February 2019 – Hurricane And Typhoon Updates

Pola (Southern Pacific Ocean)

Feb. 28, 2019 – NASA Finds a Hint of an Eye in Tropical Cyclone Pola

Visible imagery from NASA’s Aqua satellite revealed the hint of an eye developing in the center of Tropical Cyclone Pola. Warnings in the Southern Pacific Ocean have been posted for Tonga.

Aqua image of Pola — On Feb. 28, 2019 at 0125 UTC (Feb. 27 at 8:25 p.m. EDT) the MODIS instrument aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite captured a visible light image of Tropical Cyclone Pola in the South Pacific. The image showed the hint of an eye. Credit: NASA/NRL

he Polynesian kingdom of Tonga consists of more than 170 South Pacific islands, many uninhabited. Forecasts are managed by the Tonga Meteorological Service or TMS.

On February 28, the TMS noted that a tropical cyclone warning is in force for Tonga, with a hurricane force winds warning for Tele-Ki-Tonga and Tele-Ki-Tokelau coastal waters. A strong wind warning remains inforce for Tongatapu and ‘eua land areas and coastal waters. A heavy damaging swell remains inforce for Ha’apai, Tongatapu, ‘eua, Tele-ki-tonga and Tele-ki-tokelau coastal waters.

On Feb. 28, 2019 at 0125 UTC (Feb. 27 at 8:25 p.m. EDT) the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer or MODIS instrument aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite captured a visible image of Tropical Cyclone Pola. The visible imagery provided a hint that an eye was developing. Animated enhanced infrared satellite imagery confirmed that the compact system has developed a 5 nautical-mile wide eye. In addition, microwave imagery indicated tightly-curved banding of thunderstorms were wrapping into the eye.

At 10 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC) on Feb. 28, Pola’s maximum sustained winds had peaked near 90 knots (103 mph/166 kph). The Joint Typhoon Warning Center or JTWC expects the storm will start weakening. Pola was centered near 24.9 degrees south latitude and 178.2 degrees west longitude. Tropical cyclone Pola is located approximately 423 nautical miles south-southeast of Suva, Fiji, and has tracked southward.

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center expects Pola to continue to move south and later transitioning into an extra-tropical storm.

For updated forecasts from the Tonga Meteorological Service, visit: http://www.met.gov.to/

By Rob Gutro
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Wutip (Northwestern Pacific Ocean)

Feb. 28, 2019 – Wutip Now a Depression, Spotted on NASA-NOAA Satellite Imagery

Once a super typhoon, Tropical Cyclone Wutip weakened to a depression on February 28. NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite passed over the Northwestern Pacific Ocean and captured an image the wispy looking-storm being battered by vertical wind shear.

Suomi NPP image of Wutip — On Feb. 28, 2019, the VIIRS instrument aboard NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite captured a visible image of Wutip, now a depression in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean. Credit: NASA Worldview, Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS)

In general, wind shear is a measure of how the speed and direction of winds change with altitude. Wind shear can tear a tropical cyclone apart or weaken it.

Wind shear and cooler waters knocked the wind out of Wutip and weakened the storm rapidly. On Feb 28, the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument aboard the Suomi NPP satellite showed that Wutip still had a defined center, although elongated from the outside winds. Bands of clouds wrapping around the center appeared to be wispy and devoid of heavy rain.

At 10 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC) on Feb. 28 (1 a.m. CHST local time, March 1) the National Weather Service in Tiyan, Guam noted that the center of Tropical Depression Wutip was located near Latitude 18.3 degrees North and Longitude 134.6 degrees East. That’s about 755 miles west-northwest of Guam and about 765 miles west-northwest of Saipan.

Wutip was moving northwest at 10 mph. It is expected to make a turn toward the west with a decrease in forward speed over the next 24 hours. Maximum sustained winds have decreased to 30 mph and is forecast to dissipate sometime on Saturday, March 1, EDT.

For updated and local forecasts, visit: https://www.prh.noaa.gov/guam/

By Rob Gutro
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Pola (Southern Pacific Ocean)

Feb. 27, 2019 – NASA Catches Tropical Cyclone Pola Near Fiji

Tropical Cyclone Pola was passing near the Southern Pacific country of Fiji when NASA’s Aqua satellite analyzed the storm in infrared light and found it strengthening.

On Feb. 27 at 8:11 p.m. EDT (1311 UTC) the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder or AIRS instrument aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite analyzed cloud top temperatures of Tropical Cyclone Pola in infrared light. AIRS found cloud top temperatures were getting colder. Colder cloud tops mean the uplift of air in the storm is strengthening and pushing the cloud tops higher. It’s an indication of a strengthening storm.

