Tropical Cyclone 12S Developing

TRMM image of tropical cyclone 12s

The TRMM satellite passed above a developing tropical cyclone in the South Indian Ocean designated as 12S on 9 February 2012 at 0402UTC. A rainfall analysis derived from TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) is shown overlaid on a visible/infrared image from TRMM's Visible and InfraRed Scanner (VIRS) instrument.

This TRMM view shows that the storm was already well organized. TRMM's PR shows that heavy rainfall of over 50 mm/hr (~2 inches) was occuring in storms near center of the circulation. Some of the powerful storms dropping this rainfall were shown by TRMM to reach heights of over 13km (~8.1 miles).

This developing tropical cyclone is predicted by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) to have wind speeds of 90kts (~103.5 mph) within four days. It is predicted to hit Madagascar and weaken to tropical storm intensity as it travels over the center of the island nation.