Tropical Depression Mekkhala Organizes

Tropical Depression Mekkhela Organizes

Tropical Depression 01W, in the western Pacific Ocean, has been given the name Mekkhala. The tropical cyclone has become much better organized and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) predicts that tropical storm Mekkhala will affect the eastern Philippines in a few days.

The GPM (core satellite) flew above Mekkhala on January 14, 2015 at 1043 UTC. GPM's Microwave Imager (GMI) instrument observed rain falling at a rate of over 71.63 mm (about 2.8 inches) per hour in intense convective storms near the tropical cyclone's center. This 3-D view was derived from data collected by GPM's Radar (Ku Band). Thunderstorm tops in rain bands east of Mekkhala's center were found by those data to reach heights of over 13km (8 miles).