Subtropical Storm Andrea was gone before the storm could even reach Tropical Storm status. The last advisory for this storm was issued at 5:00pm AST/EDT on May 21, 2019.
NASA’s Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS) Worldview application provides the capability to interactively browse over 700 global, full-resolution satellite imagery layers and then download the underlying data. Many of the available imagery layers are updated within three hours of observation, essentially showing the entire Earth as it looks “right now.” The storm was dissipating when the Suomi NPP satellite captured this image on May 21, 2019. Credit: NASA Worldview, Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS).
Andrea’s formation marks the fifth consecutive year that a named storm has developed before the official start of Atlantic hurricane season on June 1. Andrea went from a subtropical storm to a remnant low in two days. Its location 370 km west southwest of Bermuda meant that no coastal watches or warnings were necessary for this storm. Its maximum sustained winds are 35 mph and the present movement of the low is east northeast at 8 mph.
The system is expected to dissipate by Wednesday morning.
There are no other storms in the Atlantic basin or Central Pacific basin. There is a disturbance in the East North Pacific basin that has a 50% chance of cyclone formation in the next 5 days.
May 21, 2019 – Subtropical Storm Andrea Jumps the Gun As the First Storm of 2019 Atlantic Season
Andrea becomes the first subtropical storm for the 2019 season although we are two weeks short of the official start date of June 1. This storm was first spotted on Monday, May 20, 2019 forming over the western Atlantic.
NASA’s Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS) Worldview application provides the capability to interactively browse over 700 global, full-resolution satellite imagery layers and then download the underlying data. Many of the available imagery layers are updated within three hours of observation, essentially showing the entire Earth as it looks “right now.” The storm was just forming when the Suomi NPP satellite captured this image on May 20, 2019. Credit: NASA Worldview, Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS).
At present the storm is located 295 miles west southwest of Bermuda and is moving north at 5 knots. Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph (65 km/h) with higher gusts extending outward up to 60 miles from the center. Bermuda is within the zone of coverage for this storm, although at present there are no coastal watches or warnings in effect. The storm is expected to veer northeast later today. On the forecast track, the center of Andrea is expected to remain southwest and south of
Bermuda during the next day or two.
Little change in strength is forecast today, followed by weakening
late tonight. Andrea is expected to dissipate on Wednesday.
May 15, 2019 – Ex-Tropical Cyclone Ann Moving Over Australia’s Cape York Peninsula
NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite passed over the Southern Pacific Ocean and captured a visible image of the remnants of Tropical Cyclone Ann moving over Queensland’s Cape York Peninsula. Despite the storm weakening below tropical cyclone status, warnings remain active for strong winds and flooding potential.
The Australian Bureau of Meteorology or ABM issued a Strong Wind Warning for the North East Gulf of Carpentaria for today, May 15, and tomorrow, May 16. There is also a Flood Watch in effect for coastal catchments between Cooktown and Port Douglas.
NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite passed over the Southern Pacific Ocean and captured a visible image of Ex-Tropical Cyclone Ann on May 15, 2019, as it continued to move over the Cape York Peninsula. Credit: NASA Worldview, Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS).
Ex-Tropical Cyclone Ann has the potential to generate areas of heavy rainfall. ABM noted “Catchments remain wet following coastal showers and rain areas during the last few days, which will make stream rises and flooding more likely with the onset of heavy rainfall. Enhanced rainfall is expected to occur on the coastal catchments north of Port Douglas and through to Cooktown during Wednesday.” Heavy rainfall may also lead to flash flooding and the catchments likely to be affected include the Endeavour River and the Daintree River.
NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite passed over the remnant clouds on May 15 and the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument provided a visible image of the storm. The VIIRS image showed the center of the low pressure area in the middle of the northern Cape York Peninsula, framed by the Heartlands Resources Reserve to the north, the Iron Range National Park to the east, and the Mungkan Kandju National Park south of the circulation center.
The remnants of Ann are expected to move west into the Gulf of Carpentaria in the next day.
May 14, 2019 – NASA Finds Tropical Cyclone Ann Over the Great Barrier Reef
Australia’s world-famous Great Barrier Reef is located in the Coral Sea, east of Queensland and on May 14, Tropical Cyclone Ann was moving over it. From their orbit in space, NASA’s Terra and Aqua satellites passed over the Southern Pacific Ocean obtained visible and infrared imagery of the storm as it moved toward the Queensland coast.
