A University of Michigan researcher found that breast cancer patients who endured Hurricane Katrina in 2005 have a 15% higher mortality rate than those not exposed to the storm. The study suggests disaster-related healthcare disruptions and highlights the need for improved access to healthcare during disasters.
Tropical Storm Pablo formed on Oct. 25 and strengthened into a hurricane before weakening back into a tropical storm. NASA's satellite imagery captured the storm's formation and rapid changes, revealing a small-scale cyclone with well-defined winds within a larger low-pressure area.
Lorenzo has transitioned to an extra-tropical cyclone, bringing hurricane-force winds and heavy rainfall to Ireland and the United Kingdom. The GPM core satellite detected heavy rainfall north of the center, with rates reaching over 1 inch per hour.
Hurricane Lorenzo, a very large tropical cyclone, is moving towards the northeast at 22 mph. The storm has grown in size, with hurricane-force winds extending up to 90 miles from its center.
Hurricane Lorenzo attained Category 5 strength briefly, becoming the strongest hurricane on record in the eastern-most Atlantic Ocean. The Suomi NPP satellite provided infrared data that showed changes in the storm's eye and powerful thunderstorms, and mesospheric gravity waves were also observed.
Satellite images from NASA's Terra Satellite confirmed Hurricane Lorenzo as a major hurricane with a clear eye and solid structure of thunderstorms. The storm is moving north-northwest at 14 mph, with maximum sustained winds near 145 mph.
A new operational algorithm enhances intensity prediction, particularly for rapid intensification within 24 hours. The Index to Better Estimate Tropical Cyclone Intensity Change improves error rates by 16%.
Hurricane Lorenzo has strengthened, becoming more organized with a rounded shape indicating intensification. The storm's eye is rapidly appearing in conventional satellite imagery, surrounded by very cold cloud tops.
NASA's Global Precipitation Measurement mission detected scattered light rain from the remnants of Hurricane Kiko, which weakened to a remnant low-pressure area on September 24. The rainfall data is used by forecasters at NOAA's National Hurricane Center to improve forecasts.
Hurricane Lorenzo's cloud top temperatures dropped to minus 121 Fahrenheit, indicating increased strength, with maximum sustained winds reaching 85 mph. The storm is forecast to become a major hurricane by Thursday and will continue moving west-northwest.
NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite used infrared light to analyze Hurricane Jerry's strength, finding cloud top temperatures as cold as minus 70 degrees Fahrenheit. This indicates strong storms with the potential to generate heavy rainfall, posing a life-threatening threat to the Northern Leeward Islands.
NASA measured rainfall rates in Hurricane Lorena and Tropical Storm Mario, with the heaviest rainfall occurring in the eastern side of Lorena. Forecasters predict up to 8 inches of rain, potentially causing flash flooding.
Tropical Storm Kiko maintained its strength and shape after weakening from hurricane-force, with strong bands of thunderstorms visible in satellite imagery. The storm is forecast to slowly strengthen and potentially regain hurricane strength on Friday.
The Global Precipitation Measurement mission's core satellite measured rainfall rates throughout Tropical Storm Jerry, revealing heavy rainfall on the eastern and southern sides of the storm. The data is used by forecasters at NOAA's National Hurricane Center to inform their forecasts and warnings.
NASA's Aqua satellite captured a visible image of Major Hurricane Humberto and its extensive 'tail' of thunderstorms stretching past eastern Canada. The storm's eye was just 490 miles west-southwest of Bermuda, but the surrounding band of thunderstorms extended beyond that region.
The University of Texas Marine Science Institute has received $11.7 million in funding from NOAA to complete repairs and renovations after Hurricane Harvey caused significant damage. The institute will use the funds to rebuild its research pier, visitor center, and other facilities, allowing it to resume full operations.
Hurricane Humberto is a very large storm stretching from Florida to North Carolina with a tail extending hundreds of miles into the western Atlantic Ocean. The storm is expected to bring heavy rain and large swells to Bermuda, with maximum sustained winds near 100 mph.
The Suomi NPP satellite's Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument provided an infrared image of Hurricane Kiko on Sept. 16, showing an elongated shape due to wind shear. Wind shear affects tropical cyclones by pushing against the rotating cylinder of winds, weakening rotation and intensifying the storm.
Tropical Storm Humberto strengthened off the Florida coast, becoming a hurricane on September 15 at 11 p.m. EDT. NASA's Aqua satellite revealed strongest thunderstorms were as cold as -63 degrees Fahrenheit, indicating heavy rainfall.
