Oct. 16, 2019 – Typhoon Hagibis Leaves Destruction in Its Wake
Typhoon Hagibis, one of the most destructive storms to hit Japan in decades, made landfall on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019 southwest of Tokyo with wind speeds equivalent to a Category 3 hurricane. The damage it left in its wake is visible from space.
NASA’s ARIA team, along with the Earth Observatory of Singapore, created this map showing damage from Typhoon Hagibis, which struck southwest of Tokyo on Oct. 12, 2019. Credit: Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data (2019) processed by ESA, the ARIA team at NASA-JPL and Caltech, and EOS in Singapore
NASA’s Advance Rapid Imaging and Analysis (ARIA) team, in collaboration with the Earth Observatory of Singapore (EOS), used satellite data to create this map showing areas in Japan that are likely damaged as a result of Typhoon Hagibis. The color variation from yellow to red indicates increasingly more significant ground surface change, or damage.
The map was produced using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data from the Copernicus Sentinel-1 satellites operated by the European Space Agency (ESA). The pre-event images were taken on Oct. 7, 2019, and the post-event image was acquired about 12 hours after the typhoon’s landfall. The map covers an area of 155 miles by 220 miles (250 kilometers by 350 kilometers) indicated by the red polygon.
The map was delivered to Sentinel Asia, a consortium that supports disaster management across the Asia-Pacific region using space-based technologies. Maps like this one can be used as guidance to help responders identify damaged areas and to allocate resources accordingly. The map may be less reliable over vegetated or badly flooded areas.
This map contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data processed by ESA, the ARIA team at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Caltech, both in Pasadena California, and EOS in Singapore. Its production was funded by NASA’s Disasters Program.
More information about ARIA and NASA’s Disasters Program is available here:
Oct. 15, 2019 – NASA’s Aqua Satellite Reveals Flooding in Japan from Typhoon Hagibis
Typhoon Hagibis made landfall in Japan over the weekend of October 12 and 13, bringing damaging winds, rough surf and flooding rains. NASA’s Aqua satellite provided a visible image of the flooding caused by the torrential rainfall.
These two visible images of east central Japan were taken before and after the arrival of Typhoon Hagibis. The image of the left reveals dry land. The image on the right, after Hagibis made landfall and moved away from Japan, shows the extent of flooding in the central region around Toyko. Credit: NASA Worldview
Hagibis made landfall just before 6 a.m. EDT (7 p.m. local time, Japan) on Oct. 12, on the Izu Peninsula, located southwest of Tokyo.
On Oct. 12 at 5 p.m. EDT (2100 UTC), the Joint Typhoon Warning Center issued their final bulletin on Tropical Cyclone Hagibis. The storm has moved off Japan and re-emerged in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean where it is becoming extra-tropical. On Oct. 12 at 5 p.m. EDT, Hagibis was located near 28.6 north latitude and 141.9 east longitude, about 113 nautical miles south-southeast of Misawa, Japan. Hagibis was speeding to the northeast at 36 knots (41 mph/67 kph) and had maximum sustained winds 65 knots (75 mph/120 kph), still at hurricane-strength.
In its wake, Hagibis dropped large amounts of rainfall that flooded neighborhoods and cut power to thousands of people. There were also landslides from the heavy rainfall. Rainfall totals in Hakone were the highest at 994 mm (39.1 inches). Izu City received 760 mm (27.7 inches) and Chichibu received 683 mm (26.8 inches).
On Oct. 15, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer or MODIS instrument provided a visible view of Japan, where Typhoon Hagibis made landfall and dropped huge rain totals. The image was compared to a visible image taken of the same region before the typhoon and showed a marked difference and many flooded areas.
On Oct. 13, Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported at least 31 deaths had occurred and there were still over 186 people missing. The storm was becoming extra-tropical as it moved east toward Alaska.
On Oct. 15, Hagibis’ remnants reached Alaska. The Southcentral and Southwest Alaska Forecast Discussion from the National Weather Service Anchorage Alaska on Oct. 15 cited “A strong 958 millibar low [pressure area] (remnants of Hagibis) centered west of St. Matthew Island continues to slowly move northward. This low has brought hurricane force gusts and high seas to the Bering waters overnight.”
