Hal Pierce

The TRMM satellite had a good daylight look at tropical storm Arthur on July 1, 2014 at 1620 UTC (12:20 PM EDT) less than two hours after it was upgraded from a tropical depression. Rainfall from TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) data are shown overlaid on a GOES-EAST infrared/visible image collected at 1626 UTC (12:26 PM EDT). The location of very heavy rainfall around Arthur's center was shown using TMI data. TRMM PR data sliced through the southern half of the tropical storm. A 3-D view (from the west) using those data is shown above. Radar reflectivity values

Over the past seven days stormy weather has spawned tornadoes and dropped extremely heavy rainfall in the Northern Plains and the Great Lakes states. This deluge has caused flooding in South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinios. There have been concerns about the Mississippi, Big Sioux and Rock River Rivers escaping their banks. For more than sixteen years rainfall has been monitored by the TRMM-based, near-real time Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA) . These products have been developed at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center by the precipitation research team. (TMPA)

Tropical storm NANUAK formed west of India on June 10, 2014 and since then has been moving toward the northwest over the open waters of the Arabian Sea. The TRMM satellite found that NANAUK contained powerful storms dropping rain at a rate of over 247.3 mm/hr (about 9.7 inches) when viewed on June 11, 2014 at 1549 UTC. An analysis of rainfall from TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) is shown above overlaid on a 1530 UTC enhanced infrared image from the METEOSAT-7 satellite. TRMM PR data were used in the 3-D view shown in the second image. Those data showed that NANAUK

Tropical storm Cristina intensified and was a category one hurricane with wind speeds of over 65 kts (about 75 mph) when the TRMM satellite flew over on June 11, 2014 at 1142 UTC (4:42 AM PDT). A rainfall analysis that used data from TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) instruments is shown overlaid on an enhanced infrared image received by the GOES-EAST satellite at 1145 UTC. TRMM TMI data clearly revealed that an eye had developed indicating that Cristina was definitely a hurricane. TRMM PR found that rain was falling at a rate of over 74.4 mm/hr (about 2.9 inches) in a

The third tropical depression of the eastern Pacific Ocean was upgraded by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) to tropical storm Cristina on June 10, 2014 at 0300 UTC (8 PM PDT). The TRMM satellite had a good early morning view of Cristina on June 10, 2014 at 1238 UTC (5:38 AM PDT). Rainfall from TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) are shown overlaid on an enhanced visible/infrared 1245 UTC image from the GOES-EAST satellite. TRMM TMI data show Large areas of moderate to heavy rainfall west of Mexico's coast. The NHC predicts that Cristina will strengthen to hurricane

On June 5, 2014 at 0549 UTC (1:49 AM EDT) the TRMM satellite flew above the remnants of tropical Depression Boris and powerful thunderstorms that recently developed in the Gulf of Mexico. Rainfall derived from TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) data are shown overlaid on an enhanced infrared image from the GOES-EAST satellite. TRMM found heavy rainfall over Mexico's Pacific coast and with a disturbance in the Gulf Of Mexico (90L). Rainfall was falling at the extreme rate of over 163 mm (about 6.4 inches) per hour in powerful thunderstorms associated with the low pressure

Tropical Depression TWO-E was upgraded to tropical storm Boris yesterday at 1800 UTC (11AM PDT) but Boris weakened to a tropical depression after going ashore in Mexico. The TRMM satellite passed above tropical depression Boris on June 4, 2014 at 1457 UTC and collected data used in this rainfall analysis. TRMM rainfall data are shown overlaid on a GOES-EAST enhanced infrared/visible image received at 1445 UTC. TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) data show that Boris was still dropping light to moderate rain over southern Mexico in the area of the Gulf Of Tehuantepec. Click on this animation to see a

As predicted, yesterday afternoon a low pressure center south of the Gulf of Tehuantepec was classified as tropical depression TWO-E by the National Hurricane Center (NHC). The TRMM satellite passed over the area on June 3, 2014 at 0602 UTC (11PM PDT June 2, 2014) providing data for the TRMM rainfall analysis shown in brighter shades overlaid on an enhanced GOES-EAST 0615 UTC image. TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) instrument had a good view of TWO-E's center and indicated that rain northeast of there was falling at a rate of over 61 mm/hr ( about 2.4 inches). An NHC discussion said of tropical

The eastern Pacific Ocean has become active on cue with the start of the hurricane season in that area. Only a few days after hurricane Amanda weakened and disappeared the National Hurricane Center (NHC) says that development of another tropical cyclone is probable southeast of Salina Cruz, Mexico. The image above shows rainfall data captured by the TRMM satellite as it flew over on June 2, 2014 at 0659 UTC. TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) data are shown overlaid on an enhanced infrared image from the GOES-EAST satellite received at 0645 UTC. TRMM found areas of

Once powerful hurricane Amanda was weakening to tropical depression intensity when the TRMM satellite passed above on May 29, 2014 at 1038 UTC. A rainfall analysis derived from TRMM data is shown overlaid on a GOES-15 enhanced infrared image. TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) found rain falling at a rate of slightly over 47 mm/hr (about 1.9 inches) in storms located between Amanda's center and Mexico's coast. Amanda's locations and intensities are shown in red.