Research on hurricanes and tropical storms. Covers AI storm tracking, wind-damage assessment, warning systems, and Hurricane Hunter data.
Heavy rain showers were observed in southwestern Mexico as Tropical Storm Dora passed along the coast. The Global Precipitation Measurement mission analyzed rainfall rates, finding intense storms with cloud tops reaching altitudes higher than 9.9 miles.
Hurricane Dora reached peak strength on June 26 before weakening began due to cooler waters, according to NASA satellite imagery that captured the storm's powerful thunderstorms. The storm is expected to continue weakening over the next couple of days as it moves over even cooler ocean temperatures.
Hurricane Dora formed on June 25 as a tropical storm and strengthened into the first hurricane of the season by June 26. The storm is currently located near latitude 16.7 degrees North and longitude 105.3 degrees West, moving towards the west-northwest at 13 mph.
Tropical Storm Bret weakened into a tropical wave in the Caribbean Sea on June 20, with its center near 12.0 degrees north latitude and 67.3 degrees west longitude. The remnants of the storm were moving west-northwest at 22mph, associated with isolated moderate precipitation.
Tropical Storm Cindy is expected to bring heavy rainfall and life-threatening flash flooding to the northern Gulf coast. Maximum sustained winds of 50 mph are forecasted, with storm surge, tropical storm force winds, and isolated tornadoes also possible.
A developing tropical cyclone in the western Atlantic Ocean is expected to strengthen into a tropical storm within the next five days. NASA provided critical data and cloud height information to forecasters, revealing heavy rain showers and towering thunderstorms with heights above 9.3 miles.
NASA's Aqua satellite captured images of Tropical Depression Calvin before it made landfall in southwestern Mexico on June 12. The depression brought heavy rain and created flooding across several Mexican states, including Oaxaca, Guerrero, Chiapas, Tabasco, and Veracruz.
Tropical Depression 3E is a disorganized storm system approaching southwestern Mexico, with periodic bursts of thunderstorm development near its center. The National Hurricane Center forecasts locally heavy rainfall and dangerous mudslides, with total rainfall accumulations expected to reach 5-10 inches in some areas.
Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder found that offshore wind turbines may not withstand Category 5 hurricane gusts, which could pose a risk in hurricane-prone areas. The study highlights the limitations of current turbine design and suggests that manufacturers and engineers need to improve hurricane-resilient turbines.
A new study in Geophysical Research Letters reveals that offshore wind turbines built according to current standards may not withstand powerful Category 5 hurricane gusts. In contrast, Thwaites Glacier's melt rate will continue but not as rapidly as previously estimated.
Tropical Depression Beatriz strengthened into a tropical storm for half a day before weakening, bringing heavy rainfall to southeastern Mexico. The depression's center of circulation is uncertain due to onshore flow, which may impact the state of Oaxaca.
The 2016 hurricane season was the second-longest on record, with a series of extremes that included Hurricane Matthew, which claimed over 600 lives and caused $15 billion in damage. The season's conditions were characterized by a dramatic change in relative humidity, leading to an increase in Accumulated Cyclone Energy.
Tropical Depression Two-E forms near southwestern Mexico, with maximum sustained winds of 30mph and higher gusts. The depression is expected to strengthen during the next 48 hours and become a tropical storm on June 1.
Tropical Cyclone Mora made landfall near Chittagong, Bangladesh, with maximum sustained winds of 65 knots (75 mph/120 kph). NASA satellites monitored the storm's progress and extent before it weakened rapidly following landfall.
Researchers have discovered atmospheric gravity waves radiating from hurricanes, which could be used to monitor the storms' intensity and location from hundreds of miles away. These subtle waves can reveal processes occurring in the eyewall of a hurricane that are obscured by thick clouds, leading to better forecasts.
A Duke University-led study maps the sooty tern's annual migratory path and reveals its direct correlation with hurricane-forming storms in the Atlantic. The researchers warn that stronger hurricanes may increase due to climate change, posing a new threat to these iconic seabirds.
Tropical Storm Adrian formed on May 10, but quickly lost steam, weakening to a remnant low pressure area by May 11. The storm's maximum sustained winds dropped to near 30 mph (45 kph), with some further weakening forecast over the next 48 hours.
The first tropical storm in the Eastern Pacific Ocean has formed, marking an unusual start to hurricane season. Located west of Costa Rica, Tropical Storm Adrian is moving northwest and strengthening due to warm waters.
Tropical Cyclone Donna is a powerful hurricane intensifying in the South Pacific Ocean between Vanuatu and New Caledonia. The storm generated very high amounts of rainfall, with some areas receiving over 7.4 inches of rain per hour.
