Articles tagged with Hurricanes
Tropical Storm Barry's irregular shape and strong thunderstorms were detected using NASA's Aqua satellite, with winds extending up to 175 miles east of the center. The storm is expected to make landfall in Louisiana on Sunday, bringing heavy rainfall and potential flash flooding.
The GPM Core Observatory captured estimates of rainfall rates within Tropical Storm Barry, with storm top heights reaching up to 18 kilometers. Flooding due to heavy rainfall is the primary threat, with intense thunderstorm activity expected to strengthen the storm.
Tropical Storm Cosme formed over the weekend of July 6 and 7, weakening to a remnant low pressure area within days. NASA's Aqua satellite captured the storm's decline, revealing a wispy ring of clouds devoid of strong thunderstorms.
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.
Tropical Storm Barbara formed on June 30, intensifying with heaviest rainfall rates northeast of its center. The Global Precipitation Measurement mission detected rain falling at 41 mm/hour, part of a band of thunderstorms surrounding the low-level center.
Tropical Cyclone Vayu is weakening due to increasing vertical wind shear, causing it to elongate and potentially intensify into a hurricane. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center predicts landfall near the India/Pakistan border by June 17.
Researchers found that early-season hurricanes result in a 70% increase in disease cases due to stagnant water and disrupted health infrastructure. Mosquito populations boom after heavy rainfall events, putting people at risk of infection.
System 91L is a tropical low pressure system located in the Bay of Campeche, spanning across Mexico's Yucatan state and surrounding states. The system has a 40% chance to develop into a depression over the next two days, producing heavy rainfall over eastern Mexico, southeastern Texas, and the Lower Mississippi Valley.
A Rutgers study found that 65% of economically vulnerable Sandy survivors plan to take active steps to protect themselves and families in advance of the next major disaster. The researchers recommend public awareness campaigns, community focus groups, and better-equipped evacuation shelters to help these communities prepare for future ...
Tropical Cyclone Fani, a Category 4 hurricane, is being closely monitored by NASA's Aqua satellite using infrared analysis. The satellite data revealed cloud top temperatures as cold as minus 80 degrees Fahrenheit, indicating strong storms capable of creating heavy rain.
Scientists investigate how tropical species are adapting to the newly formed pass in St. Joe Bay, a critical ecosystem with seagrass meadows and diverse marine life. The research aims to understand potential changes in seagrass consumption and its impact on juvenile fish, crabs, and shrimp.
A recent study found that over 7% of surveyed children in Puerto Rico exhibited clinically significant symptoms of PTSD, with 45% having damage to their own homes and 58% experiencing a friend or family member leaving the island. Social connections and timing of surveys may be protective factors against higher PTSD rates.
Tropical Storm Lorna's maximum sustained winds reached 60 knots near April 26. The storm was forecast to strengthen into a hurricane and then begin transitioning into an extra-tropical cyclone by the weekend of April 27-28.
Radiation oncologists provide guidance on preparing for and responding to natural disasters, including creating emergency operations plans, providing patients with access to treatment plans via flash drives, and identifying alternative sources of power. The tips aim to minimize treatment delays during a disaster.
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.
Tropical Cyclone Idai was detected by NASA's Aqua satellite on March 11, 2019, with powerful thunderstorms wrapping around an eye obscured by high clouds. The storm was forecast to make landfall near Beira, Mozambique as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 125 knots.
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.
Tropical Cyclone Wutip strengthened into a powerful super typhoon, with NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite capturing a clear eye 25 nautical miles wide. The storm is expected to weaken due to an eyewall replacement cycle and increased vertical wind shear.
Research on Twitter use during natural disasters highlights the importance of targeting average users with meaningful networks to spread life-saving information. Average Twitter users with small local networks increase their activity more than those with larger networks in disaster situations.
NASA's Aqua satellite captured a visible image of Tropical Cyclone Funani revealing a small pinhole eye surrounded by powerful thunderstorms. The storm rapidly intensified into a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds near 115 knots.
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.
Tropical Cyclone Gelena is strengthening off Madagascar's northeastern coast, with forecasters predicting rapid intensification and a close passage to Mauritius. The storm will reach peak winds of 120 knots on Feb 9 as it approaches Rodrigues Island.
Tropical Storm Funani is experiencing heavy rainfall southwest of its center, with rain falling at a rate of 1.2 inches per hour. The storm is rapidly strengthening and will intensify to 105 knots within two days before weakening.
A study from Tufts University found that cardiovascular disease hospitalization rates rose precipitously after Hurricane Katrina's landfall, lasting more than a month. The increase was higher among the older black population compared to the older white population.