On May 14, NASA’s Terra satellite provided a visible image of Tropical Cyclone Ann as it was moving over the Great Barrier Reef in the Coral Sea. Credit: NASA Worldview, Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS)
The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef system. The Reef is made up of more than 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands that cover more than stretching for over 1,429 miles (2,300 kilometers).
An infrared look at the tropical storm obtained by NASA’s Aqua satellite revealed where the strongest storms were located within Tropical Cyclone Ann on May 13 at 0341 UTC (May 12 at 11:41 p.m. EDT). The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder or AIRS instrument aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite analyzed cloud top temperatures and found cloud top temperatures of strongest thunderstorms as cold as or colder than minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 53 degrees Celsius) circling the center and in a large band of thunderstorms north of the center. Cloud top temperatures that cold indicate strong storms that have the capability to create heavy rain.
On May 13, at 0341 UTC (May 12 at 11:41 p.m. EDT) the AIRS instrument aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite analyzed cloud top temperatures of Tropical Cyclone Ann in infrared light. AIRS found coldest cloud top temperatures (purple) of strongest thunderstorms were as cold as or colder than minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 53 degrees Celsius). Credit: NASA JPL/Heidar Thrastarson
On May 14, NASA’s Terra satellite provided a visible image of the storm to forecasters. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer or MODIS instrument aboard Terra captured the storm as it was moving over the Great Barrier Reef in the Coral Sea. Multispectral satellite imagery at the time showed that an exposed, well-defined low-level circulation center with a small area of convection flaring 50 nautical miles to the south.
Ann is weakening because it has run into increased vertical wind shear, that is, winds blowing at different directions at different levels of the atmosphere tearing at the storm’s structure. There is also dry air moving into Tropical Cyclone Ann at low and mid-levels of the atmosphere, preventing the development of thunderstorms that fuel the storm.
The Australian Bureau of Meteorology or ABM noted “Ex-tropical cyclone Ann expected to bring damaging winds and heavy rainfall to parts of northeast Queensland” and issued a Severe Weather Warning for damaging winds and heavy rainfall. The warning is for residents in parts of Peninsula, North Tropical Coast and Tablelands and Herbert and Lower Burdekin Forecast Districts.
Additional warnings in effect on May 14 include a Gale Warning for the Peninsula Coast and Cooktown Coast, and a Strong Wind Warning for the Cairns Coast, Townsville Coast and Mackay Coast.
Local impacts include strong winds and heavy rainfall. ABM cited “damaging winds, with peak gusts of around 90 kph (56 mph) may develop during Wednesday morning between about Lockhart River and Cooktown, including Lizard Island. The winds should gradually ease during Wednesday afternoon as the low moves across Cape York Peninsula.
Areas of heavy rainfall, which may lead to flash flooding is expected to develop along the coast and ranges between the Lockhart River and Port Douglas Tuesday night, May 14 and persist through Wednesday, May 15. A separate area of heavy rainfall, which may lead to flash flooding, may also develop about the coast and ranges between about Gordonvale and Ingham during early Wednesday morning. This should gradually ease during Thursday.”
ABM Warnings are also available through TV and Radio broadcasts, the Bureau’s website at www.bom.gov.au.
On May 14 at 5 a.m. EDT (0900 UTC), the center of Tropical Cyclone Ann was located near latitude 14.3 degrees south and longitude 146.9 degrees east. That is about 178 nautical miles northeast of Cairns Australia. Ann was moving to the west and had maximum sustained winds near 35 knots (40 mph / 65 kph).
The Joint Typhoon Warning Center expects Ann to make landfall within 24 hours to the north of Cape Melville National Park and Mungkan Kandju National Park, and dissipate less than a day later.
May 13, 2019 – NASA-NOAA Satellite Catches Tropical Cyclone Ann Threatening Queensland
NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite passed over the Southern Pacific Ocean and captured a visible image of Tropical Cyclone Ann in the Coral Sea, off the east coast of Queensland, Australia.
NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite passed over the Southern Pacific Ocean and captured a visible image of Tropical Cyclone Ann on May 13. Ann was located in the Coral Sea, east of Queensland, Australia. Credit: NASA Worldview, Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS).