Oct. 11, 2019 – Suomi NPP Satellite Finds a Weaker Typhoon Hagibis Nearing Japan
On Oct. 10, Hagibis was a super typhoon, but overnight, the storm weakened to typhoon status. NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite provided a visible image of the large storm that stretched along most of the big islands of Japan.
Visible imagery from NASA satellites help forecasters understand if a storm is organizing or weakening, based on changes to its structure. The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument aboard Suomi NPP provided a visible image of Hagibis that showed the eye had become cloud-filled. Despite that, A solid ring of deep convection (strong thunderstorm development) is evident around the compact, 10 nautical mile wide eye.
NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite passed over Typhoon Hagibis and revealed the eye had become cloud-filled as the storm weakened from a super typhoon to a typhoon. The eye was surrounded by powerful thunderstorms and a large tail of clouds that covered most of Japan. Credit: NASA Worldview, Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS)
The image was created using NASA Worldview, the Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS) data product at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. The image showed the cloud-filled eye circled by powerful thunderstorms and a large tail of clouds streaming to the northeast of the center that stretched along much of Japan’s east coast.
At 5 a.m. EDT (0900 UTC), the Joint Typhoon Warning Center reported the center of Typhoon Hagibis was located near latitude 28.8 degrees north and longitude 137.5 degrees east. Hagibis is about 406 nautical miles south of Yokosuka, Japan. Hagibis was moving toward the north-northwest. Maximum sustained winds are near 132 mph (213 kph/115 knots) with higher gusts. It is the equivalent of a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale.
The Joint Typhoon Warning Center noted that Hagibis has continued to weaken and will turn to the northeast on approach to Honshu. Hagibis is expected to make a brief landfall near Tokyo during Saturday (GMT) before curving back out into the Northwestern Pacific Ocean. The system is forecast to become extra-tropical south of the Kuril Islands on Sunday.
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.
Oct. 10, 2019 – NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP Satellite Needed 3 Orbits to See All of Super Typhoon Hagibis
NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite provided forecasters with a composite visible image of the very large Super Typhoon Hagibis in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean on Oct. 10. It took Suomi NPP three orbits to capture images to show the entire storm that revealed it maintained its impressive structure.
Visible imagery from NASA satellites help forecasters understand if a storm is organizing or weakening, based on changes to its structure. The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument aboard Suomi NPP provided three visible images of Hagibis on Oct. 10. Those images had to be stitched together to show the entire storm on NASA Worldview, the Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS) data product at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. The image showed an eye surrounded by powerful thunderstorms and a large “tail” of clouds streaming to the northeast of the center.
NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite passed over Super Typhoon Hagibis and revealed the storm maintaining an eye surrounded by powerful thunderstorms, and a large “tail” of clouds streaming to the northeast of the center. Credit: NASA Worldview, Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS)
At 5 a.m. EDT (0900 UTC), NHC reported the center of Super Typhoon Hagibis was located near latitude 24.4 degrees north and longitude139.4 degrees east. Hagibis is about 654 miles (560 km) south of Yokosuka, Japan. Hagibis is moving toward the north-northwest. Maximum sustained winds are near 161 mph (259 kph/140 knots) with higher gusts.
Hagibis remains at peak intensity as a Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. The system will continue north-northwest as it goes through a weakening trend on approach to Japan. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center noted, “Hagibis will be making a quick landfall near Yokosuka via Sagami wan shortly after 48 hours (after 5 a.m. EDT (0900 UTC) on Oct. 10) before exiting back into the Pacific Ocean.”
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.
Oct. 9, 2019 – NASA Covers Super Typhoon Hagibis Day and Night
NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite provided daytime and nighttime imagery of powerful Super Typhoon Hagibis, revealing a small eye surrounded by powerful thunderstorms as the storm maintained strength.
Visible imagery from NASA satellites help forecasters understand if a storm is organizing or weakening. The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument aboard Suomi NPP provided an infrared image of Hagibis on Oct. 8 at 11:56 a.m. EDT (1556 UTC) and a visible image of Hagibis on Oct. 9.
NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite was able to catch a nighttime view of Hagibis around 11:56 a.m. EDT (1556 UTC) on Oct 8. The waxing gibbous Moon (76% illumination) was just setting providing ample lighting to see the small cloud filled eye along with lightning streaks and some tropospheric gravity waves. Credit: NASA/NOAA/UWM CIMSS, William Straka III.