Scientists analyzed dozens of TGFs launched by tropical storms, confirming that storm intensity alone is not the key factor for producing these events. Most TGFs occurred as systems intensified, with stronger electric fields driving clouds higher into the atmosphere.
Tropical Storm Arlene was absorbed by a frontal system in the North Atlantic Ocean, weakening from a tropical storm to a subtropical storm. The NOAA GOES-East satellite captured the moment on April 21, showing the storm being 'eaten' by the weather system.
Tropical Storm Arlene formed on April 20, 40 days before the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season. The storm was tracked by NASA-NOAA satellites, showing a large area of thunderstorms swirling far from land areas. As it moves west, Arlene is expected to lose its tropical characteristics and dissipate by April 21.
Tropical Cyclone Cook formed in the Southern Pacific Ocean and made landfall on April 10 near central New Caledonia. The storm's center was surrounded by powerful thunderstorms with a cloud-filled eye, and its winds were measured at 70 knots (80.5 mph) on April 11.
Tropical Cyclone Ernie strengthened into a hurricane with an eye forming in visible images captured by NASA's Aqua satellite. The storm was located near Western Australia, moving south at 5 knots with maximum sustained winds of 109 mph.
Tropical Cyclone Debbie intensified into a powerful hurricane affecting eastern Queensland's coast, with NASA capturing its eye and strongest storms on March 27, 2017. The storm is forecast to make landfall between Ayr and Cape Hillsborough, prompting severe warnings for residents.
Tropical Cyclone Enawo made landfall in northeastern Madagascar as a Category 4 hurricane, bringing severe damage and power outages to the region. The storm's maximum sustained winds reached 144 mph, with warnings posted throughout northern Madagascar.
Tropical Cyclone Enawo is intensifying and expected to reach 115 mph winds before hitting Madagascar's northeastern coast on March 7, 2017. Heavy rainfall with intense downpours of over 220 mm per hour has been measured in the storm's feeder bands.
A recent study found that massive warm-water eddies in the Caribbean Sea contribute to intense hurricanes like Matthew. The research team measured ocean temperature, salinity, and currents to better understand these oceanic features.
Scientists at Berkeley Lab developed a new model that captures tropical cyclones and extreme waves more accurately than existing models. Running models at a higher resolution of 25 kilometers instead of 100 kilometers improves predictions for coastal cities, industries relying on shipping, and surfers.
Andrew Morris will continue his work on a book about Hurricane Camille and its impact on American disaster relief policy using the NEH fellowship. The book examines the transformation of disaster assistance programs in the US following the devastating Category 5 storm in 1969.
A new study published in Nature finds that hurricanes approaching the US coast are more likely to intensify during less active Atlantic periods, contradicting previous assumptions about hurricane behavior. This discovery suggests that coastal regions may be better protected by quieter periods in the basin.
Research suggests that hurricanes approaching the US coast are more likely to intensify during less active Atlantic periods, weakening instead of strengthening. This relationship accounts for part of the weak correlation between Atlantic hurricane activity and major landfalls.
Researchers at UC San Diego developed practical strategies for building and coordinating balloons within hurricanes, using GPS and cellphone-grade sensors. The approach leverages control theory to distribute balloons horizontally and mitigate turbulence fluctuations, enabling improved in-situ sampling and forecasts.
Soil moisture can help forecast where power will go out along the East Coast during hurricanes. A study using satellite maps found a 91% accurate method for predicting power outages.
A University of Miami research team analyzed sea spray droplets generated from breaking waves and found that the amount of large droplets is 1000 times more than previously thought. This information can be applied to hurricane models to improve intensity predictions, aiding in people's safety.
Tropical Storm Otto is strengthening into a hurricane as it approaches Central America, with maximum sustained winds reaching 75 mph. The storm's center will move onshore within the hurricane warning area on Thursday and reach the Pacific coast of southern Nicaragua or northern Costa Rica early Friday.
Research warns that hurricanes are moving further north along the Northeast US coast, posing a greater threat to cities like New York. The study suggests that man-made emissions have overridden natural cooling effects, leading to more frequent and powerful storms.
The GOES-R satellite will provide unprecedented information about the Earth's weather, including true-color pictures and high-definition imagery. This will enable forecasters to make more accurate predictions of severe storms, squall lines, and tropical cyclones.
Tropical Storm Tina rapidly formed and weakened off Mexico's southwestern coast, with maximum sustained winds decreasing from 40 to 35 mph by Nov. 14.
