over China’s Jilin Province as an extra-tropical storm. The China Meteorological Department said Haishen started to move out of the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture and into Heilongjiang Province at noon (local time) on Tuesday.

What does Extra-tropical Mean?

When a storm becomes extra-tropical, it means that a tropical cyclone has lost its “tropical” characteristics. The 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 retain winds of hurricane or tropical storm force.

Tropical cyclones/hurricanes are the most powerful weather events 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

Haishen – Northwestern Pacific Ocean

Sep. 04, 2020 – NASA Satellite Finds Haishen Now a Super Typhoon

NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite passed over the Philippine Sea on Sept. 4 and provided a visible image of Haishen that had strengthened into a super typhoon.

Suomi NPP image of Haishen — NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite captured a visible image of Super Typhoon Haishen moving through the Philippine Sea on Sept. 4. Credit: NASA Worldview, Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS)

The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument aboard Suomi NPP provided a visible image of Haishen that revealed a large, circular, organized structure of strong thunderstorms circling the open eye. The eyewall, the strong thunderstorms that circle the open eye, is estimated to be 81 nautical miles-wide. Satellite data indicate the eye is about 31 nautical miles wide. The storm is at least 450 miles in diameter, as tropical storm-force winds extend up to 225 miles from the center.

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) in Honolulu, Hawaii noted at 5 a.m. EDT (0900 UTC) on Sept. 4, that Super Typhoon Haishen had maximum sustained winds near 135 knots (155 mph/250 kph). It is currently a Category 4 hurricane/typhoon. It was centered near latitude 22.2 degrees north and longitude 134.3 degrees east, about 439 nautical miles southeast of Kadena Air Base, Okinawa Island, Japan. The storm was moving to the northwest.

JTWC forecasters expect Haishen will turn to the north-northwest while intensifying more. It is expected to peak later on Sept. 4 with sustained winds near 140 knots (161 mph/259 kph) which would make it equivalent to a Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. JWTC forecasts Haishen to pass west of Kyushu, Japan and make landfall in South Korea after 3 days.

NASA Researches Tropical Cyclones

By Rob Gutro
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Omar (was TD15) – Atlantic Ocean

Sep. 04, 2020 – NASA’s Aqua Satellite Finds Wind Shear Not Letting Up on Omar

Tropical Depression Omar is one stubborn storm. Since it developed early in the week, it was being affected by wind shear. That wind shear has not let up by the week’s end, and NASA satellite imagery showed the bulk of storms were being pushed to the southeast of the center. Yet, he persists.

Aqua image of Omar — On Sept. 4 at 2:05 a.m. EDT (0605 UTC), the MODIS instrument that flies aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite gathered infrared data on Omar that confirmed wind shear was adversely affecting the storm. Persistent north-northwesterly vertical wind shear showed strongest storms (yellow) pushed southeast of the center where cloud top temperatures are as cold as minus 50 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 45.5 Celsius). Credit: NASA/NRL

NASA’s Aqua Satellite Reveals Effects of Wind Shear

NASA’s Aqua satellite uses infrared light to analyze the strength of storms by providing temperature information about the system’s clouds. The strongest thunderstorms that reach high into the atmosphere have the coldest cloud top temperatures.

On Sept. 4 at 2:05 a.m. EDT (0605 UTC), the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer or MODIS instrument that flies aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite gathered infrared data on Omar that confirmed wind shear was still adversely affecting the storm. The center of circulation appears to be a swirl of clouds devoid of precipitation. In addition, satellite data reveals that some dry air is also being drawn into the circulation, which is further inhibiting the development of thunderstorms.

The only precipitation was in an area of fragmented storms pushed to the southeast of the center, as a result of strong north-northwesterly vertical wind shear. Those storms had cloud top temperatures as cold as minus 50 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 45.5 Celsius). Satellite imagery also shows the low-level circulation center became exposed.

Wind Shear Affecting Omar

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 storm’s shape and push much of the associated clouds and rain to one side of it. That is 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.

Omar’s Status on Friday, September 4, 2020

At 5 a.m. EDT (0900 UTC) on Sept. 4, the center of Tropical Depression Omar was located near latitude 35.3 degrees north and longitude 58.5 degrees west. That is about 415 miles (670 km) east-northeast of Bermuda. The depression is moving toward the east near 7 mph (11 km/h) and a turn toward the northeast with an increase in forward speed is expected over the next couple of days. Maximum sustained winds are near 30 mph (45 km/h) with higher gusts.