Strongest thunderstorms as cold as or colder than minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 53 degrees Celsius) circling the center. Enhanced infrared satellite imagery shows deep and persistent convection continues to wrap around the low level circulation center. Cloud top temperatures that cold indicate strong storms that have the capability to create heavy rain. Microwave imagery revealed a partial eye developing.

On Feb. 21 at 10 a.m. EST (1500 UTC), the center of Tropical Cyclone Pola was located near latitude 21.0 degrees south and longitude 178.0 degrees west. That puts the center of Pola between Fiji and Tonga and about 258 nautical miles southeast of Suva, Fiji. Pola was moving to the south-southwest. Maximum sustained winds were near 75 knots (86 mph/139 kph). The Joint Typhoon Warning Center expects Pola to strengthen in the next day before slow weakening begins.

By Rob Gutro
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Wutip (Northwestern Pacific Ocean)

Feb. 27, 2019 – NASA Tracks a Weaker Typhoon Wutip Through Northwestern Pacific

Visible imagery from NASA’s Terra satellite showed that Typhoon Wutip has become more elongated as a result of wind shear.

Terra image of Wutip — On Feb. 27, 2019, the MODIS instrument aboard NASA’s Terra satellite provided a visible image of Typhoon Wutip. Credit: NASA Worldview, Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS).

On February 27, 2019 the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer or MODIS instrument aboard NASA’s Terra satellite provided a visible image of Typhoon Wutip in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean. The image showed Wutip no longer has an eye and the storm has elongated from southwest to northeast.

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center noted that “Animated enhanced infrared satellite imagery shows that deep convection located around the low level circulation center has rapidly decreased.”

On February 27, 2019 at 7 p.m. CHST/4 a.m. EDT/0900 UTC the National Weather Service of Tiyan, Guam noted Typhoon Wutip was located near Latitude 16.3 degrees North and Longitude 139.4 degrees East. That’s about 410 miles west-northwest of Guam, and about 430 miles west-northwest of Saipan. Wutip is moving north-northwest at 6 mph. It is expected to make a turn toward the west-northwest with an increase in forward speed over the next 24 hours. Maximum sustained winds have decreased to 90 mph. Wutip is forecast to continue to weaken the next few days.

JTWC forecasts that Wutip will track northwestward and vertical wind shear will continue to disrupt the remaining convection associated with it. Wutip will continue to rapidly decrease in intensity and the storm is forecast to become a depression in a day or two.

For updated forecasts from the National Weather Service, Guam, visit: https://www.prh.noaa.gov/guam/

By Rob Gutro
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Pola (Southern Pacific Ocean)

Feb. 26, 2019 – NASA Finds Heavy Rainfall Potential in New Tropical Cyclone Pola

Tropical Cyclone Pola formed in the South Pacific Ocean on February 26 and the Fiji Meteorological Services quickly heavy rain posted warnings. NASA’s Aqua satellite analyzed cloud top temperatures in the storm which gave an indication of the storm’s strength.

At 7:30 a.m. EDT (1230 UTC) on Feb. 26, the MODIS or Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer instrument aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite looked at Tropical Cyclone Pola, also known as Tropical Cyclone 16P, in infrared light. MODIS found coldest cloud tops had temperatures near minus 80 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 62.2 degrees Celsius) around the center of the tropical storm. Storms with temperatures that cold are indicative of strong storms and have been shown to have the capability to generate heavy rainfall.

The Fiji Meteorological Services posted a heavy rain alert for the Lomaiviti group, eastern and interior parts of Viti Levu, Kadavu and nearby smaller islands.

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center or JTWC posted at 10 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC) on Feb. 26 that Pola was located at 17.4 degrees south latitude and 176.4 degrees west longitude. That’s approximately 283 nautical miles southwest of Avata Samoa. Pola was moving southward and is expected to continue in that general direction over the next several days. Maximum sustained winds were near 40 mph (46 mph/74 kph) and the storm is expected to strengthen to 55 knots (63 mph/102 kph).

JTWC expects that Pola will reach peak strength as a tropical storm on Feb. 27 and then begin transitioning into an extra-tropical storm as it moves away from Fiji.

For updated forecasts, visit: https://www.facebook.com/FijiMetService/

By Rob Gutro
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Wutip (Northwestern Pacific Ocean)

Feb. 26, 2019 – NASA-NOAA Satellite Finds Typhoon Wutip’s Eye Clouded

NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite passed over the Northwestern Pacific Ocean and captured an image of Typhoon Wutip that revealed its eye was clouding over.