Meari intensified from a tropical depression to a tropical storm in one day, now located 295 miles north of Yap and 500 miles west of Guam. Its maximum sustained winds are at 40 mph, and it is expected to turn west and northwest over the next few days.
The post-tropical cyclone has lacked organized deep convection, resembling a wedge of clouds, and is expected to dissipate due to hostile environmental conditions. The storm's remnants are moving toward the north near 8 mph, with maximum sustained winds decreased to near 35 mph.
Hurricane Seymour is experiencing a fast weakening trend in the Eastern Pacific, with maximum sustained winds dropping to 125 mph and then further decreasing to near 90 mph. The storm's asymmetry indicates it's losing its rotational strength.
Hurricane Seymour became a major hurricane on Oct. 25, with heavy rainfall and a 3-D image of its structure provided by the Global Precipitation Measurement mission. The storm is moving toward the west-northwest at 15 mph, with expected weakening and rapid decline in forward speed.
Hurricane Seymour rapidly intensified into a Category 3 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds near 115 mph and higher gusts. The storm's small eye is located approximately 565 miles south-southwest of Baja California, Mexico.
Tropical Depression 20 intensified into Hurricane Seymour in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. The storm's organization increased with symmetrical cloud patterns and deep convection near the center.
Tropical Storm Nicole has transitioned into an extra-tropical storm, characterized by a change in primary energy source from latent heat release to baroclinic processes. The storm is expected to bring rough surf and strong winds to Bermuda and the US East Coast, particularly through Wednesday night.
Supertyphoon Haima is a Category 5 hurricane with powerful bands of thunderstorms and a clear eye, approaching the Philippines with maximum sustained winds near 161 mph. The storm is forecast to clip the extreme north of Luzon Island before heading toward mainland China.
Typhoon Haima, a Category 4 hurricane, is forecast to affect the northern Philippines as it strengthens. The storm is expected to make landfall in mainland China after passing over northern Luzon.
Current weather prediction models can forecast rainfall up to two days in advance, but accuracy decreases with longer lead times. The study examines five state-of-the-art models and finds that improved understanding of hurricanes will enhance forecasting capabilities.
The Global Precipitation Measurement mission captured heavy rainfall rates within Hurricane Nicole's eye, with strong storms dropping rain at a rate of over 113 mm per hour. The satellite also analyzed the storm's top heights, finding powerful storms reaching only about 12 km in height.
Hurricane Nicole strengthened to a Category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph before landfall in Bermuda. The storm's large ocean swells were spreading northward along the U.S. East Coast and into Atlantic Canada.
Hurricane Nicole is a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds near 125 mph, expected to bring significant effects to the region. The storm is predicted to pass near Bermuda today, posing a threat to the island's residents and infrastructure.
Hurricane Matthew's heavy rainfall caused widespread flooding and deaths in North Carolina, with rivers still rising on Oct. 12. The NASA rainfall analysis used IMERG data to estimate the storm's total rainfall, which was over 20 inches in some areas.
Typhoon Songda transforms into an extra-tropical storm with a ragged eye, 23 nautical miles wide, and winds near 120.8 mph as it moves through the Northwestern Pacific Ocean. The storm's energy source shifts from latent heat to baroclinic processes.
Hurricane Nicole strengthens as it approaches Bermuda, with a large eye detected by NASA's GOES Project. The storm is expected to pass near or over Bermuda on Thursday, Oct. 13, with maximum sustained winds near 100 mph and higher gusts.
Tropical Storm Nicole is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane as it heads toward Bermuda, with maximum sustained winds now near 65 mph. The National Hurricane Center expects the center of Nicole to approach Bermuda Wednesday night and pass near Bermuda Thursday morning.
A new computer simulation predicts that storm-related flooding on the New York City coastline similar to Hurricane Sandy's scale will become more common in coming decades. The worst-case scenario sees a 17-fold increase by 2100 due to sea-level rise and varying storm activity.
NASA-NOAA satellites captured detailed images of Hurricane Matthew's cloud tops, revealing temperatures as low as minus 80 F (-62.2 C), indicating strong storm uplift and potential heavy rain generation.
Hurricane Nicole strengthened to a hurricane on Oct. 6, joining forces with Hurricane Matthew in the Atlantic Ocean. The storm set an Atlantic Ocean record for winds exceeding 105 mph, marking the latest occurrence of two storms simultaneously reaching such speeds.
NASA's CloudSat and Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) satellites tracked Hurricane Matthew's powerful winds and clouds. The storm maintained Category 3 status with maximum sustained winds near 115 mph, affecting Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas.