Research on hurricanes and tropical storms. Covers AI storm tracking, wind-damage assessment, warning systems, and Hurricane Hunter data.
The 12th tropical depression of the hurricane season has formed in the Eastern Pacific, with satellite imagery showing it is significantly larger than nearby Tropical Storm Karina. The depression spans approximately 800 nautical miles in diameter, dwarfing typical sizes of around 350 miles/600 km.
Hurricane Karina's vertical wind shear was evident in NASA imagery captured on August 14, with clouds being pushed to the western side of the storm. The National Hurricane Center predicts further weakening over the next two days as Karina moves over sea surface temperatures near 26C.
NASA's Aqua satellite captured a visible image of Tropical Storm Karina on August 13, revealing a concentration of strong thunderstorms around its center. The storm is strengthening and expected to become a hurricane late on August 14 as it moves westward through the Eastern Pacific Ocean.
Tropical Storm Julio is located over 700 miles away from Hawaii, with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph. The storm is expected to weaken and turn north by August 15.
Tropical Storm Karina formed in the Eastern Pacific on August 13 near Socorro Island, strengthening from a 11th tropical depression. The storm's maximum sustained winds were near 40 mph with an estimated minimum central pressure of 1005 millibars.
Hurricane Julio is moving north-northwest towards Hawaii, expected to weaken due to vertical wind shear. Two tropical lows are also developing in the Central Pacific Ocean, with low chances of formation.
Tropical Storm Iselle weakened significantly before striking the southeast coast of Hawaii's Big Island, causing widespread damage and power outages. The storm brought heavy rain and strong winds to the island, with sustained winds of 60 mph at landfall.
Hurricane Julio is expected to weaken slightly over the next 48 hours, down to tropical storm strength by tonight. The storm will pass north of the Hawaiian islands, bringing large swells that produce dangerous surf conditions.
NASA's Fermi and Aqua satellites captured two distinct views of Hurricane Julio as it intensified: a gamma-ray flash produced by the powerful electric fields in thunderstorms, and a more structurally organized storm. These findings provide insights into the complex relationship between thunderstorms and hurricane dynamics.
Hurricane Iselle is expected to bring heavy rains, high surf, and damaging winds to Hawaii. Rainfall totals of 5-12 inches are predicted along its track, with storm surge up to 3 feet expected on the Big Island.
The NASA Terra satellite captured images of three tropical cyclones in the Pacific Ocean: Hurricane Genevieve, Hurricane Iselle, and Hurricane Julio. Satellite data shows that Genevieve has strengthened into a hurricane with maximum sustained winds near 75 mph.
NASA's GOES-East satellite captures Bertha merging with a frontal system in the North Atlantic Ocean, causing its circulation to become barely discernible. The post-tropical storm is now moving rapidly northeastward and then eastward over the North Atlantic.
Tropical Storm Julio is part of a heated Eastern Pacific, with warmer waters contributing to its development. The storm's trajectory and potential impact on Hawaii are being closely monitored by forecasters.
TRMM satellite data revealed extreme rainfall rates of almost 182 mm per hour in Hurricane Iselle's eye wall, making it a category four hurricane at the time. The storm is expected to weaken as it heads westward into the Central Pacific Ocean and may make landfall over the Big Island as a tropical storm.
The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer instruments aboard NASA's Aqua satellite provided infrared data and a visible image of Hurricane Bertha. The storm weakened to a tropical storm by August 5, with maximum sustained winds near 65 mph.
Thunderstorms re-developed around Tropical Depression Genevieve's center on August 5, suggesting the storm may strengthen. Genevieve is forecast to gradually intensify over the next couple of days and cross the International Date Line in a few days.
Tropical Depression Genevieve may strengthen late on August 4 and 5, while Hurricane Iselle moves toward the Hawaiian Islands. Tropical Storm Julio is also forming southwest of Mexico, expected to become a hurricane later this week.
NASA's Aqua and Terra satellites captured images of Super Typhoon Halong, revealing an 11.5-mile-wide eye and signs of eyewall replacement. The storm has weakened from a Category 5 to a Category 2 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds near 120mph.
Tropical Storm Bertha passed over Puerto Rico and the British Virgin Islands before heading towards the Bahamas. The storm's powerful thunderstorms were being pushed southeast by wind shear from the northwest.
A train of five tropical lows is stretching across the Pacific Ocean, featuring remnants of Tropical Storm Genevieve and newly developed Tropical Storm Iselle. The system includes three other low-pressure areas, with a well-developed Iselle near the end of the train.