The Australian Bureau of Meteorology or ABM noted that Watch zone includes Cape York to Port Douglas, including Lockhart River, Coen, and Cooktown.
NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite passed over Ann on May 13 and the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument provided a visible image of the storm. The VIIRS image showed powerful thunderstorms wrapping around the center of circulation that appeared to be a cloud-filled eye. The VIIRS image also revealed a large thick band of thunderstorms extending from the center to the southeast, giving the appearance of a large tail.
At 8 a.m. EDT (10 p.m. AEST local time) on Monday, May 13, 2019, ABM noted that Ann is a category 1 storm, sustained winds near the center of 40 knots (46 mph/75 kilometers per hour). Ann is centered near 15.2 degrees South latitude and 151.5 degrees East longitude. That is about 398 miles (640 kilometers) east northeast of Cairns. Ann is moving to the west-northwest at 17 miles (27 kilometers) per hour.
ABM forecasts that Ann will move on a westerly track over the next couple of days and make landfall on the east coast of the Cape York Peninsula, Queensland on the morning of May 15, local time most likely as a category 1 system. Ann is forecast to make landfall near the town of Coen. Coen is located in the Shire of Cook, Queensland.
May 10, 2019 – NASA Northern Quadrant Strength in Tropical Cyclone Lili
NASA’s Aqua satellite used infrared light to analyze the strength of storms in Tropical Cyclone Lili as it moved through the Southern Indian Ocean. Infrared data provides temperature information, and the strongest thunderstorms that reach high into the atmosphere have the coldest cloud top temperatures.
At 12:50 a.m. EDT (0450 UTC) on May 10, the MODIS instrument that flies aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite gathered infrared data on Tropical Cyclone Lili. Strongest thunderstorms north of the center where cloud top temperatures were as cold as minus 50 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 45.5 Celsius). Credit: NASA/NRL
At 12:50 a.m. EDT (0450 UTC) on May 10, the Moderate Imaging Spectroradiometer or MODIS instrument that flies aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite gathered infrared data on Lili. Strongest thunderstorms were north of the center where MODIS found cloud top temperatures as cold as minus 50 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 45.5 Celsius).
At 11 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC), the Joint Typhoon Warning Center or JTWC noted that Lili’s maximum sustained winds were near 35 knots (40 mph/74 kph). At the time, Lili was centered near 9.3 degrees south latitude and 128.2 degrees east longitude, about 238 nautical miles northwest of Darwin, Australia. Lili has tracked to the west-northwest at 3 knots (3.4 mph/5.5 kph).
At 8 a.m. EDT (1248 UTC) animated enhanced infrared satellite imagery and a microwave satellite image showed a partially-exposed low-level circulation with isolated strong thunderstorms now over the southern quadrant. Satellite imagery shows that dry air has been feeding into the storm and sapping the storm’s ability to generate the thunderstorms it needs to be maintained. That dry air “entrainment” or movement into Lili is expected to continue. Lili is forecast to track to the west-northwest and dissipate in a day.
May 09, 2019 – NASA-NOAA Satellite Catches Formation of Tropical Cyclone Lili
NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite passed over the Southern Indian Ocean and captured a visible image of newly formed Tropical Cyclone Lili, located north of the coast of Australia’s Northern Territory.
NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite passed over the Southern Indian Ocean and captured a visible image of Tropical Cyclone Lili on May 9, as it continued to linger north of Australia’s Northern Territory. Credit: NASA Worldview, Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS)/NOAA
The Australian Bureau of Meteorology or ABM issued a Strong Wind Warning for the following areas: Beagle Bonaparte Coast, North Tiwi Coast, Arafura Coast and Roper Groote Coast. There is no tropical cyclone warning currently in effect.
NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite passed over Lili on May 9 and the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument provided a visible image of the storm. The VIIRS image showed strong thunderstorms around the center of circulation and in a large band extending to the east of the storm. The satellite imagery shows a consolidating system in the Timor Sea.
At 11 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC) on May 9, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center or JTWC noted that Lili had maximum sustained winds near 40 knots (46 mph/74 kph). Lili is centered near 9.1 degrees south latitude and 128.8 degrees east longitude. Lili is located approximately 236 nautical miles north-northwest of Darwin, Australia and has tracked south-southwestward.