Hurricane Dorian brought heavy rainfall totals of over 36 inches to the Bahamas and an area off northeastern Florida, with smaller amounts affecting the US East Coast. The storm also caused wind damage and power outages in eastern Canada.
Hurricane Dorian generated heavy rainfall, with areas receiving over 36 inches of rain accumulation. NASA's satellite data showed the strongest storms were located in cloud tops as cold as minus 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Hurricane Juliette has been weakening due to NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite observations, with the strongest storms located in its western quadrant. The storm is expected to become a tropical storm by Friday night and degenerate into a remnant low-pressure area on Sunday.
The Global Precipitation Measurement mission captured data on Hurricane Juliette's rainfall patterns, revealing a 'hook' shape of intense precipitation. The heaviest rainfall was found in the northwest thunderstorms, circling the storm's eye at rates over 36 mm/hour.
Heavy rainfall from Hurricane Dorian has left over three feet of rain in the Bahamas and is now affecting South Carolina, with accumulation totals exceeding 10 inches off-shore. NASA's IMERG product provides near-realtime rain estimates using satellite observations, helping to track the storm's movement and intensity.
NASA's Aqua satellite captured an image of Hurricane Juliette over Socorro Island in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. The storm's strong thunderstorms affected the island with heavy rainfall. NASA's research indicates that cold cloud top temperatures are indicative of powerful storms capable of creating heavy rain.
NASA estimated hurricane rainfall totals for the Bahamas, with excessive rain accumulation reported on Grand Bahama Island and Abaco Island. The storm's center was north of the Bahamas, moving further north parallel to Florida's east coast.
The NASA IMERG algorithm provides near-realtime precipitation estimates for Hurricane Dorian, showing storm-total rain accumulation exceeding 24 inches over the Grand Bahama and Abaco Islands. The hurricane's trajectory is expected to bring it dangerously close to the Florida east coast late today through Wednesday evening.
Hurricane Juliette has grown into a major hurricane, with its eye now visible in NASA satellite imagery. The storm's maximum sustained winds have reached near 125 mph (205 kph), and it is moving northwest at 8 mph (13 kph).
Hurricane Dorian has strengthened to near 110 mph with higher gusts, threatening the Bahamas and southeastern US with life-threatening storm surge and heavy rainfall. The storm is expected to produce 6-12 inches of rain and cause life-threatening flash floods.
NASA's fleet of satellites is gathering data on Hurricane Dorian, helping scientists understand its structure and predict its path. The storms maximum sustained winds are currently at 115 mph with higher gusts, posing a significant threat to Florida and the northwestern Bahamas.
NASA estimates heavy rainfall in Hurricane Dorian, with IMERG product suggesting up to 120mm of accumulation in certain regions.
NASA's Terra satellite captures images of Hurricane Dorian near St. Thomas on August 28, 2019, confirming its Category 1 status. The storm is expected to continue strengthening over the Atlantic waters, posing a threat to the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and other regions.
A new approach developed at Penn State's Center for Advanced Data Assimilation and Predictability Techniques can accurately forecast the intensity and trajectory of Hurricane Harvey. The method uses data from the GOES-16 satellite and Penn State's all-sky radiance technique, which more accurately models hurricanes.
Hurricane Erick is a small storm with strong thunderstorms holding on, but expected to significantly weaken as it passes Hawaii. The National Hurricane Center forecasts Erick's winds will be 200 miles from the islands.
NASA's Aqua and Terra satellites analyzed Flossie's cloud top temperatures and structure as the storm strengthened. The strongest storms had colder cloud temperatures, indicating potential for heavy rainfall.
NASA used satellite data to analyze Hurricane Erick's rainfall rates and cloud temperatures, revealing coldest cloud top temperatures as cold as minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit. The heaviest rainfall was found near the northern eyewall of the storm's center, with rates exceeding 40 mm per hour.
NASA analyzed water vapor content and temperature information from Hurricane Erick using MODIS instrument on July 30. The analysis found highest concentrations of water vapor and coldest cloud top temperatures around the storm's eye, indicating potential for heavy rainfall.
Radiotherapy patients experiencing hurricane disasters had significantly worse overall survival rates than those completing treatment in normal circumstances. Longer disaster declarations were associated with increasingly worse survival outcomes.
Hurricane Barbara is being torn apart by winds outside its storm, with a weakening trend expected. The storm's eyewall structure is disintegrating, and cooler sea surface temperatures are ahead of the storm.
NASA's GPM core satellite detected the heaviest rainfall rates in Hurricane Barbara, exceeding 50 mm per hour around the eye. The storm is expected to weaken, transitioning from a category 4 hurricane to a tropical storm on Friday.