The night-time high resolution infrared imagery showed a very small eye along with copious amounts of tropospheric gravity waves as well as some overshooting cloud tops (into the stratosphere) in some of the outer bands of thunderstorms. Overshooting cloud tops indicate very strong uplift of air and powerful thunderstorms. The waxing gibbous Moon (76% illumination) was just setting and provided ample lighting to see the small cloud-filled eye along with lightning streaks and some tropospheric gravity waves.
It took two images stitched together to create a complete visible, daytime picture of Hagibis. The Suomi NPP satellite passed over Hagibis twice on October 9 to get the entire storm. That image revealed that Hagibis maintained its small eye and powerful thunderstorms circling the center. Powerful bands of thunderstorms from north and south of center were also spiraling into the low-level center. The image was created by NASA Worldview, Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS) at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.
On Oct. 9, 2019, NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite passed over Super typhoon Hagibis and captured this visible image of the storm. Credit: NASA Worldview, Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS)
On Oct. 9 at 11 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC), Hagibis was centered near 21.2 degrees north latitude and 139.6 degrees east longitude. That is about 236 nautical miles south-southwest of Iwo To island, Japan. Hagibis was moving to the north-northwest at 6 knots and had maximum sustained winds near 140 knots (161 mph/259 kph) making it a Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale.
Hagibis is expected to remain a strong tropical cyclone over the next day, eventually weakening as it turns to the north and likely impacting Japan by the weekend, per the Joint Typhoon Warning Center.
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.
Oct. 8, 2019 NASA-NOAA Satellite Paints a Picture of Supertyphoon Hagibis
NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite passed over the Northwestern Pacific Ocean and used infrared light to obtain temperature information about Supertyphoon Hagibis’ cold cloud tops, painting a picture of a super-strong storm.
NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite used infrared light to analyze the strength of storms within the structure of Hagibis. Infrared data provides temperature information, and the strongest thunderstorms that reach high into the atmosphere have the coldest cloud top temperatures. This data is helpful to forecasters because storms are not uniform around tropical cyclones and it helps pinpoint where the strongest storms are located.
NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite passed over Supertyphoon Hagibis and the VIIRS instrument aboard captured this image of the storm on Oct. 7 at 12:15 pm. EDT (1615 UTC). Suomi NPP found strongest thunderstorms around the center had cloud top temperatures as cold as 190 Kelvin (gray) or minus 117 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 83.1 Celsius). Credit: NASA/NOAA/UWM-CIMSS, William Straka III
Just before Suomi NPP passed over Hagibis, at 1:09 p.m. EDT (1509 UTC) Super Typhoon Hagibis passed just to the south of the island of Anatahan. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center or JTWC noted at 11 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC), that Hagibis had winds of around 140 knots, which would make it a Super Typhoon or the equivalent of a Category 5 storm.
Oct. 7 at 12:15 pm. EDT (1615 UTC) the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument aboard Suomi NPP found strongest thunderstorms circling Hagibis’ center had cloud top temperatures as cold as 190 Kelvin or minus 117 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 83.1 Celsius). NASA research has shown that cloud top temperatures that cold indicate strong storms have the potential to generate heavy rainfall.
NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite passed over Supertyphoon Hagibis and the VIIRS instrument aboard captured this close up image of the storm on Oct. 7 at 12:15 pm. EDT (1615 UTC). Suomi NPP found strongest thunderstorms around the center had cloud top temperatures as cold as 190 Kelvin (gray) or minus 117 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 83.1 Celsius). Credit: NASA/NOAA/UWM-CIMSS, William Straka III
On Oct. 8 at 5 a.m. EDT (0900 UTC), a Typhoon Warning remains in effect for Alamagan and Pagan Islands in the CNMI. Damaging winds of 39 to 50 mph will continue through at least late this evening. A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect for Agrihan Island. Tropical storm conditions, including damaging winds of 39 to 50 mph, are expected through this evening.
At 10 p.m. CHST (8 a.m. EDT or 1200 UTC) the National Weather Service office in Tiyan, Guam noted that the center of Super Typhoon Hagibis was located near Latitude 18.5 degrees North and Longitude 141.8 degrees East. Hagibis is moving northwest at 15 mph. It is expected to maintain this general course with a decrease in forward speed during the next 24 hours. Maximum sustained winds remain at 155 mph. Hagibis is forecast to maintain this intensity through Wednesday then begin a gradual weakening trend.