Lili is expected to strengthen slightly in the next day before weakening as it moves in a westerly direction toward Timor.
Tropical Cyclone Fani at Night The VIIRS instrument aboard NOAA’s NOAA-20 polar orbiting satellite provided a night-time view of Tropical Cyclone Fani on May 2 at 1950 UTC (3:50 p.m. EDT). At the time Fani was a strong Category 4 storm, on the Saffir-Simpson. The moon phase was a Waning Crescent moon with only approximately 6 percent illumination. That means the only illumination are from either man-made lights, lightning or airglow from the mesosphere (upper atmosphere). Airglow is a glow in the night sky caused by radiation from the upper atmosphere. Credit: NOAA/UWM-CIMSS/William Straka IIIDaytime View of Tropical Cyclone Fani Early on May 3, 2019 (EDT), NASA’s Terra satellite passed over the Northern Indian Ocean and captured this visible image of Tropical Cyclone Fani making landfall in the Indian state of Odisha. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer or MODIS instrument aboard Terra provided the image that showed the center of circulation over Odisha. The bands of thunderstorms circling the center extended north and east over the states of Jharkhand and West Bengal and into the country of Bangladesh. Credit: NASA
May 03, 2019 – NASA Reveals Heavy Rainfall in Tropical Cyclone Fani
Satellite data revealed heavy rainfall in powerful Tropical Cyclone Fani before it made landfall in northeastern India. Fani brought that soaking rain to the region and continues to drop heavy rainfall on May 3, as it moves toward Bangladesh.
The GPM core observatory satellite passed over Tropical Cyclone Fani on May 1 as it was strengthening and nearing landfall in northeastern India. This 3D image shows the powerful storms circling the center. Credit: NASA/JAXA/Jacob Reed
NASA’s GPM or Global Precipitation Measurement mission satellite provides information on precipitation from its orbit in space. On May 1 at 7:56 a.m. EDT (1156 UTC), the GPM Core Observatory captured an overpass of the powerful storm as it continued strengthening and moving toward landfall. A 3D image and a color-enhanced rainfall image were created at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. The images showed how high thunderstorms stretched into the troposphere and measured rainfall rates. GPM found that some of the heaviest rainfall rates were up to 50 millimeters (2 inches) per hour and were in the western quadrant of the storm.
GPM is a joint mission between NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency or JAXA. GPM also utilizes a constellation of other satellites to provide a global analysis of precipitation of rainfall around the world.
The GPM core observatory satellite passed over Tropical Cyclone Fani on May 1 as it was strengthening and nearing landfall in northeastern India. This image shows the powerful storms circling the center that were producing rainfall at a rate greater than 50 mm/2 inches per hour (red). Credit: NASA/JAXA/Jacob Reed
The India Meteorological Department reported that Fani made landfall in Odisha at about 8 a.m. local time on Friday morning, May 3. Fani’s sustained winds were estimated near 108 knots (125 mph/201 kph) at the time of landfall. Fani is the strongest cyclone to hit India’s coast since a storm in 1999. About 1.2 million people had evacuated prior to Fani’s landfall.
The Joint Typhoon Warning Center or JTWC issued their final warning on Fani at 11 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC) on May 3. At that time, Fani’s center was located near 21.8 degrees north latitude and 86.6 degrees east longitude. It was centered about 145 nautical miles west-southwest of Kolkata, India. Fani has tracked north-northeastward. At that time, Fani’s maximum sustained winds had dropped to 70 knots (80 mph/130) making it the equivalent of a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
On May 3, NASA infrared satellite imagery measured the temperatures of the cloud tops of the thunderstorms that made up Fani. The imagery showed warming cloud tops and significantly reduced deep convection (rising air that forms the thunderstorms that make up a tropical cyclone).
The JTWC noted that Fani is weakening due to land interaction. Fani is expected to reach Bangladesh as a minimal tropical storm early on May 4, and dissipate later in the day.
