Michael (Caribbean Sea) 2018

Oct. 09, 2018 – NASA’s Aqua Satellite Sees Hurricane Michael Strengthening

Hurricane Michael continued strengthening while moving north-northwestward over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico as NASA’s Aqua satellite provided infrared and visible imagery of the storm.

Worldview image of Michael
On Oct. 8, the MODIS instrument aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite captured a visible image of Hurricane Michael when it was a Category 1 hurricane near the western tip of Cuba. Credit: NASA Worldview, Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS)

NOAA’s National Hurricane Center or NHC noted on Oct. 9 that life-threatening storm surge, hurricane force winds and heavy rainfall can be expected along the northeastern gulf coast as Michael continues to move toward landfall.

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for. Okaloosa/Walton County Line Florida to Anclote River Florida. A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for Anclote River Florida to Anna Maria Island Florida, including Tampa Bay, the Alabama/Florida border to Okaloosa/Walton County Line Florida. A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the Alabama/Florida border to Suwannee River Florida, and a Hurricane Watch is in effect from the Alabama/Florida border to the Mississippi/Alabama border. In addition, a Tropical Storm Warning is in effect from the Alabama/Florida border to the Mississippi/Alabama border and for Suwanee River, Florida to Chassahowitzka, Florida. A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Chassahowitzka to Anna Maria Island Florida, including Tampa Bay, the Mississippi/Alabama border to the Mouth of the Pearl River and from Fernandina Beach, Florida to South Santee River, South Carolina.

Peering at Michael in Infrared Light

AIRS image of Michael
NASA’s Aqua satellite flew over Michael on Oct. 8 at 2:47 p.m. EDT (1847 UTC). AIRS detected strongest storms around the center and in a thick band of storms feeding into the center from the eastern quadrant. In those areas cloud top temperatures as cold as minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 53 degrees Celsius). Storms with cloud top temperatures that cold have the capability to produce heavy rainfall. Image Credit: NASA JPL, Heidar Thrastarson

The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder or AIRS instrument aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite passed over Hurricane Michael on Oct. 8 at 2:47 p.m. EDT (1847 UTC) just after it strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane and analyzed the storm in infrared light. Infrared light provides scientists with temperature data and that’s important when trying to understand how strong storms can be. The higher the cloud tops, the colder and the stronger they are. So infrared light as that gathered by the AIRS instrument can identify the strongest sides of a tropical cyclone. AIRS detected strongest storms around the center and in a thick band of storms feeding into the center from the eastern quadrant. In those areas cloud top temperatures as cold as minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 53 degrees Celsius).  Storms with cloud top temperatures that cold have the capability to produce heavy rainfall.

A Visible Image of Michael

On Oct. 8, the MODIS or Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer instrument that also flies aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite captured a visible image of Hurricane Michael when it was a Category 1 hurricane near the western tip of Cuba. The eye appeared covered by clouds, as powerful thunderstorms circled the center. The large feeder band of thunderstorms seen by the AIRS instrument the previous day was still wrapping into the center from the eastern side of the storm and sweeping over western Cuba.

Aqua animated GIF of Michael
This animation of imagery from the MODIS instrument aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite shows the development and movement of Hurricane Michael from Oct. 6 to 8. The animation ends when Michael was a Category 1 hurricane near the western tip of Cuba. Credit: NASA Worldview, Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS)

Status of Michael on Oct. 9

The NHC reported at 8 a.m. EDT (1200 UTC) on Oct. 9, the eye of Hurricane Michael was located near latitude 24.5 degrees north and longitude 86.1 degrees west. That’s about 365 miles (590 km) south of Apalachicola, Florida.

NHC said “Michael is moving toward the north-northwest near 12 mph (19 kph). A north-northwestward to northward motion is expected through tonight, followed by a northeastward motion on Wednesday and Thursday.

Data from a NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that the maximum sustained winds have increased to near 100 mph (155 kph) with higher gusts. Additional strengthening is expected, and Michael is forecast to be a major hurricane at landfall in Florida. Weakening is expected after landfall as Michael moves through the southeastern United States.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 40 miles (65 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 195 miles (315 km). NOAA buoy 42003 recently reported 1-minute mean winds of 47 mph (76 kph) and a wind gust of 54 mph (87 kph). The latest minimum central pressure reported by the NOAA aircraft is 968 millibars.”

