Tag: Elida 2020

Aug. 13, 2020 – NASA-NOAA Satellite Nighttime Imagery Helps Confirm Elida Now Post-Tropical

NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite provided a night-time image of Elida in the Eastern Pacific Ocean that helped confirm the storm had weakened to a post-tropical cyclone.

What is a Post-tropical Cyclone?

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) defines a post-tropical cyclone as a former tropical cyclone. This generic term describes a cyclone that no longer possesses sufficient tropical characteristics to be considered a tropical cyclone. Post-tropical cyclones can continue carrying heavy rains and high winds. Note that former tropical cyclones that have become fully extratropical… as well as remnant low pressure areas… are two classes of post-tropical cyclones.

NASA’s Night-Time View of Elida’s Transition

The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument aboard Suomi NPP provided a night-time image of Elida on Aug. 12 at 10 p.m. PDT (Aug. 13 at 0500 UTC). The imagery showed that Elida was still devoid of strong thunderstorms. The image was created using the NASA Worldview application.

Two hours earlier, NOAA’s National Hurricane Center (NHC) noted, “Elida has been devoid of deep convection for more than 12 hours, and since it is over sea surface temperatures of 22 to 23 degrees Celsius (71.6 to 73.4 degrees Fahrenheit), it is unlikely that organized deep convection will return.  As a result, the system has become a post-tropical cyclone, and this will be the last NHC advisory on Elida.”

Tropical cyclones require warm sea surface temperatures of at least 26.6 degrees Celsius (80 degrees Fahrenheit) to maintain strength and continue building the thunderstorms that make up a tropical cyclone.

Elida’s Last Advisory

At 11 p.m. EDT on Aug. 12 (0300 UTC on Aug. 13), the National Hurricane Center (NHC) issued the final advisory on Elida. At that time, it was located near latitude 24.4 degrees north and longitude 120.2 degrees west. That is about 395 miles (635 km) southwest of Punta Eugenia, Mexico.

The post-tropical cyclone is moving toward the northwest near 9 mph (15 kph).  A northwestward or north-northwestward motion at a slower forward speed is expected through Thursday. Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 40 mph (65 kph) with higher gusts. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1004 millibars.

Additional weakening is expected during the next day or so, and the remnant low is forecast to dissipate early Friday.

About NASA’s EOSDIS Worldview

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 Researches Earth from Space

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

Aug. 12, 2020 – NASA Finds Hurricane Elida’s Eye Covered

NASA’s Aqua satellite obtained visible imagery of Hurricane Elida in the Eastern Pacific as it continued to weaken. Imagery revealed that Elida’s eye had become covered as the storm embarks on a weakening trend over cooler waters.

The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer or MODIS instrument that flies aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite captured a visible image of Hurricane Elida on Aug. 11 at 4:30 p.m. EDT and the eye had become obscured by high clouds. The image also revealed that the storm looked more elongated, another sign a storm is weakening. Satellite imagery was created using NASA’s Worldview product at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.

Elida has moved into cooler waters, causing the storm to weaken. The hurricane have moved over waters of 23 to 24 degrees Celsius (73.4 to 75.2 degrees Fahrenheit). A hurricane needs sea surface temperatures of at least 26.6 degrees Celsius (80 degrees Fahrenheit) to maintain intensity.

Elida’s Status on Aug. 12

At 5 a.m. EDT (0900 UTC) on Aug. 12, the center of Hurricane Elida was located near latitude 23.0 degrees north and longitude 117.7 degrees west. That’s about 495 miles (800 km) west of the southern tip of Baja California, Mexico. Elida is moving toward the west-northwest near 13 mph (20 kph). A turn to the northwest along with some decrease in forward speed is expected to occur tonight. Maximum sustained winds are near 75 mph (120 kph) with higher gusts. The estimated minimum central pressure is 988 millibars.

Satellite imagery on Aug. 12 show that Elida’s remaining deep convection, located northeast of the center of circulation, continues to shrink in coverage and wane in intensity.

Elida Still Causing Ocean Swells

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said, “Swells generated by Elida are expected to affect portions of the coast of west-central Mexico and the southern Baja California peninsula during the next day or two.  These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.”

Elida’s Forecast Calls for Quick Demise

NHC noted that Elida is expected to weaken quickly. “Rapid weakening is expected during the next day or so as Elida moves over colder water, and the cyclone is forecast to weaken to a tropical storm today and degenerate to a remnant low [pressure area] on Thursday.”

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

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.