Tropical Storm Bertha is experiencing heavy rainfall northeast of the center due to strong vertical wind shear. The storm's interaction with upper-level troughs will continue to limit its development and strengthening.
Tropical Storm Iselle has developed powerful thunderstorms, including one with cloud top temperatures as cold as -63F/-52C, according to NASA's Aqua satellite data. The storm is expected to strengthen over the next couple of days due to favorable environmental conditions.
Tropical Depression Genevieve is located near latitude 13.1 north, longitude 150.5 west, about 550 miles southeast of Hilo, Hawaii. It's moving west at 6 mph with minimal intensity changes forecasted through Friday night.
Tropical Storm Genevieve weakened to a tropical depression on July 27, but reorganized and became a tropical depression again on July 30. Rainfall rates reached over 28.5 mm/hr near the storm's center.
Tropical Storm Genevieve has weakened to a tropical depression, but its remnants are being chased by two developing low-pressure areas. NASA's GOES-West satellite imagery shows these systems moving westward towards Hawaii, with a 30% chance of development over the next couple of days.
A recent study by University of Hawaii researchers found that gases and particles from Kilauea volcano affected Tropical Storm Flossie's formation and lightning. This unique interaction highlights the impact of polluted air on hurricanes approaching the US mainland coast.
Tropical Storm Hernan developed over the weekend and reached hurricane strength before being weakened by wind shear. NASA tracked its movement, noting it was forecasted to weaken into a shallow post-tropical cyclone in 48 hours
The seventh tropical depression of the Eastern Pacific Ocean formed on July 25, with maximum sustained winds near 40 mph. The storm is expected to continue moving westward, with NHC forecasting no strengthening due to increased wind shear.
A team of researchers, led by NSU's Alex Soloviev, used computational fluid dynamics and experiments to simulate the air-sea interface under hurricane force winds. They found that changes in microphysics can make a storm grow or weaken in intensity, with some hurricanes rapidly intensifying to Category 3.
Typhoon Matmo made its final landfall in mainland China on July 23, bringing category one winds of 74 knots. The typhoon's center moved inland over southeastern China, with rapid weakening expected due to friction and an approaching trough.
The Hurricane Imaging Radiometer (HIRAD) will fly aboard a NASA Global Hawk aircraft during the HS3 mission, providing unique observations of sea surface wind speed, temperature, and rain. HIRAD's data will advance understanding and predictability of hurricane intensity, helping to determine maximum wind speed and structure of the vortex.
The NASA Aqua satellite detected a low-pressure area that became Tropical Depression 2, with cloud top temperatures exceeding -63F/-52C indicative of strong thunderstorms and powerful uplift.
A recent study by Ren examined the causes of a devastating debris flow in China, which killed over 1000 people. The research found that geological conditions, surface loading, vegetation roots, and extreme precipitation all contributed to the disaster.
A moisture stream from the remnants of Tropical Storm Wali caused early morning flash flood watches on July 19 and 21 for all Hawaiian Islands. Heavy rainfall generated by thunderstorms in the eastern half of the island resulted in a flood advisory, posing a threat to residents and visitors.
UM Rosenstiel School scientists have developed a new method to improve storm intensity prediction of hurricanes, focusing on the air-sea interface. The study suggests that instability in this region can explain rapid intensification of tropical storms.
Tropical Storm Fausto has degenerated into a remnant area of low pressure, with forecasters attributing its weakening to vertical wind shear and mid-level dry air. The remnants are expected to dissipate as they move through an area of increasing wind shear.
Tropical Storm Fausto strengthened quickly after forming as Tropical Depression Six-E on July 7. Satellite imagery shows the storm being pursued by a developing area of low pressure to its east, with NOAA's GOES-West satellite capturing the scene.
The Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Core Observatory followed Hurricane Arthur through its full life cycle, providing the first time a precipitation-measuring satellite has been able to capture its structures. GPM data showed Arthur's asymmetrical shape with spiral arms on the eastern side but not on the western side.
Hurricane Arthur made landfall in North Carolina on July 3, bringing powerful 'hot towers' of thunderstorms that indicate strengthening. The TRMM satellite spotted these storms before landfall, providing a 3D view of the hurricane's structure.
Tropical Storm Douglas is on a weakening trend, with decreasing thunderstorm activity and warming cloud tops. The storm's low-level circulation and shallow eye-like feature persist despite the waning uplift of air.
