– July 11, 2012Posted in: Featured stories, Hurricanes, Tropical Storms
Three storm systems are trailing one another across the Pacific Ocean basin. Tropical Storm Daniel is moving west toward Hawaii, followed by Hurricane Emilia. Just off the coast of Mexico, another possible tempest, known as System 98E, is brewing. National Hurricane Center in Miami gave this system an 80 % chance of becoming a tropical cyclone in the next 48 hours.
Daniel is now a tropical storm once more after weaken from Category 2 hurricane status. Currently, it is located 1700 km (about 1055 miles) east-southeast of the Hawaiian Islands.
Tropical Storm Daniel forecast track (Source: Joint Typhoon Warning Center)
Satellite Animations
- Storm-Centered Infrared (GOES 15; NOAA/SSD)
- Storm-Centered Infrared (Aviation Color Enhancement) (GOES 15; NOAA/SSD)
- Storm-Centered Water Vapor (GOES 15; NOAA/SSD)
- Storm-Centered Visible (GOES 15; NOAA/SSD)
- Storm-Centered Visible (Colorized) (GOES 15; NOAA/SSD)
- Tropical East Pacific Hurricane Sector Infrared (GOES 15; NOAA)
- Tropical East Pacific Hurricane Sector Water Vapor (GOES 15; NOAA)
- Tropical East Pacific Hurricane Sector Visible (GOES 15; NOAA)
Emilia grew rapidly and become a Category 4 hurricane, the strongest storm of the season so far in either the Pacific or Atlantic basins. Emilia has weakened slightly and today is a Category 2 hurricane, packing winds of up to 170 km/h (105 mph), according to the latest report from the National Hurricane Center.
NASA’s Terra satellite captured this visible image of Hurricane Emilia following Tropical Storm Daniel in the Eastern Pacific Ocean on July 9, 2012. According to the satellite’s measurements, the top of Emilia’s swirling clouds were bitter cold, measuring minus 70 degrees Celsius (minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit). That indicates that the clouds are very high and that the storm packs a powerful punch. Luckily, it poses no threat to land. (Credit: NASA MODIS Rapid Response Team)
System is located 1205 km (750 miles) southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. Emilia is moving west-northwestward at speed of 15 km/h (9 mph) and this general motion is expected to continue for the next two days. Maximum sustained winds remain near 165 km/h (105 mph) with higher gusts. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 45 km (30 miles) from the center and tropical storm winds extend outward up to 165 km (105 miles) from the center. Estimated minimum pressure is 970 MB.
Hurricane Emilia forecast track (Source: Joint Typhoon Warning Center)
Satellite Animations
- Storm-Centered Infrared (GOES 15; NOAA/SSD)
- Storm-Centered Infrared (Aviation Color Enhancement) (GOES 15; NOAA/SSD)
- Storm-Centered Water Vapor (GOES 15; NOAA/SSD)
- Storm-Centered Visible (GOES 15; NOAA/SSD)
- Storm-Centered Visible (Colorized) (GOES 15; NOAA/SSD)
- Central Pacific Infrared (GOES 15; NOAA)
- Central Pacific Infrared (Aviation Color Enhancement) (GOES 15; NOAA)
- Central Pacific Water Vapor (GOES 15; NOAA)
- Central Pacific Visible (GOES 15; NOAA)
- Central Pacific Visible (Colorized) (GOES 15; NOAA)
Shower activity associated with a Low Pressure System 98E located about 765 km (475 miles) south of Manzanillo, Mexico, continues to show signs of organization. Environmental conditions are conductive for development and a tropical depression could form during the next day or so. The system is moving west-northwestward at speed of 16 km/h (10 mph).
GOES Northern Hemisphere Composite SECTOR IR Image
Sources: US National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center Hawaii, Joint Typhoon Warning Center, MODIS Rapid Response Team
Featured image: A satellite image taken by the GOES-15 satellite on July 10, 2012, which shows three storm systems trailing one another across the ocean basin. (Credit: NOAA/NASA)