May 02, 2019 – NASA Goes Infrared on Powerful Tropical Cyclone Fani
NASA’s Aqua satellite focused an infrared eye on a very powerful Tropical Cyclone Fani as it approached landfall in northeastern India. Fani is a powerful Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
On May 2 at 3:29 a.m. EDT (0729 UTC), the AIRS instrument aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite analyzed cloud top temperatures of Tropical Cyclone Fani in infrared light. AIRS found cloud top temperatures of strongest thunderstorms were as cold as or colder than minus 80 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 62 degrees Celsius). Credit: NASA JPL/Heidar Thrastarson
On May 2 at 3:29 a.m. EDT (0729 UTC), the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder or AIRS instrument aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite analyzed cloud top temperatures of Tropical Cyclone Fani in infrared light. AIRS found cloud top temperatures of strongest thunderstorms as cold as or colder than minus 80 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 62 degrees Celsius) circling the eye and in a fragmented band of thunderstorms east of the center. Satellite data showed there is now a 16 nautical mile-wide round, symmetrical eye surrounded by a thick band of powerful thunderstorms. Cloud top temperatures that cold indicate strong storms that have the capability to create heavy rain.
On May 2 at 11 a.m. EST (1500 UTC), the center of Tropical Cyclone Fani was located near latitude 17.6 degrees north and longitude 84.8 degrees east. That is about 87 miles east of Visakhapatnam, India. Fani was moving to the north and maximum sustained winds increased to 135 knots (155 mph/250 kph).
Fani is forecast to move to the north-northeast. The India Meteorological Department forecasts Fani to make landfall within 12 to 24 hours, then weaken rapidly and dissipate over northeastern India and Bangladesh.
For local forecasts, visit the India Meteorological Department: www.imd.gov.in/
May 01, 2019 – NASA Satellites Track Tropical Cyclone Fani Along Eastern India’s Coastline
NASA’s Aqua and Terra satellites have been providing infrared, microwave and visible imagery of Tropical Cyclone Fani as it continued to move northward along the eastern coast of India.
On April 30 at 3:35 a.m. EDT (0735 UTC), the AIRS instrument aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite analyzed cloud top temperatures of Tropical Cyclone Fani in infrared light. AIRS found cloud top temperatures of strongest thunderstorms were as cold as or colder than minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 53 degrees Celsius). Credit: NASA JPL/Heidar Thrastarson
Tropical Cyclone Fani continued to strengthen and move north through the Northern Indian Ocean on April 30 and May 1 when NASA’s Aqua and Terra satellite provided imagery of the strengthening storm. Fani is located off the southeastern coast of India, north of the island of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is an island country located southwest of the Bay of Bengal and southeast of the Arabian Sea.
On April 30 at 3:35 a.m. EDT (0735 UTC) the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder or AIRS instrument aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite analyzed cloud top temperatures of Tropical Cyclone Fani in infrared light. AIRS found cloud top temperatures of strongest thunderstorms as cold as or colder than minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 53 degrees Celsius) circling the center and in a large band east of the center. Cloud top temperatures that cold indicate strong storms that have the capability to create heavy rain.
On May 1, 2019, the MODIS instrument aboard NASA’s Terra satellite provided a visible image of Tropical Cyclone Fani in the Northern Indian Ocean, off the coast southeastern India. Credit: NASA Worldview, Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS)
On May 1, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer or MODIS instrument aboard NASA’s Terra satellite provided a visible image of Fani. Fani’s center appeared to have an eye obscured by high clouds. Infrared imagery revealed that ragged eye and microwave imagery showed curved bands of thunderstorms wrapping into the eye.
Fani was located off the coast of southeastern India. It was affecting the Coramandal Coast that stretches from the southeastern tip of India to east-central India’s Andhra Coast to the north.
On May 1 at 11 a.m. EST (1500 UTC), the center of Tropical Cyclone Fani was located near latitude 15.2 degrees north and longitude 84.3 degrees east. That is about 520 nautical miles south-southwest of Kolkata, India. Fani was moving to the north and maximum sustained winds were near 105 knots (121 mph/194 kph).
The Joint Typhoon Warning Center expects Fani to continue moving north and intensify slightly as it moves over warm waters. Fani is forecast to move to the north-northeast. The India Meteorological Department forecasts Fani to make landfall along the Odisha coastline between Gopalpur and Chandbali on May 3 at hurricane-strength.
For local forecasts, visit the India Meteorological Department: www.imd.gov.in/