Wutip weakened rapidly from a super typhoon to a typhoon on February 26 after running into wind shear. Early on Feb 26, the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument aboard NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite showed the effects of that weakening in a visible image. The VIIRS image also showed that the once visible 25 nautical-mile wide eye had become cloud-filled as the storm weakened.

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center noted the storm is weakening because northerly winds or vertical wind shear is pushing the clouds and stretching the storm. Noted. Whenever a storm is no longer circular and elongates, it is a sign of weakening.

At 10 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC) the Joint Typhoon Warning Center or JTWC noted that Wutip’s maximum sustained winds dropped to 105 knots (121 mph/194 kph). By this time, the eye was no longer visible on satellite imagery.

Wutip’s center was located near 15.5 degrees north latitude and 132.1 east longitude, that’s approximately 313 nautical miles west-northwest of Guam. Wutip is moving to the north-northwest.

The wind shear that’s affecting the storm is forecast to increase as Wutip moves into cooler sea surface temperatures, which will enhance weakening of the system. Wutip is forecast to weaken to a depression by February 28 or March 1.

By Rob Gutro
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Wutip (Northwestern Pacific Ocean)

Feb. 25, 2019 – Super Typhoon Wutip’s 25 Mile-wide Eye Seen by NASA-NOAA Satellite

Tropical Cyclone Wutip has strengthened into a powerful super typhoon and NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite snapped a visible image of the storm that revealed a clear eye.

Wutip strengthened into a super typhoon within 24 hours, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center or JTWC. The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument aboard NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite captured a visible image of the storm as it became a super typhoon. The VIIRS image revealed a clear, symmetric eye, about 25 nautical miles wide. The eye was surrounded by powerful thunderstorms. A microwave image showed improved, more organized bands of thunderstorms wrapping into the center.

At 10 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC) on Feb. 25, Wutip’s maximum sustained winds were near 140 knots (161 mph/259). That makes Wutip a Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Wutip’s center was located near 14.0 degrees north latitude and 140.1 east longitude, that’s approximately 237 nautical miles north of Ulithi. Ulithi is an atoll in the Caroline Islands.

The JTWC noted that gradual weakening is expected due to an imminent eyewall replacement cycle. More significant weakening is expected by February 27 as the storm moves west and vertical wind shear increases and the super typhoon moves into cooler sea surface temperatures.

By Rob Gutro
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Oma (Southern Pacific Ocean)

Feb. 22, 2019 – NASA-NOAA Satellite Provides Wide View of Tropical Cyclone Oma

When you look at a Tropical Cyclone Oma from space, you’ll get a sense of its massive size. While orbiting the Earth, NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite provided a look at the large tropical storm in the Southern Pacific Ocean.

Suomi NPP image of Oma — On Feb. 22, 2019, the VIIRS instrument aboard NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite captured a visible image of Tropical Cyclone Oma west of New Caledonia in the Southern Pacific Ocean. Credit: NASA Worldview, Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS)

Oma weakened rapidly from a typhoon to a tropical storm, and on Feb 22, the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument aboard NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite captured a visible image of Oma. The VIIRS image also showed a long the bulk of clouds and thunderstorms pushed into the storm’s southern quadrant, looking like a large tail. That’s because northeasterly winds, or northeasterly vertical wind shear is pushing the clouds and tearing the storm apart. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center noted that rain bands, bands of thunderstorms that feed into the center, are unraveling, and the storm is elongating. Whenever a storm is no longer circular and elongates, it is a sign of weakening.

At 10 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC) the Joint Typhoon Warning Center or JTWC noted that Oma’s maximum sustained winds dropped to 35 knots (40 mph). Oma’s center was located near 27.7 degrees south latitude and 159.9 east longitude, that’s approximately 367 nautical miles east of Brisbane, Australia. Oma has tracked south and is forecast to turn to the north and is expected to dissipate in a day or two.

By Rob Gutro
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Wutip (was 02W – Northwestern Pacific Ocean)

Feb. 22, 2019 – NASA-NOAA Satellite Analyzes Typhoon Wutip

Typhoon Wutip was impacting the Federated States of Micronesia in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean when NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite passed overhead and analyzed the storm in infrared light.