NASA's Terra and Aqua satellites detected Barbara as a powerful hurricane with maximum sustained winds of near 130 mph (215 kph). The storm is a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, with hurricane-force winds extending up to 25 miles from the center.
A new study finds that Hurricane Maria's extreme rainfall was due to human-caused climate warming, making a storm of its magnitude nearly five times more likely to form now than during the 1950s. The research analyzed Puerto Rico's hurricane history and found that Maria produced the largest maximum daily rainfall of those 129 storms.
Researchers used satellite radar data to map the extent of standing water and measure land subsidence in the Houston-Galveston area, revealing large flooded areas fell outside FEMA designated flood zones. The study highlights the need for revising flood hazard zone maps and resilience plans in coastal regions.
A new study finds that Hurricane Maria's damage to trees in Puerto Rico was unprecedented, with big, old trees suffering the worst. The study suggests that more frequent storms whipped up by a warming climate could permanently alter forests across the Atlantic tropics.
A study found that Hurricane Maria led to a significant increase in viral load and decrease in CD4 counts among people living with HIV. Access to care was also reduced by over 22 percent, with those not virally suppressed before the hurricane having fewer medication adherence and more hospital visits.
A new study published in GSA Today reveals that Hurricane Maria triggered more than 40,000 landslides in at least three-fourths of Puerto Rico's municipalities. The study assesses the factors contributing to these extreme events and aims to enhance landslide susceptibility analyses and risk management efforts.
A Clemson University field study found that tree species grow optimized leaves to compensate for hurricane damage, capturing carbon dioxide at higher rates. However, some trees' lower-quality new leaves may reduce lifespan and energy production.
A year-long field study examined the effects of Hurricane Maria on tropical dry forests in Puerto Rico, revealing that trees adjust key characteristics of their newly grown leaves to compensate for damage. The study found that 11 of 13 species increased CO2 intake and changed leaf shape to efficiently extract gas from the atmosphere.
Hurricane Maria caused widespread destruction in Puerto Rico's forests, with 40-60% of tall trees damaged. The island's energy grid also struggled to recover, with rural areas experiencing longer power outages. NASA research has provided new insights into the storm's impacts on communities and critical infrastructure.
A study found that homes in hurricane-hit areas of the US are being rebuilt with larger footprints, often exceeding pre-storm sizes. This trend increases coastal risk and puts strain on subsidized insurance funding for properties in at-risk areas.
A University of Kansas researcher investigates how elevated residential buildings performed during Hurricane Michael, finding wind damage could be greater for housing elevated between 3 and 7 feet. The study aims to inform building codes and standards for vulnerable areas, particularly in the mobile home industry.
Researchers recreated Hurricane Harvey using computer models and weather data, finding that urbanization led to a wetter hurricane with higher flood peaks and more damage. The study highlights the need to consider urban development when calculating hurricane risk and preparing for hurricane damage and recovery.
Hurricane Oscar has transitioned into an extra-tropical low pressure area, characterized by a loss of tropical characteristics and poleward displacement. The storm is expected to bring winds and rain to Ireland over the weekend of Nov. 3 and 4.
NASA's Aqua satellite captured Hurricane Oscar's cloud top temperatures, revealing the storm's strongest side was located near its eye. The hurricane is expected to weaken but become an extratropical low over the north-central Atlantic Ocean by late Wednesday.
The MODIS instrument aboard NASA's Terra satellite analyzed water vapor within Hurricane Oscar, providing valuable insights into the storm's potential for development and heaviest rainfall. The analysis revealed coldest cloud top temperatures as cold as -70 degrees Fahrenheit, indicating a high risk of heavy rainfall.
Hurricane Willa is a category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds near 125 mph, expected to make landfall in western Mexico. The storm is forecast to bring life-threatening storm surge, wind, and rainfall to portions of west-central and southwestern Mexico.
Hurricane Willa strengthened into a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of about 160 mph, producing heavy rainfall over western Mexico, threatening life-threatening flash flooding and landslides.
A recent study published in Environmental Research Letters found that large-scale offshore wind farms can decrease hurricane precipitation onshore locations, while increasing it in offshore areas. The research used Hurricane Harvey as an example, showing a 30% reduction in precipitation inland due to the presence of wind farms.
Hurricane Michael has moved inland, with NASA tracking its movement and predicting heavy rainfall. The storm is expected to produce life-threatening flash floods in the Mid-Atlantic States and coastal southern New England.
Hurricane Leslie has a ragged banding eye surrounded by a central dense overcast. The storm is accelerating east-northeastward, moving into a stable environment where it will weaken over cooler waters.