NHC forecasters said “On the forecast track, the center of Michael will move across the eastern Gulf of Mexico through tonight. The center of Michael is expected to move inland over the Florida Panhandle or Florida Big Bend area on Wednesday, and then move northeastward across the southeastern United States Wednesday night, Oct. 10 and Thursday, Oct. 11.”

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

By Rob Gutro
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Michael (Caribbean Sea) 2018

Oct. 09, 2018 – NASA Investigated Rainfall in Hurricane Michael As it Was Developing

The Global Precipitation Measurement mission or GPM core satellite analyzed rainfall and structure of an intensifying low pressure area in the western Caribbean Sea on Oct. 5. That system strengthened into what has become Category 2 Hurricane Michael on Oct. 9.

IMERG data on Michael
The analysis showed IMERG rainfall accumulation estimates during the period from October 1 to 5, 2018 when rainfall was getting more concentrated over the western Caribbean. IMERG indicated that rainfall accumulation totals of over 12.6 inches (320 mm) fell in the Caribbean Sea east of Honduras during this period. Credit: NASA JAXA, Hal Pierce

On Friday, Oct. 5, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) indicated that the low pressure center in the western Caribbean Sea may become a tropical cyclone in the next five days. The NHC said, “Some slow development of this system is possible this weekend or early next week as the system drifts northwestward across the northwestern Caribbean and the southern Gulf of Mexico.”

Data from NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s GPM core satellite was combined with data from other satellites to provide a rainfall accumulation analysis using NASA’s Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals data (IMERG) program. IMERG data are used to calculate estimates of precipitation from a combination of space-borne passive microwave sensors, including the GMI microwave sensor on the GPM satellite, and geostationary IR (infrared) data. The analysis showed IMERG rainfall accumulation estimates during the period from October 1 to 5, 2018 when rainfall was getting more concentrated over the western Caribbean. IMERG indicated that rainfall accumulation totals of over 12.6 inches (320 mm ) fell in the Caribbean Sea east of Honduras during this period.


The animation shows the NASA IMERG rainfall accumulation estimates during the period from October 1 to 5, 2018 when rainfall was getting more concentrated over the western Caribbean. IMERG indicated that rainfall accumulation totals of over 12.6 inches (320 mm) fell in the Caribbean Sea east of Honduras during this period. Credit: NASA JAXA, Hal Pierce

The system developed into a depression on Sunday, Oct. 7 at 4 a.m. CDT. By 11:55 a.m. EDT, the depression strengthened into a tropical storm and was named Michael. On Oct. 8 at 11 a.m. EDT, Michael became a hurricane.

On Tuesday, Oct. 9, Data from a NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that the maximum sustained winds have increased to near 100 mph (155 kph) with higher gusts. Additional strengthening is expected, and Michael is forecast to be a major hurricane at landfall in Florida. At 8 a.m. EDT (1200 UTC), the eye of Hurricane Michael was located near latitude 24.5 degrees north and longitude 86.1 degrees west. Michael is moving toward the north-northwest near 12 mph (19 kph).  Watches and warnings are in effect in Mississippi, Alabama and northwestern and western Florida.

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

By Rob Gutro / Hal Pierce
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Walaka (Central Pacific Ocean) 2018

Oct. 05, 2018 -NASA Finds Walaka Weakened, Now a Tropical Storm

NASA’s Aqua satellite passed over the Central Pacific Ocean and obtained infrared data on Walaka, now weakened to a tropical storm with limited thunderstorm development.

hurricane in blue with green data center
At 5:40 a.m. EDT (0940 UTC) on Oct. 5, the MODIS instrument aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite looked at Tropical Storm Walaka in infrared light. MODIS found coldest cloud tops (yellow) in a small area near the center had temperatures near minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 53 degrees Celsius). Credit: NASA/NRL

Infrared satellite data at 5:40 a.m. EDT (0940 UTC) on Oct. 5, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer or MODIS instrument aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite revealed strongest storms with the coldest cloud top temperatures in a small area around Walaka’s center. MODIS found coldest cloud tops had temperatures near minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 53 degrees Celsius). NASA research has found that cloud top temperatures that cold have the capability to generate heavy rainfall.