On Feb. 22, the National Weather Service (NWS) in Tiyan, Guam noted that a Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect for Guam and Rota in the Mariana Islands and for Faraulep in Yap State. A Tropical Storm Watch also remains in effect for Tinian, Saipan, Pagan and Agrihan in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite provided an infrared look at Typhoon Wutip on February 21 at 10:52 a.m. EDT (1552 UTC). William Straka III, of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, noted that the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument aboard found Suomi NPP showed an intense cold region in the exact location of the overshooting cloud top observed in infrared, which just happens to be where the lightning streak was observed in other satellite imagery. In addition, it seemed to indicate some wrapping of the colder cloud regions around the inner circulation.

VIIRS showed storms around the center were as cold as or colder than 70 degrees (red) Fahrenheit (minus 56.6 degrees Celsius). NASA research has found that cloud top temperatures as cold as or colder than the 70F/56.6C threshold have the capability to generate heavy rainfall.

At 10 a.m. EDT/1500 UTC on Feb. 22 (1 a.m. CHST local time, Feb. 23) the eye of Typhoon Wutip was located by satellite at Latitude 10.1 degrees North and Longitude 144.7 degrees East and moving northwest at 15 mph. That’s about 105 miles north of Faraulep and about 230 miles south of Guam.

Wutip is expected to continue on a northwest track today and tonight with decreasing forward speed, then turn to a north-northwest course on Sunday and Monday. This track takes Wutip to a closest approach of about 160 miles southwest of Guam this evening. Maximum sustained winds have increased to 120 mph. Wutip is expected to maintain this intensity today, then begin a slow weakening trend tonight and Sunday.

Typhoon force winds extend outward up to 45 miles from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend out up to 185 miles.

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center forecast said Wutip will continue to track northwestward through February 24, before turning more north.

For updated forecasts, visit: https://www.prh.noaa.gov/guam/cyclone.php

By Rob Gutro
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Wutip (was 02W – Northwestern Pacific Ocean)

Feb. 21, 2019 – NASA Infrared Image Shows Powerful Center of Typhoon Wutip

NASA’s Aqua satellite provided a look at the temperatures in Tropical Cyclone Wutip as it threatens Chuuk and Yap States in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean. Wutip has strengthened into a typhoon.

Aqua image of Wutip — At 10:25 a.m. EDT (1525 UTC) on Feb. 21, the MODIS instrument aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite looked at Tropical Cyclone Wutip in infrared light. MODIS found coldest cloud tops (light green) had temperatures near minus 80 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 62.2 degrees Celsius) around the center of circulation. Credit: NASA/NRL

Infrared imagery provides scientists with a look at cloud top temperatures in tropical cyclones, and the colder the clouds, the higher up in the atmosphere and stronger the storms tend to be.

Infrared satellite data of Wutip was captured at 10:25 a.m. EDT (1525 UTC) on Feb. 21 from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer or MODIS instrument aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite. MODIS data revealed powerful thunderstorms with cloud top temperatures as cold as minus 80 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 62.2 degrees Celsius) circling the center. Storms with temperatures that cold are indicative of strong storms and have been shown to have the capability to generate heavy rainfall.

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Tiyan, Guam noted that a Typhoon Warning remains in effect for Satawal in Yap State and for Puluwat in Chuuk State. A Tropical Storm Warning and Typhoon Watch remain in effect for Faraulep in Yap State. A Tropical Storm Warning remain in effect for Ulul in Chuuk State. A Tropical Storm Watch remains in effect for Guam, Rota, Tinian, and Saipan in the Mariana Islands and Woleai in Yap State.

At 10 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC) on Feb. 21 (1 a.m. CHST local time on Feb. 22) the center of Typhoon Wutip was located near Latitude 7.4 degrees North and Longitude 148.3 degrees East. Wutip is moving west-northwest at 8 mph. Wutip is expected to make a slight turn toward the northwest with an increase in forward speed over the next 24 hours. It is expected to pass southwest of the Mariana Islands late Saturday night [Feb. 23] and early Sunday morning [Feb. 24]. Maximum sustained winds have increased to 100 mph. Wutip is forecast to intensify through Saturday. Typhoon force winds extend outward from the center up to 35 miles. Tropical storm force winds extend outward from the center up to 150 miles.

Wutip is forecast to move in a northwesterly direction and its center is forecast to pass just northeast of the island of Faraulep by 7 p.m. EDT (2200 UTC) on Feb. 21 (10 a.m. CHST local time on Feb. 22) and continue tracking to the northwest.

For updated forecasts, visit: https://www.prh.noaa.gov/guam/cyclone.php

By Rob Gutro
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center