[image-94]One NASA Image, 2 Australian Tropical Lows: Fletcher and 95S

NASA's Aqua satellite captured two low pressure areas from different ocean basins in one infrared image. Aqua saw System 94P or Fletcher in the Gulf of Carpentaria and western Queensland and low pressure System 95S in the Northern Territory.

When NASA's Aqua satellite passed over central Australia on February 5 at 04:47 UTC, the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder or AIRS instrument gathered valuable infrared data on both low pressure areas. System 95S, which developed in the Southern Indian Ocean and moved inland south of Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia continued to maintain circulation and strong thunderstorms around its center despite being over land.

System 95S was located near 16.3 south and 132.4 east, about 245 nautical miles/281.9 miles/453.7 km south-southeast of Darwin, Australia. It appeared in AIRS data as an almost rounded area of strong storms with cloud top temperatures near -63F/-52C, which suggests heavy rainfall potential. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center or JTWC gives System 95S a low chance for development because its center remains over land.

Meanwhile, Fletcher, which developed in the Southern Pacific Ocean basin remains in the Gulf of Carpentaria and is a much larger low pressure area that covers most of the Gulf. At 0600 UTC/1 a.m. EST today, February 5, Fletcher was centered near 17.1 south latitude and 141.0 east longitude, or just 90 nautical miles/103.6 miles/166.7 km east-southeast of Mornington Island, Australia. Fletcher's convection has become more disorganized today as it continues to be battered by moderate vertical wind shear of up to 20 knots/23 mph/37 kph. 

According to the JTWC, a composite radar loop at a weather station located on Mornington Island showed that the low was straddling the southeastern shore of the Gulf of Carpentaria. JTWC noted that Fletcher has a medium chance of reaching tropical depression status over the next day or two, while System 95S has a low chance.

Text credit:  Rob Gutro
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

[image-78]Feb. 04, 2014 - NASA Satellite Catches Australia's Newborn Tropical Storm Edna and Stubborn Fletcher

Northeastern Australia has been watching two tropical low pressure areas over the last several days, and NASA's Aqua satellite captured both in one infrared image. Tropical Storm Edna developed on February 4, while Fletcher, known also as System 94P continued to have a medium chance for development.

On February 3 at 15:53 UTC/10:53 a.m. EST, NASA's Aqua satellite passed over Queensland, Australia and the AIRS or Atmospheric Infrared Sounder instrument captured infrared data on both storms. System 94P/Fletcher was in the Gulf of Carpentaria and over the Northwest region of Queensland, while newborn Edna formed in the South Pacific Ocean east of Queensland. 

System 94P/Fletcher Formation Alert Canceled

On February 4 at 0400 UTC, The Joint Typhoon Warning Center or JTWC canceled their tropical cyclone alert for System 94P/Fletcher. The center of the low was located near 16.5 south latitude and 141.5 east longitude, south of Weipa and about 270 nautical miles/310.7 miles/500 km west-northwest of Cairns, Australia. Weipa is the largest town on the coast of the Gulf of Carpentaria coast in the Cape York Peninsula in Queensland.

The center of the low is over land and satellite imagery has showed that the convection and thunderstorm development has begun to erode. System 94P is also dealing with moderate wind shear and the JTWC noted that computer modeling indicated that the low will remain over land. However, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology or ABM indicates that they believe 94P may move west-southwest on February 5, and go back over southern Gulf of Carpentaria waters, where it could briefly re-intensify. Because of the uncertainty the tropical cyclone alert has been canceled, but satellites and forecasters in both organizations are carefully monitoring the tropical low pressure area.

Regardless of development, ABM notes that the low will drop heavy rainfall over the next couple of days which may lead to flash flooding in the Gulf Country district, mostly near coastal areas. For updates on weather conditions in Queensland from System 94P/Fletcher, visit the Australian Bureau of Meteorology's web page: http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDQ65002.shtml. 

Text credit:  Rob Gutro
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

[image-51]Feb. 03, 2014 - NASA's Aqua Satellite Tracking System 94P or "Fletcher" Near Queensland

A tropical low pressure area known as "System 94P" has tracked across western Queensland and moved into the Gulf of Carpentaria between Karumba and Gilbert River Mouth on February 3 as NASA's Aqua satellite passed overhead.

System 94P continues to struggle to organize into a tropical depression, and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology or ABM has dubbed the storm "Fletcher." ABM expects the low pressure area to bring heavy rain to the Gulf Country district, mostly to coastal parts areas over the next couple of days. ABM noted that Kowanyama recorded 5.7 inches /147 mm of rain on Feb. 3 and it was still raining.

ABM posted Cyclone Warning for coastal and island communities from Mornington Island to Gilbert River Mouth, and a Cyclone Watch was in effect for coastal areas from the Northern Territory and Queensland border to Mornington Island.

The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer or MODIS instrument aboard NASA's Aqua satellite captured a visible image of System 94P as it moved into the Gulf of Carpentaria and its northwestern quadrant covered Mornington Island and Bentick Island. Half of the tropical low was over the Gulf and the other half was over land.

At 0400 UTC on February 3, maximum sustained winds were estimated to be near 30 knots/34.5 mph/55.5 kph. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center or JTWC has issued Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert WTPS21, as forecasters expect the low to strengthen into tropical depression status. System 94P was centered near 17.3 south and 140.0 east, about 50 nautical miles/57.5 miles/92.6 kph southeast of Mornington Island.

The JTWC noted that animated multispectral satellite imagery showed that the well-defined low-level center was consolidating over the open waters, and that strong bands of thunderstorms were wrapping into the center. Radar imagery from Mornington Island confirmed the strong thunderstorms and the well-defined center of circulation.

Residents along the Gulf of Carpentaria should keep updated on local forecasts from the ABM at:   http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDQ20023.txt.

Text credit:  Rob Gutro
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center