At 5 a.m. EDT (0900 UTC) on Friday, Oct. 5, the center of Tropical Storm Walaka was located near latitude 30.6 degrees north and longitude 168.3 degrees west. Walaka is about 480 miles (770 km) north-northwest of the French Frigate Shoals. Walaka is moving toward the north-northwest near 6 mph (9 kph). A turn toward the north is expected tonight, followed by an acceleration toward the northeast Friday through Saturday. Maximum sustained winds are near 70 mph (110 kph) with higher gusts.  Some weakening is forecast during the next 48 hours.

The Central Pacific Hurricane Center or CPHC said Walaka will be over cool sea surface temperatures through the remainder of its journey across the Pacific, with vertical wind shear expected to increase substantially Friday night and Saturday, Oct. 6. Steady weakening is forecast during the next 48 hours, and Walaka is expected to become a post-tropical low by Saturday evening.

CPHC noted that ocean swells generated by Walaka will continue to affect portions of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument and the main Hawaiian Islands tonight, Oct. 5.

For updated forecasts, visit:  http://www.prh.noaa.gov/cphc

Rob Gutro
NASA’ Goddard Space Flight Center

Kong-rey (Northwestern Pacific Ocean) 2018

Oct. 05, 2018 -NASA Investigates Tropical Storm Kong-Rey’s Rainfall Rates

The Global Precipitation Measurement mission or GPM core satellite passed over Tropical Storm Kong-Rey and analyzed the rates in which rain was falling throughout the storm.

NASA/JAXA/NRL
The GPM or Global Precipitation Measurement mission core observatory satellite passed above Kong-Rey on Oct. 5. GPM indicated that rain was falling at over 1.8 inches (45.7 mm) per hour within two areas of storms northwest of Kong-Rey’s center. Credit: NASA/JAXA/NRL

At the time GPM passed overhead, GPM’s Microwave Imager (GMI) instruments collected data that revealed moderate convective rainfall northwest of Kong-Rey’s center. GPM indicated that rain was falling at over 1.8 inches (45.7 mm) per hour within two areas of storms northwest of Kong-Rey’s center.

At 5 a.m. EDT (0900 UTC) on Friday, Oct. 5, the center of Tropical Storm Kong-Rey was located near 29.6 degrees north latitude and 125.9 degrees west longitude. Kong-Rey is about 211 nautical miles north-northwest of Kadena Air Base, Okinawa Island, Japan. Maximum sustained winds are near 63 mph (55 knots/102 kph) with higher gusts.

Kong-Rey is moving toward the north. A turn toward the northeast is expected to take the storm into the Sea of Japan. The storm is now weakening, and will become extra-tropical over northern Japan.

Rob Gutro
NASA’ Goddard Space Flight Center

Sergio (Eastern Pacific Ocean) 2018

Oct. 05, 2018 – NOAA’s GOES-West Night-time View of Hurricane Sergio

Hurricane Sergio continued to look impressive on satellite imagery when NOAA’s GOES-West satellite viewed the storm in infrared light.

hurricane in blue with data bar
NOAA’s GOES-West satellite provided a night-time view of powerful Hurricane Sergio on Oct. 5 at 6:01 a.m. PDT (9:01 a.m. EDT/1301 UTC) in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Sergio had a clear eye with powerful thunderstorms circling the center.  Credit: NOAA/NRL

NOAA’s GOES-West satellite sits at a fixed position in orbit and covers the western U.S. and the Eastern and Central Pacific Ocean. GOES satellites circle the Earth in a geosynchronous orbit, which means they orbit the equatorial plane of the Earth at a speed matching the Earth’s rotation. This allows them to hover continuously over one position on the surface. NOAA’s GOES-West satellite provided a night-time view of powerful Hurricane Sergio on Oct. 5 at 6:01 a.m. PDT (9:01 a.m. EDT/1301 UTC) in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. The imagery showed that Sergio had a clear eye with powerful thunderstorms circling the center.

