As Tropical Storm Lorena was nearing landfall in northwestern Mexico, NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite provided forecasters with an image of the storm. By Monday, Sept. 23, Lorena’s remnants were affecting the southern U.S. and bringing heavy rainfall to Arizona.
NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite passed over Tropical Storm Lorena as it was approaching landfall in northwestern Mexico on Sept. 21 at 4:42 p.m. EDT (2042 UTC). Credit: NASA Worldview, Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS)
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 a visible image of Lorena on Sept. 21 at 4:42 p.m. EDT (2042 UTC).
The shape of a tropical cyclone provides forecasters with an idea of its organization and strength, and NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite provided a visible image of the storm to forecasters as its center was approaching landfall. The storm already appeared elongated from south to north after its northeastern side had begun moving over the high terrain of northwestern Mexico. Lorena made a slow track to the coast and made landfall about 12 hours later.
Lorena’s Final Advisory
At 11 am EDT on Sunday, Sept. 22, NOAA’s National Hurricane Center issued the final advisory on the system. By that time, Post-Tropical Cyclone Lorena crossed the coast of northwestern Mexico in the morning. The center of the disturbance was estimated near latitude 28.8 degrees north and longitude 111.5 degrees west. The post-tropical cyclone was moving toward the north near 9 mph (15 kph). Maximum sustained winds associated with this system are near 30 mph (45 kph) with higher gusts.
After landfall, Lorena’s remnant clouds and rain moved north into Arizona.
Lorena’s Remnants in Arizona on Sept. 23
NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center College Park, Md. reported, “Moisture from the remnants of Lorena will contribute to heavy rain, strong to severe thunderstorms and possible flooding across the Southwest through Tuesday. There should be enough moisture in place to support a significant rainfall event with widespread 1 to 2 inch rainfall totals with much higher amounts locally, with the greatest amounts in central and southern Arizona. This degree of rainfall warrants flash flood concerns, and a Moderate Risk of excessive rainfall is in effect for that region. Some strong to severe thunderstorms will also be possible.”
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.
Sep. 20, 2019 – NASA Analyzes Rainfall Rates Hurricane Lorena Over Mexico, and Mario Nearby
Two tropical cyclones are very close together near the coast of western Mexico. Hurricane Lorena was moving over the southern tip of Baja California, and Tropical Storm Mario was south of Lorena over the Eastern Pacific Ocean. NASA calculated the rainfall rates happening in both of those tropical cyclones.
The GPM core satellite passed over the Eastern Pacific Ocean on Sept. 20 at 3:36 a.m. EDT (0736 UTC) and provided rainfall rates in Hurricane Lorena and Tropical Storm Mario, close in proximity. The heaviest rainfall (pink) was occurring in the eastern side of Lorena, falling at a rate of over 36 mm (about 1.4 inch) per hour and at a rate of (orange) 25 mm (about 1 inch) per hour around the center and band of thunderstorms east of center. GPM also showed rain rates of (orange) 25 mm (about 1 inch) per hour around the center of Mario. Credit: NASA/JAXA/NRL
NASA has the unique capability of peering under the clouds in storms and measuring the rate in which rain is falling. The Global Precipitation Measurement mission or GPM core satellite passed over the region from its orbit in space and measured rainfall rates in these storms.
GPM passed over the Eastern Pacific Ocean on Sept. 20 at 3:36 a.m. EDT (0736 UTC) and provided rainfall rates in Hurricane Lorena and Tropical Storm Mario, close in proximity. The heaviest rainfall was occurring in the eastern side of Lorena, falling at a rate of over 36 mm (about 1.4 inch) per hour and at a rate of 25 mm (about 1 inch) per hour around the center and band of thunderstorms east of center.
Forecasters at NOAA’s National Hurricane Center or NHC incorporate the rainfall data into their forecasts. NHC said that Lorena is expected to produce rainfall accumulations of 3 to 6 inches, with maximum amounts around 8 inches, across the far southern Baja California Sur. This rainfall may result in flash flooding.