NASA's Aqua satellite captured a cloud-covered eye of Tropical Storm Arthur, which strengthened into a hurricane with maximum sustained winds near 75 mph. The storm's center was expected to approach the coast in the hurricane warning area tonight, July 3.
Heavy rainfall was spotted by NASA's TRMM satellite around Tropical Storm Arthur's center on July 1, with rates reaching up to 2 inches per hour. The storm is expected to strengthen into a hurricane over the next two days, affecting the southern U.S. coastline.
Tropical Storm Douglas is weakening due to cooler waters and drier air in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. The storm's maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 45 mph, with forecasters predicting a gradual decline in strength over the next day.
The study recommends that HPEN consumers develop an emergency kit, including a basic emergency kit and an HPEN emergency kit, as well as contact lists for family, friends, physicians, and pharmacy providers. Homecare providers are advised to focus on consumer safety, minimizing service interruptions, and developing contingency plans.
The TRMM satellite captured heavy rainfall in dissipating former Hurricane Cristina, with rain rates reaching almost 97 mm per hour in the northwestern side of its eye wall. The storm's powerful thunderstorms reached heights above 13.5 km, and its eye wall was broken on the eastern side.
Former Hurricane Cristina has lost all its convection and thunderstorms, becoming a ghost of its former self. The system has weakened to a remnant low pressure area with maximum sustained winds near 20-25 knots (23-29 mph/37-46 kph) in the Eastern Pacific.
Hurricane Cristina intensified rapidly on June 12 before quickly weakening the next day, with cloud top temperatures decreasing by nearly 30C. The storm's convection weakened, causing cloud heights to drop and temperatures to rise.
Hurricane Cristina has reached Category 4 status with maximum sustained winds near 155 mph. The National Hurricane Center expects the storm to maintain major hurricane strength for another 36 hours, posing life-threatening surf and riptide conditions along Mexico's west coast.
Heavy rainfall was observed in Tropical Storm Cristina by NASA's TRMM satellite before intensification into a hurricane. The storm is expected to strengthen further with ideal environmental conditions.
Tropical Storm Cristina was born in the Eastern Pacific Ocean near Mexico, with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph. The storm's strong thunderstorms are producing life-threatening surf and rip current conditions along western Mexico's coast.
A tropical low pressure area in the Bay of Campeche is showing signs of development, with cloud-top temperatures near -63F (-52C). The system has a 50% chance for formation, threatening southeastern Mexico with heavy rains and life-threatening flash floods.
A new study suggests that Hurricane Sandy's influence on the 2012 presidential election was minimal, with voters' attitudes towards Obama shifting from positive to negative after Election Day. The study found no significant impact of Sandy on Obama's vote share, contradicting pundit claims that the storm cost him the election.
Steinberg's book examines the massive changes to land and water that began with Henry Hudson's 1609 adventure, transforming wetlands and water quality. The city's dense, urban development has engulfed areas once home to 55 distinct ecological communities.
The remnants of Tropical Storm Boris are merging with a low-pressure area in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico, according to NASA and NOAA satellite data. The system, now known as System 90L, has a medium chance of developing into a tropical depression, threatening heavy rainfall and flash flooding in southeastern Mexico.
Tropical Storm Boris strengthened into a depression before making landfall in southern Mexico, bringing heavy rainfall and flash flooding. The storm's slow movement exacerbated localized rainfall amounts, with the Mexican Weather Service reporting 12.5 inches of rainfall in one city.
A new tropical low pressure area is brewing in the Eastern Pacific, with heavy rainfall expected to cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides in western Central America. The National Hurricane Center gives System 93E a 90% chance of becoming a tropical depression in the next 48 hours.
A study by researchers at the University of Illinois found that severe hurricanes with feminine names result in a greater death toll due to people taking fewer protective measures. The analysis of over six decades of US hurricane deaths shows that storms with feminine names are seen as less foreboding, leading to increased vulnerability.
A new NASA satellite animation reveals Hurricane Amanda's rapid weakening from May 28 to May 30. The post-tropical cyclone's circulation center became harder to identify, indicating its demise.
NASA is expanding its research on hurricanes and tropical storms with the HS3 mission, using unmanned aircraft and space-based instruments to investigate processes underlying hurricane formation and intensity. The mission aims to determine the effect of the Saharan Air Layer on storm formation and intensification.
Tropical Storm Amanda was bisected by NASA's CloudSat satellite on May 25, 2014, showing a deep area of moderate to heavy-moderate precipitation below the freezing level. The storm had become the strongest May hurricane on record for the Eastern Pacific basin before quickly weakening due to dry air and wind shear.