At 2 a.m. PDT (5 a.m. EDT/0900 UTC), the eye of Hurricane Sergio was located near latitude 16.0 degrees north and longitude 121.2 degrees west.  Sergio is moving toward the west-northwest near 8 mph (13 kph). A turn toward the west and west-southwest at a similar speed is expected during the next 24 hours.  Sergio should then turn back to the west and northwest over the weekend. Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 120 mph (195 kph) with higher gusts. Sergio is a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.  Additional gradual weakening is forecast during the next several days, but Sergio is expected to remain a hurricane through the middle of next week.

NOAA manages the GOES series of satellites and the NASA/NOAA GOES Project at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, is responsible for building and launching the GOES satellites.

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

By Rob Gutro
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Leslie (Atlantic Ocean) 2018

NASA’s Aqua satellite passed over the Central Atlantic Ocean and obtained infrared data on Leslie, now weakened to a large tropical storm.

The National Hurricane Center or NHC said that Leslie remains a large tropical storm, with tropical-storm-force winds extending outward up to 290 miles (465 km) from the center. Because of the size and strength of Tropical Storm Leslie, waves from Leslie are expected to increase along the coasts of Atlantic Canada and New England today, Oct. 5.

Satellite data on Leslie
At 1:40 a.m. EDT (0540 UTC) on Oct. 5, the MODIS instrument aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite revealed strongest storms with the coldest cloud top temperatures (yellow) northwest of Leslie’s center with temperatures near minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 53 degrees Celsius). Credit: NASA/NRL

At 1:40 a.m. EDT (0540 UTC) on Oct. 5, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer or MODIS instrument aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite revealed strongest storms with the coldest cloud top temperatures northwest of Leslie’s center. MODIS found coldest cloud tops had temperatures near minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 53 degrees Celsius). NASA research has found that cloud top temperatures that cold have the capability to generate heavy rainfall.

At 5 a.m. EDT (0900 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Leslie was located near 35.9 degrees north latitude and 58.3 degrees west longitude. Leslie is moving toward the north-northwest near 14 mph (22 kph). A slower northward motion is expected to occur today, but Leslie will make a sharp turn toward the east and east-southeast over the weekend.

Maximum sustained winds are near 65 mph (100 kph) with higher gusts.  Little change in strength is forecast during the next several days.

NHC cautioned, “Large swells generated by Leslie will continue to affect portions of the southeastern coast of the United States, Bermuda, the Bahamas, and the Greater and Lesser Antilles during the next few days. Swells are expected to increase near the coasts of New England and Atlantic Canada today.”

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

Rob Gutro
NASA’ Goddard Space Flight Center

Kong-rey (Northwestern Pacific Ocean) 2018

Oct. 04, 2018 – NASA Puts Together a Composite of Tropical Storm Kong-Rey

NASA’s IMERG combines data from many satellites to provide a look at rainfall occurring around the world. Those rainfall data were combined with visible imagery from NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite to create a composite or fuller picture of Kong- Rey in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean as it weakened to a tropical storm.

Worldview image of Kong-rey
NASA’s IMERG and NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite imagery were combined to create a picture of the extent and rainfall of Tropical Storm Kong-Rey. IMERG found heavy rain falling (red) around the center and northwest of the center on Oct. 3, 2018. Credit: NASA Worldview, Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS) /NOAA/JAXA

The Global Precipitation Measurement mission or GPM core satellite provided a look at distribution of rainfall within Kong-Rey. GPM is a joint mission between NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, JAXA. GPM found heaviest rain falling around the center and northwest of the center on Oct. 4, 2018.

The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument aboard NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite captured a visible light image that showed the western quadrant of Kong-Rey just east of Taiwan on Oct. 4.

The Status of Kong-Rey

At 11 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC) on Oct. 4, 2018, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center downgraded Kong-Rey from a typhoon to a tropical storm as maximum sustained winds dropped to 60 knots (69 mph/111 kph).  Kong-Rey was centered near 26.1 degrees north latitude and 126.5 degrees east longitude. That’s approximately 88 nautical miles southwest of Kadena Air Base and has tracked north-northwestward.

Kong-Rey is forecast to turn to the north then northeast, and move into the Sea of Japan. The storm is now weakening, and will become extra-tropical over northern Japan.

About IMERG

NASA’s GPM or Global Precipitation Measurement mission satellite provides information on precipitation from its orbit in space. GPM is a joint mission between NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency or JAXA. GPM also utilizes a constellation of other satellites to provide a global analysis of precipitation that are used in the IMERG calculation.

At NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, those data are incorporated into NASA’s IMERG or Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals for GPM. IMERG is used to estimate precipitation from a combination of passive microwave sensors, including the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission’s core satellite’s GMI microwave sensor and geostationary infrared data. IMERG real-time data are generated by NASA’s Precipitation Processing System every half hour and are normally available within six hours.

For updated warnings from the Japan Meteorological Agency, visit: http://www.jma.go.jp/en/typh/

By Rob Gutro
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Walaka (Central Pacific Ocean) 2018

Oct. 04, 2018 – NASA Sees Hurricane Walaka Battering Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument

NASA’s Terra satellite analyzed Hurricane Walaka in infrared light as continued to lash the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument in the Central Pacific Ocean.

Terra image of Walaka
NASA’s Terra satellite observed Hurricane Walaka in the Central Pacific Ocean on Oct. 4 at 4:55 a.m. EDT (0855 UTC). Infrared light that revealed cloud top temperatures were coldest (red) as cold as minus 70 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 56.6 degrees Celsius). Credit: NASA/NRL

NOAA’s Central Pacific Hurricane Center or CPHC said a Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument from Nihoa to French Frigate Shoals to Maro Reef.

Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument is the largest contiguous fully protected conservation area under the U.S. flag, and one of the largest marine conservation areas in the world, according to the monument’s website. It encompasses 582,578 square miles of the Pacific Ocean (1,508,870 square kilometers) – an area larger than all the country’s national parks combined. The name Papahānaumokuākea commemorates the union of two Hawaiian ancestors – Papahānaumoku and Wākea – who gave rise to the Hawaiian Archipelago, the taro plant, and the Hawaiian people.

On Oct. 4 at 4:55 a.m. EDT (0855 UTC) the MODIS instrument or Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer aboard NASA’s Terra satellite observed Hurricane Walaka and found powerful thunderstorms around the center of circulation. Infrared light that revealed cloud top temperatures were coldest as cold as minus 70 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 56.6 degrees Celsius). NASA research has shown that storms with cloud tops that high in the troposphere and that cold have the capability to generate heavy rain.

At 5 a.m. HST (11 a.m. EDT/1500 UTC), the center of Hurricane Walaka was located near latitude 26.8 degrees north and longitude 166.5 degrees west. That’s about 200 miles (325 km) north of the French Frigate Shoals.

Walaka is moving toward the north near 20 mph (31 kph). It is expected to slow its forward speed and turn toward the north-northwest later today and tonight. From Friday through early Saturday morning, Walaka is forecast to move toward the north-northeast at a faster forward speed. Maximum sustained winds are near 110 mph (175 kph) with higher gusts. Gradual weakening is expected to continue during the next couple of days, but Walaka is forecast to remain a hurricane through early Friday morning.

NOAA’s CPHC noted “Large surf generated by the broad wind field associated with Walaka will continue to impact most of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument today.”

For updated forecasts, visit:  http://www.prh.noaa.gov/cphc

By Rob Gutro
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Sergio (Eastern Pacific Ocean) 2018

Oct. 04, 2018 – NASA Takes Powerful Hurricane Sergio’s Temperature

Infrared light provides scientists with temperature data and that’s important when trying to understand the strength of storms. NASA’s Aqua satellite provided those cloud top temperatures of Category 4 Hurricane Sergio in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.

AIRS image of Sergio
The AIRS instrument aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite passed over Hurricane Sergio on Oct. 3 at 5:17 a.m. EDT (0917 UTC) and analyzed the storm in infrared light. AIRS detected strongest storms (purple) around the eye where cloud top temperatures were as cold as or colder than 207 Kelvin (minus 87 degrees Fahrenheit/minus 66.1 degrees Celsius). Credit: NASA JPL, Heidar Thrastarson

The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder or AIRS instrument aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite passed over Hurricane Sergio on Oct. 3 at 5:17 a.m. EDT (0917 UTC) and analyzed the storm in infrared light. The higher the cloud tops, the colder and the stronger the storms. Infrared light as that gathered by the AIRS instrument can identify the strongest sides of a tropical cyclone.