Forecast for Omar

The National Hurricane Center noted if the lack of convection continues, Omar will be declared a remnant low-pressure system later today, Sept. 4. The cyclone is expected to become absorbed by a frontal trough (elongated area of low pressure) within a couple of days.

NASA Researches Tropical Cyclones

For updated forecasts. visit: www.nhc.noaa.gov

By Rob Gutro
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Maysak – Northwestern Pacific Ocean

Sep. 03, 2020 – NASA Finds Maysak Becoming Extra-Tropical

NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite provided forecasters with a visible image of former Typhoon Maysak, now an extra-tropical storm. Wind shear continued pushing the bulk of the storm’s clouds to the northwest.

Suomi NPP image of Maysak — On Sept. 3, NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite revealed southeasterly wind shear battering Maysak had exposed the center of circulation and pushed the bulk of clouds and precipitation to the northwest of the center. The storm extended from the Korean Peninsula into the Sea of Japan. Credit: NASA Worldview, Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS)

Maysak’s Landfall

Maysak made landfall on Sept. 2 at 1 p.m. EDT (1700 UTC) about 12 miles west of Busan, South Korea with maximum sustained surface winds of 64 knots (74 mph/119 kph).

Typhoon Maysak’s Final Status on Sept. 2

On Sept. 2 at 5 p.m. EDT (2100 UTC), the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) issued their final bulletin on Maysak. At that time, Maysak was located near latitude 36.9 degrees north and longitude 128.9 degrees east. That is about 24 nautical miles north-northwest of Busan, South Korea. Maximum sustained surface winds were near 64 knots (74 mph/119 kph). Maysak was moving to the north-northeast. At the time, the JTWC noted, “Animated enhanced infrared satellite imagery and radar imagery indicate tightly-curved banding wrapping into a defined low-level circulation center.”

Maysak was undergoing extra-tropical transition late on Sept 2. It is embedded within the leading edge of a deep mid-latitude shortwave trough (elongated area of low pressure).

NASA’s Satellite View on Sept. 3

On Sept. 3, the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument aboard Suomi NPP revealed southeasterly wind shear battering Maysak had exposed the center of circulation and pushed the bulk of clouds and precipitation to the northwest of the center. The storm extended from the Korean Peninsula into the Sea of Japan.

On Sept. 3, the system completed extra-tropical transition and gained frontal characteristics.

What is Wind Shear?

What does Extra-tropical Mean?

When a storm becomes extra-tropical it means that a tropical cyclone has lost its “tropical” characteristics. The 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.

This system is forecast to deepen as a storm-force extra-tropical low-pressure area over North Korea and China.

NASA Researches Tropical Cyclones

By Rob Gutro
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Haishen – Northwestern Pacific Ocean

Sep. 03, 2020 – NASA Eyes Typhoon Haishen’s 10 Mile-wide Eye

NASA’s Terra satellite’s visible image of Typhoon Haishen revealed a small “pinhole” eye surrounded by several hundred miles of thunderstorms spiraling around it as it continued moving north though the Northwestern Pacific Ocean.

NASA Satellite View: Haishen’s Organization

The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer or MODIS instrument that flies aboard NASA’s Terra satellite captured a visible image of Typhoon Haishen on Sept. 3 at 0145 UTC (Sept. 2 at 9:45 p.m. EDT). Satellite imagery shows deep convection and spiral banding of thunderstorms wrapping tightly around the 10 nautical-mile wide eye and into a low-level circulation center.

Satellite imagery was created using NASA’s Worldview product at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.

Haishen on Sept. 1

At 5 a.m. EDT (0900 UTC) on Sept. 3, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) in Honolulu, Hawaii noted that Typhoon Haishen was located about 646 nautical miles east-southeast of Kadena Air Base, Okinawa Island, Japan. It was centered near latitude 20.7 degrees north and longitude 137.7 degrees east. Haishen was moving to the northwest with maximum sustained winds of 95 knots (109 mph/176 kph).

Haishen is forecast to turn northwest while intensifying to 130 knots (150 mph/241 kph) within the next two days. The storm will pass west of Kyushu, Japan to make landfall in South Korea after 4 days.

About NASA’s Worldview and Terra Satellite

NASA’s Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS) Worldview application provides the capability to interactively browse over 700 global, full-resolution satellite imagery layers and then download the underlying data. Many of the available imagery layers are updated within three hours of observation, essentially showing the entire Earth as it looks “right now.”

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

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

By Rob Gutro
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Nana – Atlantic Ocean

Sep. 03, 2020 – NASA-NOAA Satellite Catches Hurricane Nana Making Landfall Under Cover of Night

NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite provided a nighttime look at Hurricane Nana just after it began making landfall in Belize.

Suomi NPP image of Nana — NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite passed over the Caribbean Sea overnight on Sept. 3 at 3:25 a.m. EDT (0725 UTC) and captured a nighttime image of Hurricane Nana just after it made landfall in southern Belize. Credit: NASA Worldview, Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS)

At 11 p.m. EDT on Sept. 2, Nana strengthened to a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale. It had maximum sustained winds near 75 mph (120 kph). At the time, it was just 60 miles (95 km) southeast of Belize City, Belize. At 2 a.m. EDT on Sept. 3, Hurricane Nana made landfall on the coast of Belize between Dangriga and Placencia with maximum sustained winds near 75 mph (120 kph). By 5 a.m. EDT, the storm had weakened to a tropical storm as it continued to move inland.

NASA’s Night-Time View of Nana’s Landfall

The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument aboard NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite passed the Caribbean Sea overnight on Sept. 3 at 3:25 a.m. EDT (0725 UTC) and captured a nighttime image of Hurricane Nana just after making landfall in southern Belize. Bands of thunderstorms wrapped around the storm’s center and extended into the Caribbean Sea. At NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., the imagery was created using the NASA Worldview application.

Warnings and Watches on Sept. 3

NOAA’s National Hurricane Center (NHC) noted on Sept. 3 that a Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the Caribbean Sea coast of Guatemala, Isla Roatan and the Bay Islands of Honduras. A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for the northern coast of Honduras from Punta Patuca westward to the Guatemala border.

Tropical Storm Nana’s Status on Sept. 3

At 8 a.m. EDT (1200 UTC) on Sept. 3, the center of Tropical Storm Nana was located near latitude 16.6 north, longitude 89.7 west. Nana is moving toward the west-southwest near 15 mph (24 kph), and this general motion is expected to continue through today with some decrease in forward speed. Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 60 mph (95 kph) with higher gusts. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1000 millibars.

Nana’s Fated Forecast

On the forecast track, Nana will continue to move inland over Guatemala and extreme southeastern Mexico today and tonight. Rapid weakening is forecast today and tonight, and Nana will likely become a remnant low-pressure area on Friday, Sept. 4.

About NASA’s EOSDIS Worldview

NASA Researches Earth from Space

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

By Rob Gutro
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Omar – Atlantic Ocean

Sep. 03, 2020 – NASA’s Terra Satellite Provides Clear Picture of Wind Shear Battering Omar

NASA’s Terra satellite provided a visible image that showed Tropical Storm Omar had weakened to a depression as it continued to be battered by strong upper level winds.

Terra image of Omar — NASA’s Terra satellite provided a visible image to forecasters of Omar struggling against wind shear on Sept. 2 in the North Atlantic Ocean. Image Courtesy: NASA Worldview, Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS).

NASA Satellite View

The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer or MODIS instrument that flies aboard NASA’s Terra satellite captured a visible image of Tropical Storm Omar on Sept. 2 at 1:30 p.m. EDT that showed outside winds pushing the bulk of clouds and storms east of the center. Using visible imagery, like this image from Terra, in addition to microwave and infrared satellite imagery, forecasters downgraded Omar from a tropical storm to a depression.

Satellite imagery was created using NASA’s Worldview product at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.

In the next National Hurricane Center (NHC) advisory at 5 p.m. EDT, Omar was downgraded to a depression. This image and other imagery “showed the system remains sheared with a bursting pattern on satellite, occasionally exposing the center, and a large area of curved bands in the southeastern quadrant of the circulation,” said Eric Blake, Senior Hurricane Specialist at NOAA’s National Hurricane Center in Miami, Fla.

