Nuri – South China Sea

June 15, 2020 – NASA Follows Tropical Storm Nuri’s Path

An animation of four days of imagery from NASA’s Terra satellite showed the progression and landfall of Tropical Storm Nuri.

Animation of Nuri through the South China Sea
This animation of Nuri’s path through the South China Sea, its landfall and dissipation over southern China was generated by visible images taken from NASA’s Terra satellite from June 11 to 15, 2020. Credit: NASA Worldview

At NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. an animation of Nuri from June 11 to 15 was created using NASA Terra satellite images. It showed Nuri’s path through the South China Sea, its landfall and dissipation over southern China. The Moderate Imaging Spectroradiometer or MODIS instrument that flies aboard NASA’s Terra satellite captured the visible images.

NASA’s Terra satellite provided a visible image to forecasters of Tropical Storm Nuri as it approached the southeastern coast of China during the day on Saturday, June 13. At that time, Strong wind signal #3 was in force for Hong Kong. At 5 a.m. EDT (0900 UTC), Tropical storm Nuri was located near latitude 18.7 north and longitude 115.2 east, 166 miles south-southeast of Hong Kong. Nuri was moving to the west-northwest and had maximum sustained winds of 35 knots (40 mph/65 kph). Nuri was moving northwest and did not strengthen further before making landfall.

Terra image of Nuri
NASA’s Terra satellite provided a visible image to forecasters of Tropical Storm Nuri as it approached the southeastern coast of China on Saturday, June 13. Credit: NASA Worldview

On June 13 at 11 p.m. EDT (June 14 at 0300 UTC), the Joint Typhoon Warning Center issued their final warning on Nuri. Nuri had made landfall in China’s Guangdong Province and was located near latitude 21.8 degrees north and longitude 112.0 degrees east, about 126 nautical miles west-southwest of Hong Kong. Nuri had weakened to a depression and had maximum sustained winds near 25 knots (29 mph/46 kph). It was moving to the northwest and dissipating.

NASA’s Terra 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

Nuri – South China Sea

June 12, 2020 – NASA Catches Development of Tropical Cyclone Nuri in South China Sea

A low-pressure system that developed in the Philippine Sea and tracked over the central Philippines has moved into the South China Sea and become a depression. NASA’s Terra satellite provided an image of the newly formed storm.

Terra image of Nuri
On June 12, 2020, the MODIS instrument that flies aboard NASA’s Terra satellite provided a visible image of the newly developed Nuri. The image showed a cluster of thunderstorms surrounding the center of circulation, and located between the Philippines and Hainan Island, China. Credit: NASA/Worldview

Tropical Depression Nuri (also known as 02W) formed by 5 a.m. EDT (0900 UTC) after passing over Luzon, Philippines and moved into the South China Sea. On June 12, 2020, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer or MODIS instrument that flies aboard NASA’s Terra satellite provided a visible image of the newly developed Nuri. The image showed a cluster of thunderstorms surrounding the center of circulation and located between the Philippines and Hainan Island, China.

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center noted, “Animated enhanced infrared satellite imagery depicts discrete clusters of deep convection flaring around the periphery of a broad low-level circulation center. A microwave image indicates a broad weakly defined low level center with formative shallow banding [of thunderstorms] wrapping into the center.”

By 11 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC), it was located approximately 329 nautical miles south-southeast of Hong Kong, China, near latitude 17.9 degrees north and longitude 116.8 degrees east. Maximum sustained winds were 30 knots (34.5 mph/55.5 kph) and strengthening is forecast. Nuri has tracked west northwestward at 13 knots (15 mph/24 kph).

The storm is forecast to make landfall to the southwest of Hong Kong, China on June 14.

NASA’s Terra 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.

By Rob Gutro
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center