AIRS temperature data showed Sergio had intensified that morning, with the eye becoming better defined while embedded in very cold cloud tops. AIRS detected those very cold cloud tops were as cold as or colder than 207 Kelvin (minus 87 degrees Fahrenheit/minus 66.1 degrees Celsius).  Storms with cloud top temperatures that cold have the capability to produce heavy rainfall.

At 5 a.m. EDT (0900 UTC) on Thursday, Oct. 4 the National Hurricane Center or NHC noted “Sergio’s intensity is estimated to have increased just a little more this morning, and it remains a powerful category 4 hurricane.”

The eye of Hurricane Sergio was located near latitude 14.4 degrees north, longitude 118.8 degrees west. That’s about 825 miles (1,330 km) southwest of the southern tip of Baja California, Mexico. Sergio was moving toward the northwest near 8 mph (13 km/h), and this motion is expected to continue today.  A turn toward the west-northwest and west at a slightly slower forward speed is expected Friday and Saturday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 140 mph (220 kph) with higher gusts.  Sergio is a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

NHC noted “Little change in strength is expected during the next day or so, but gradual weakening is forecast to begin on Friday, [Oct. 5].”

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

By Rob Gutro
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Leslie (Northern Atlantic Ocean) 2018

Oct. 04, 2018 – NASA/JAXA’s GPM Satellite Examines Upgraded Hurricane Leslie

When Tropical Storm Leslie strengthened into a hurricane, the Global Precipitation Measurement mission or GPM core satellite passed overhead and analyzed the rates in which rain was falling throughout the stronger storm.

GPM image of Leslie
The GPM or Global Precipitation Measurement mission core observatory satellite passed above Hurricane Leslie on Oct. 3, 2018 at 7:33 a.m. EDT (1133 UTC) and found rain was falling at over 1.8 inches (45.7 mm) per hour within storms located in the northwestern side of the Leslie’s eye wall. Credit: NASA/JAXA, Hal Pierce

Although Leslie is in the Central Atlantic Ocean, it’s strong enough to generate dangerous ocean swells that will continue to affect portions of the southeastern coast of the United States, Bermuda, and the Bahamas during the next few days.  Swells are expected to increase near the coasts of New England and Atlantic Canada by the end of the week.

The GPM core observatory satellite passed above Hurricane Leslie on Oct. 3, 2018 at 7:33 a.m. EDT (1133 UTC). GPM is a joint mission between NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency or JAXA.

At the time GPM passed overhead, Leslie had just been upgraded to a hurricane by the National Hurricane Center (NHC). GPM’s Microwave Imager (GMI) instruments collected data that revealed light to moderate convective rainfall in Leslie’s clearly evident eye wall. Very little precipitation was shown by GPM in the center of the hurricane’s nearly circular eye. Algorithms developed by NASA’s Precipitation Measurement  Missions (PMM) science team indicated that rain was falling at over 1.8 inches (45.7 mm) per hour within storms located in the northwestern side of the Leslie’s eye wall.


The GPM or Global Precipitation Measurement mission core observatory satellite passed above Hurricane Leslie on Oct. 3, 2018 at 7:33 a.m. EDT (1133 UTC) and found rain was falling at over 1.8 inches (45.7 mm) per hour within storms located in the northwestern side of the Leslie’s eye wall. Credit: NASA/JAXA, Hal Pierce

At NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. a 3D animation of the storm was created that showed the estimated heights of storms within hurricane Leslie at the time of the GPM satellite pass. Storm top heights are based on data observed by GPM’s Dual Frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR Ku Band) blended with estimates based on geostationary satellite cloud top temperatures.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) noted at 5 a.m. EDT (0900 UTC), the center of Hurricane Leslie was located near latitude 31.4 degrees north and longitude 57.1 degrees west. That’s 455 miles (735 km) east of Bermuda.

Leslie is moving toward the north near 8 mph (13 kph), and this motion with an increase in forward speed is expected through tonight.  A reduction in speed is forecast on Friday and Friday night, with Leslie accelerating toward the east or east-southeast over the weekend. Maximum sustained winds are near 80 mph (130 kph) with higher gusts.  Gradual weakening is forecast during the next several days.

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

By Harold F. Pierce / Rob Gutro
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center