New research by Carnegie Mellon University's Tepper School of Business finds that when bad things happen to good people, people are motivated to help, but only in a nominal way. When good things happen to bad people, people are reluctant to act, preferring to wait for karma to catch up.
Tropical Cyclone Cilida rapidly intensified off the coast of Mauritius, with maximum sustained winds reaching 135 knots. The storm is expected to strengthen before weakening in four days, transitioning into an extra-tropical cyclone.
NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite observed two Category 2 hurricanes, Tropical Cyclone Kenanga and Tropical Cyclone Cilida, in the Southern Indian Ocean on Dec. 20, 2018. Both storms were sporting an eye and had maximum sustained winds near 90 knots (103.6 mph).
Tropical Cyclone Cilida showed a cloud-covered eye with powerful thunderstorms circling its 18 nautical mile wide center. The storm intensified rapidly by 55 knots in 24 hours due to warm sea surface temperatures and light outside winds.
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.
Researchers found a significant increase in nitrate flowing downstream after the storm, posing risks to coastal ecosystems. The study also revealed that Hurricane Maria killed twice as many trees as previous storms, altering forest compositions and potential carbon cycles.
Researchers at UNH found unprecedentedly high levels of nitrate in streams and watersheds of Puerto Rico for a year after two consecutive major hurricanes in 2017. This excess nitrate may harm forest recovery and threaten ecosystems along Puerto Rico's coastline by escalating algal blooms and dead zones.
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 found that recent hurricanes like Katrina, Irma, and Maria experienced increased rainfall of 5-10%, while projected future storms could have even more intense rainfall and stronger winds. A warmer climate may also alter storm structures, with the inner part robbing moisture from the outer edges.
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.
A research group at RIT is measuring hospitality industry contributions to disaster recovery efforts, valuing non-financial resources such as staff training and community support. The study aims to provide a holistic understanding of the hotel industry's role in supporting local communities during crises.
Researchers found spotted seatrout continued spawning in late August 2017 during Hurricane Harvey, with the storm only briefly disrupting their pattern. This finding suggests these fish are well-suited to handle changing conditions and may be key indicators of climate resilience.
Tropical Storm Xavier has strengthened in western Mexico, bringing heavy rainfall and potentially severe flooding to the region. The storm is expected to weaken over the next few days, but not before producing significant swells along the southwestern coast.
A new study found that cultural differences play a significant role in how young people cope with natural disasters. The research used a new method to assess coping among disaster-affected youths and found that middle-class teen girls in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, used different coping strategies than low-income, predominantly Afri...
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.
Strongest thunderstorms were found west and northwest of the center with cloud top temperatures as cold as minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit. The storm is expected to remain powerful over the north-central and northeastern Atlantic Ocean into the weekend.
Researchers deployed low-cost, solar-powered sensors to monitor air quality in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. The devices detected high levels of sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide, exceeding EPA standards on nearly 80% of days during the monitoring period.
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 produced heavy rainfall totals over 20 inches in the Pacific Ocean off Mexico's coast, with 15 inches in parts of Mexico and Southeastern Texas. NASA's IMERG data analysis revealed these extreme rainfall accumulations using satellite data from the GPM Constellation.
NASA's Aqua satellite captured visible images of Super Typhoon Yutu, showing an oblong eye surrounded by powerful thunderstorms. The storm underwent an eyewall replacement cycle, resulting in a contracting eye and weakening winds before strengthening again as the outer eye wall contracts.
Super Typhoon Yutu made landfall as the strongest storm to hit any part of the US this year, with peak rain rates of up to 269 mm/hr. The GPM satellite revealed an almost perfect ring of heavy to intense rain, indicative of an extremely powerful storm.
Willa's surface circulation has dissipated over northeastern Mexico according to NOAA's GOES-West satellite data and surface observations. The remnants of the former hurricane are moving northeast at 28 mph with maximum sustained winds decreased to near 25 mph.
A new study finds that strong Indian monsoons can push Atlantic Ocean hurricanes westward, increasing the likelihood they'll make landfall in the Americas. This newly-discovered relationship could help scientists better predict hurricane paths, especially during late summer months.
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.
Tropical Storm Vicente formed in the Eastern Pacific Ocean and moved west-northwest, bringing heavy rains to El Salvador, Guatemala, and southeastern Mexico. The storm is expected to weaken and dissipate near the southwestern coast of Mexico by Wednesday.
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.
Tropical Storm Tara formed on Oct. 14 over the eastern Pacific, moving west-northwest towards Mexico's Michoacan and Jalisco states. The storm is expected to slow down, strengthening in the next few days with maximum sustained winds near 45 mph.