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

By Rob Gutro
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Aug. 11, 2020 – NASA-NOAA Satellite Night-time Animation Shows Intensification of Hurricane Elida

A new animation of night-time imagery from NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite revealed how the Eastern Pacific Ocean’s Elida transformed into a hurricane over a three-day period.

NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite passed the Eastern Pacific Ocean overnight on Aug. 10 at 10 p.m. EDT (Aug. 11 at 0000 UTC) and captured a night-time image of Hurricane Elida.  Credit: NASA Worldview, Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS) 

NASA’s Night-Time View of Elida’s Intensification

The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument aboard Suomi NPP provided a night-time image of Hurricane Elida during the early morning hours of Aug. 11 (8 p.m. EDT on Aug. 10). The storm had intensified into a hurricane and an eye was clearly apparent, surrounded by powerful thunderstorms around it.

At NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. an animation of night-time imagery from NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite shows the development and intensification of Hurricane Elida in the Eastern Pacific Ocean from Aug. 9 to 11, 2020 at 0000 UTC (which is 8 p.m. EDT Aug. 8 to 10). On Aug. 9, Elida appeared somewhat shapeless, and by the night-time hours of Aug.10, the storm took on a general tropical cyclone shape with bands of thunderstorms wrapping into the low-level center. Elida became a hurricane by 5 p.m. EDT (2100 UTC) on Aug. 10. By Aug. 11, Elida had a tight circulation of powerful thunderstorms around the center and an eye was apparent on the night-time imagery.  The animation was created using the NASA Worldview application.

Hurricane Elida’s Status on Aug. 11

At 11 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC) on Aug. 11, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) noted the center of Hurricane Elida was located near latitude 21.3 degrees north and longitude 113.8 degrees west. That is about 275 miles (440 km) west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California, Mexico.

Elida was moving toward the northwest near 14 mph (22 kph). A west-northwestward to northwestward motion with a decrease in forward seed is expected during the next several days. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 100 mph (155 kph) with higher gusts. Elida is now a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 15 miles (30 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 70 miles (110 km). The estimated minimum central pressure is 975 millibars.

Rapid weakening is expected to begin tonight as Elida moves over colder water, and the cyclone is expected to weaken to a tropical storm on Wednesday and degenerate to a remnant low pressure area on Thursday, Aug. 13.

About NASA’s EOSDIS Worldview

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 Researches Earth from Space

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

Aug. 10, 2020 – NASA Infrared Data Confirms Depression Became Tropical Storm Elida

After Tropical Depression 09E formed near the coast of southwestern Mexico, infrared data from NASA’s Aqua satellite helped confirm its transition to a tropical storm.

On Aug. 9 at 11 p.m. EDT (Aug. 10 at 0300 UTC), Tropical Depression 09E formed near latitude 14.7 degrees north and longitude 102.6 degrees west, about 315 miles (510 km) south-southeast of Manzanillo, Mexico. By 5 a.m. EDT (0900 UTC), infrared imagery helped confirm that 09E strengthened into a tropical storm and was renamed Elida.

The infrared imagery gathered on Aug. 9 at 4:55 a.m. EDT (0855 UTC) that helped make that confirmation included data from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer or MODIS instrument. MODIS flies aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite. MODIS gathered temperature information about Elida’s cloud tops. Infrared data provides temperature information, and the strongest thunderstorms that reach high into the atmosphere have the coldest cloud top temperatures.

MODIS found the most powerful thunderstorms were around the center of circulation, where temperatures were as cold as or colder than minus 80 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 62.2 Celsius). That area was surrounded by thunderstorms slightly less high in the atmosphere, but still powerful rainmakers with cloud top temperatures as cold as or colder than minus 70 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 56.6 Celsius). Cloud top temperatures that cold indicate strong storms with the potential to generate heavy rainfall.

At 5 a.m. EDT (0900 UTC) on Aug. 10, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said the center of Tropical Storm Elida was located near latitude 18.3 degrees north and longitude 108.8 degrees west. That is about 145 miles (235 km) east-southeast of Socorro Island, Mexico. Elida is moving toward the west-northwest near 15 mph (24 kph), and this general motion is expected to continue through Wednesday. The estimated minimum central pressure is 995 millibars.

Maximum sustained winds are near 65 mph (100 kph) with higher gusts. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles (95 km) from the center. Strengthening is forecast during the next day or two, and Elida is expected to become a hurricane later today.

NHC cautioned, “Swells generated by Elida are expected to affect portions of the coast of west-central Mexico and the southern Baja California peninsula during the next couple of days. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.”

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.

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

By Rob Gutro
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center