GPM also showed rain rates of 25 mm (about 1 inch) per hour around the center of Mario. Microwave imagery has indicated that Mario has been able to maintain its low-level structure, but deep convection was mostly southwest of the cyclone’s surface center, although that was outside of the GPM overpass. Both the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, JAXA and NASA manage GPM.
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Baja California peninsula from La Paz to Puerto Cortes, a Hurricane Watch is in effect for the East coast of the Baja California peninsula north of La Paz to San Evaristo. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Puerto Cortes to Cabo San Lazaro, a Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for the east coast of the Baja California peninsula north of San Evaristo to Loreto and for the west coast of the Baja California peninsula north of Cabo San Lazaro to Puerto San Andresito.
Compact Hurricane Lorena on Sept. 20, 2019
NASA satellite data has also shown that Lorena is a compact hurricane. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 10 miles (20 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles (95 km).
At 11 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC), the center of Hurricane Lorena was located near latitude 22.7 North, longitude 109.0 West. Lorena is moving toward the west at near 2 mph (4 kph), and a turn toward the west-northwest with some increase in forward speed is expected on Saturday, Sept. 20. Maximum sustained winds are near 75 mph (120 kph) with higher gusts. Some additional strengthening is possible today, but weakening is likely to begin by Saturday night, and then either degenerate into a remnant low, or become absorbed by Tropical Storm Mario in a couple of days. The estimated minimum central pressure is 987 millibars.
On the forecast track, the center of Lorena will pass near or over the southern portion of the Baja California peninsula later today, and then gradually move away from the west coast of the peninsula tonight and Saturday.
Tropical Storm Mario on Sept. 20, 2019
At 11 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Mario was located near latitude 17.9 degrees north and longitude 110.1 degrees west. That is about 345 miles (555 km) south of the southern tip of Baja California, Mexico.
Mario is moving toward the north-northeast at near 5 mph (7 kph). A sharp turn toward the north and then toward the northwest is expected later today. A turn toward the west-northwest is forecast on Saturday; however, confidence in the forecast is low. Maximum sustained winds are near 65 mph (100 kph) with higher gusts. Some strengthening is possible today, with weakening expected to begin on Saturday and continue through Sunday night.
The estimated minimum central pressure is 994 millibars. Interests in the southern Baja California peninsula should monitor the progress of Mario.
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.
Imagery from NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite found Tropical Storm Lorena lashing the western coast of Mexico.
NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite passed over Tropical Storm Lorena on Sept. 18 and revealed powerful storms around the low-level center. Strong storms were also lashing the coast of western Mexico, bringing heavy rainfall. 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 Lorena on Sept. 18 that revealed powerful storms circled the low-level center. The image showed strong bands of thunderstorms sweeping over the coast of western Mexico over the western parts of Michoacan and Colima states. Data from NASA’s Aqua satellite revealed that some of the thunderstorms were over 12,000 meters or 7.4 miles high. NASA research has shown storms high in the troposphere can be strong storms that generate heavy rainfall. It was that heavy rainfall that continued to drench the western coast of Mexico.
Microwave and satellite imagery indicated that the center of Lorena moved along the southwestern coast of Mexico overnight and during the morning of Sept. 19.
Lorena did not move much from the coast since the Suomi NPP satellite image was captured. NOAA’s National Hurricane Center or NHC said, at 11 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC) on Sept. 19 the center of Lorena moved offshore just west of Cabo Corrientes and heavy rains and strong winds continue along the southwestern coast of Mexico.
Coastal sections of the Mexican states of Michoacan, Colima and Jalisco will get 5 to 10 inches with maximum amounts of 15 inches. This rainfall may produce life threatening flash floods and mudslides. Far southern Baja California Sur will get 2 to 4 inches with maximum amounts around 6 inches.
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for Baja California peninsula from La Paz to Santa Fe and a Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Manzanillo to Punta Mita and for the Baja California peninsula from Los Barriles to Todos Santos.