Typhoon force winds extend outward from the center up to 85 miles. Tropical storm force winds extend outward from the center up to 300 miles to the northeast and up to 240 miles elsewhere.
Hagibis is moving northwest. The system will turn to the north as it goes through a weakening trend on approach to Japan.
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.
Oct. 7, 2019 – NASA Examines Super Typhoon Hagibis, Warnings in Guam, Micronesia
Super typhoon Hagibis formed quickly over the weekend of Oct. 5 and 6. NASA’s Aqua satellite passed over the storm after it achieved super typhoon status on Oct. 6 found extremely cold cloud top temperatures, indicating very powerful storms with heavy rainfall potential. Warnings are in effect in Guam and throughout the Federated States of Micronesia on Oct. 7.
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 Super Typhoon Hagibis and gave insight into the storm’s rainfall potential near Guam.
On Oct 6 at 3:53 p.m. EDT (1553 UTC) NASA’s Aqua satellite analyzed Hagibis when it was a tropical storm using the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder or AIRS instrument. AIRS found coldest cloud top temperatures as cold as or colder than (purple) minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 53 degrees Celsius) around the center and in a thick band of thunderstorms east and west of center. Credit: NASA JPL/Heidar Thrastarson
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 data to forecasters at NOAA’s National Hurricane Center or NHC so they can incorporate in their forecasting. Those data went into the forecasts from the National Weather Service office in Tiyan, Guam on Oct. 7.
Oct. 6 at 3:53 p.m. EDT (1553 UTC) NASA’s Aqua satellite analyzed the storm using the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder or AIRS instrument when Hagibis was a tropical storm and strengthening quickly. When Aqua passed overhead, Hagibis had maximum sustained winds near 50 knots (57 mph/93 kph).
AIRS found coldest cloud top temperatures as cold as or colder than minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 53 degrees Celsius) around Super Typhoon Hagibis’ center and in thick bands of thunderstorms west and east of center. Those cloud top temperatures continued to drop as Hagibis strengthened from a tropical storm into a typhoon.
NASA research has shown that cloud top temperatures that cold indicate strong storms that have the capability to create heavy rain.
NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite captured this visible image of Super typhoon Hagibis on Oct. 7 affecting both Guam and the Federated States of Micronesia. It showed a well-defined eye covered by high clouds, surrounded by powerful thunderstorms. A thick, powerful band of thunderstorms was wrapping into the low-level center from the southwest, and a large band of thunderstorms stretched around the eastern quadrant and extended far south of the storm. Credit: NASA Worldview, Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS)
Hagibis reached super typhoon status on Oct. 7 by 5 a.m. EDT (0900 UTC). After that time, the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument aboard Suomi NPP provided a visible image of Super typhoon Hagibis. It showed a well-defined eye covered by high clouds, surrounded by powerful thunderstorms. A thick, powerful band of thunderstorms was wrapping into the low-level center from the southwest, and a large band of thunderstorms stretched around the eastern quadrant and extended far south of the storm. The storm was affecting both Guam and the Federated States of Micronesia.
A Typhoon Warning remains in effect for Saipan, Tinian, Alamagan and Pagan Islands in the CNMI. Typhoon conditions, including destructive winds of 74 mph or more, will continue through Tuesday morning. A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect for Guam, Rota and Agrihan Islands. Tropical storm conditions, including damaging winds of 39 to 73 mph, are expected through Tuesday morning. A Flash Flood Warning is in effect for Rota, Tinian and Saipan.
At 8 a.m. EDT (1200 UTC), the NWS of Guam noted the center of Super typhoon Hagibis was located by satellite near Latitude 16.1 degrees North and Longitude 146.7 degrees East. That is about 70 miles east-southeast of Anatahan and about 95 miles northeast of Saipan.
Hagibis is moving west-northwest at 15 mph and is expected to maintain this general course and speed through Tuesday. Hagibis is expected to pass over Anatahan later tonight. Maximum sustained winds remain at 150 mph. Hagibis is forecast to intensify further through Tuesday, possibly reaching peak intensity Tuesday evening, Oct. 8.
The AIRS instrument is one of six instruments flying on board NASA’s Aqua satellite, launched on May 4, 2002.
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.