About Wind Shear

Omar on Sept. 3

Despite the strong wind shear, Omar continued to hold onto depression status on Sept. 3. At 5 a.m. EDT (0900 UTC), the center of Tropical Depression Omar was located near latitude 36.3 degrees north and longitude 62.4 degrees west. That is about 310 miles (495 km) north-northeast of Bermuda.

Omar is moving toward the east near 14 mph (22 kph), and this general motion is expected to continue through tonight, accompanied by a decrease in forward speed. A turn toward the east-northeast and northeast is expected Friday and Friday night. Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph (55 kph) with higher gusts. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1005 millibars.

NHC Hurricane Specialist Robbie Berg noted, “Amazingly, 50 knots of north-northwesterly shear has not been enough to prevent deep convection from developing, likely because Omar remains in an unstable thermodynamic environment and over [warm] sea surface temperatures of 27-28 degrees Celsius [80.6 to 82.4 degrees Fahrenheit].” Tropical cyclones require sea surface temperatures as warm as 26.6C (80F) to maintain strength. Warmer sea surface temperatures can help intensify a storm.

NHC forecasters expect dissipation by Sunday, Sept. 6 since all global computer forecast models indicate that the remnant low’s circulation should open up into a trough [elongated area of low pressure] by then.

About NASA’s Worldview and Terra Satellite

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

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

By Rob Gutro
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Haishen – Northwestern Pacific Ocean

Sep. 02, 2020 – NASA Analyzes Typhoon Haishen’s Water Vapor Concentration

When NASA’s Terra satellite passed over the Northwestern Pacific Ocean, it gathered water vapor data on recently developed Typhoon Haishen and found powerful storms in two locations.

Terra image of Haishen — On Sept. 2 at 9:35 a.m. EDT (1335 UTC), NASA’s Terra satellite passed over Typhoon Haishen in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean. Terra found highest concentrations of water vapor (brown) and coldest cloud top temperatures were around the center and northeastern quadrant. Credits: NASA/NRL

Haishen strengthened quickly. It developed on August 31 as Tropical Depression 11W, and by Sept. 1, it had reached tropical storm status. By Sept. 2, it was a typhoon.

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 the storms.

NASA’s Terra satellite passed over Haishen on Sept. 2 at 9:35 a.m. EDT (1335 UTC), and 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 around the center of circulation and in a large band of thunderstorms in the northeastern quadrant of the storm.

MODIS data also showed 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.

On Sept. 2 at 11 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC), Typhoon Haishen had maximum sustained winds near 70 knots (80 mph/130 kph) and it was strengthening. It was centered near latitude 19.5 degrees north and longitude 140.4 degrees east, about 812 nautical miles east-southeast of Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan. Haishen was moving to the west-northwest.

Haishen’s Forecast Path Expected Similar to Maysak’s

As Typhoon Maysak approaches landfall in southern South Korea today, forecasters at the Joint Typhoon Warning Center now expect Haishen to follow a similar path.

Haishen will veer to the northwest while intensifying to 120 knots. The storm is forecast to move west of Kyushu, Japan, and will make landfall in South Korea after four days.

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

NASA Researches Tropical Cyclones

By Rob Gutro
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Maysak – Northwestern Pacific Ocean

Sep. 02, 2020 – NASA-NOAA Satellite Tracking Typhoon Maysak’s Approach to Landfall

Typhoon Maysak was moving north through the East China Sea early on Sept. 2 when NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite passed overhead and captured a visible image of the storm approaching landfall in South Korea.

The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument aboard Suomi NPP provided a visible image of Typhoon Maysak on Sept. 2 at 1:24 a.m. EDT (0524 UTC) and saw Typhoon Maysak headed for landfall in southern South Korea. The image revealed that the eye had again become obscured, and strong thunderstorms circled the center of circulation. The northern quadrant was already moving over South Korea and the eastern quadrant was brushing Kyushu, Japan. Kyushu is the most southern and third largest island of Japan’s five main islands.

On Sept. 2 at 11 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC) Maysak was still a typhoon with maximum sustained winds near 90 knots (104 mph/167 kph). It was located near latitude 33.1 degrees north and longitude 127.9 degrees east, about 134 miles south-southwest of Busan, South Korea. Maysak was moving to the north-northeast.

Maysak is forecast to move north and make landfall later in the day today, west of Busan, South Korea. It will weaken rapidly as it passes over the length of the Korean peninsula and will dissipate over northeastern China.

By Rob Gutro
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center