The center of Tropical Storm Lorena was located near latitude 20.5 North, longitude 105.9 West. Lorena is moving toward the northwest near 10 mph (17 km/h). A turn to the west-northwest is expected tonight, and a west-northwestward motion at a slow forward speed should continue Saturday [Sept. 21]. Maximum sustained winds are near 70 mph (110 kph) with higher gusts. Strengthening is forecast during the next day or so, and Lorena is forecast to regain hurricane strength later today or tonight. The estimated minimum central pressure is 994 millibars.
On the forecast track, the center of Lorena will move over the Pacific waters to the southeast of the Baja California peninsula today and tonight, and then pass near or just south of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula late Friday and Friday night.
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.
The shape of a tropical cyclone provides forecasters with an idea of its organization and strength, and NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite provided a visible image of the developing storm to forecasters.
NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite passed over Tropical Storm Lorena after it developed on Sept. 17 and found an improved structure, and a strong band of thunderstorms were located over the northwestern quadrant of the storm. Credit: NASA Worldview, Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS)
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 a visible image of Lorena on Sept. 17 that revealed that the storm’s cloud pattern had become more organized. Strong thunderstorms were found around the center and a strong band of thunderstorms were seen over the northwestern quadrant of the storm in the VIIRS image.
On Sept. 18, Lorena’s cloud pattern continued to improve with the development of a central dense overcast feature, and several bands wrapping around the circulation.
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.
Tropical Storm Lorena formed close enough to the western coast of Mexico to trigger warnings on Sept. 18. NOAA’s National Hurricane Center or NHC posted a Hurricane Warning from Punta San Telmo to Cabo Corrientes, and a Tropical Storm Warning for Zihuatanejo to Punta San Telmo and for Cabo Corrientes to Punta Mita.
At 2 p.m. EDT (1800 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Lorena was located near latitude 17.6 degrees north and longitude 104.0 degrees west. Lorena is moving toward the northwest near 13 mph (20 kph). A slower northwestward motion is expected during the next couple of days. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 70 mph (110 kph) with higher gusts. The estimated minimum central pressure is 993 millibars.
On the NHC forecast track, Lorena is expected to move near or over the southwestern coast of Mexico within the hurricane warning area tonight and Thursday. Additional strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours, and Lorena is expected to become a hurricane as it nears the coast of southwestern Mexico.
Sep. 17, 2019 – GPM Finds Heavy Rain in New Eastern Pacific Tropical Storm Lorena
The Global Precipitation Measurement mission or GPM core satellite provided information about the rate in which rain was falling within the Eastern Pacific Ocean’s tropical storm.
The GPM core satellite passed over developing Tropical Storm Lorena in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Sept. 17 at 2:31 p.m. EDT (1831 UTC). GPM found the heaviest rainfall (pink) near the center where it was falling at a rate of over 40 mm (about 1.6 inch) per hour. Lighter rainfall rates (yellow and blue) were measured throughout the north and west sides of the storm. Credit: NASA/JAXA/NRL
Lorena is close enough to the coast of Mexico to trigger a watch. A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect from Zihuatanejo to Cabo Corrientes, Mexico.
Tropical Storm Lorena formed today, Sept. 17. GPM passed over Tropical Storm Lorena in the Eastern Pacific on Sept. 17 at 2:31 p.m. EDT (1831 UTC). GPM found the heaviest rainfall around the center where it was falling at a rate of over 40 mm (about 1.6 inch) per hour. Lighter rainfall rates were measured throughout the north and west sides of the storm.
GPM is a joint mission between NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, JAXA.
NOAA’s National Hurricane Center or NHC noted at 2 p.m. EDT (1800 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Lorena was located near latitude 13.9 degrees North and longitude degrees 100.4 West. The tropical storm is moving toward the northwest near 15 mph (24 kph). Recent satellite-derived wind data indicate that Lorena’s maximum sustained winds have increased to near 45 mph (75 kph) with higher gusts. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1004 millibars.
A northwestward motion at a slightly slower speed is expected for the next couple of days. Lorena is expected to move near the southwest coast of Mexico by Thursday. Continued gradual strengthening is anticipated during the next couple of days as Lorena approaches the coast of Mexico.
