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Hurricane Season 2010: Tropical Storm Igor (Atlantic Ocean)
09.24.10
 
September 24, 2010

On Sept. 22 the storm was located over the Davis Strait › View larger image CAPTION: When NASA's Terra satellite flew over post-tropical storm Igor on Sept. 22 at 14:55 UTC (10:55 a.m. EDT) the storm was located over the Davis Strait. Snow and ice can be seen in Greenland (top right) in this image. Credit: NASA Goddard MODIS Rapid Response Team NASA Catches Post-Tropical Storm Igor Over the Davis Strait

Igor is now a post-tropical storm, and still huge as he swirls over the northern Atlantic Ocean. NASA's Terra satellite captured an image of Igor's huge area of cloud cover.

When NASA's Terra satellite flew over post-tropical storm Igor on Sept. 22 at 14:55 UTC (10:55 a.m. EDT) the storm was located over the Davis Strait. The Davis Strait is a northern area of the Labrador Sea that is situated between mid-western Greenland and Nunavut, Canada's Baffin Island. It is about 400 miles long, stretching from north to south and forms part of the Northwest Passage, a route through the Canadian Arctic Archipelago linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer, or MODIS instrument captured a visible image of Igor from its perch aboard NASA's Terra satellite. Igor's clouds extend from the northern Atlantic north into the Labrador Sea. In the image, Canada can be seen to the west, and Greenland to the northeast. Snow and ice on Greenland is also visible in the image.

Although it's no longer a tropical storm or a hurricane, Igor continues to spin in the North Atlantic bringing clouds and showers with it.

Text credit: Rob Gutro, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.


September 22, 2010

Huge Post-Tropical Hurricane Igor Drenched Newfoundland, Canada

Infrared image of Hurricane Igor as he was moving north into the Labrador Sea toward Labrador and Baffin Island.› View larger image
This infrared image of Hurricane Igor's cold (blue) thunderstorms was taken from NASA's Aqua satellite on Sept. 21 at 1553 UTC (11:53 a.m. EDT) as he was moving north into the Labrador Sea toward Labrador and Baffin Island. Igor's clouds extended into southern Greenland.
Credit: NASA/JPL, Ed Olsen
Visible image of Hurricane Igor over Newfoundland, Canada on Sept. 21 and an eye reappeared.› View larger image
This visible image of Hurricane Igor over Newfoundland, Canada was captured by the MODIS instrument on NASA's Terra satellite on Sept. 21 at 14:15 UTC (10:15 a.m. EDT). Igor strengthened and an eye reappeared in this image.
Credit: NASA MODIS Rapid Response Team Hurricane Igor may have transitioned into a post-tropical hurricane late yesterday, but when he approached Newfoundland, Canada and merged with an area of low pressure it resulted in heavy rainfall throughout the region. NASA satellites captured Igor's northern march toward the Labrador Sea yesterday.

NASA's Terra and Aqua satellites captured visible and infrared images of Hurricane Igor yesterday as he brought heavy rainfall into northeastern Canada. A visible image of Hurricane Igor over Newfoundland, Canada was captured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument on NASA's Terra satellite on Sept. 21 at 14:15 UTC (10:15 a.m. EDT). At that time, Igor had re-strengthened and an eye appeared on the visible imagery.

One and a half hours later, at 1553 UTC (11:53 a.m. EDT), NASA's Aqua satellite captured an infrared image of Hurricane Igor's cold thunderstorms that extended from Labrador, Canada eastward over southern Greenland. Igor was moving northward toward into the Labrador Sea toward Labrador and Baffin Island.

At 5 p.m. EDT on Sept. 21, Igor completed its post-tropical transition and its core went from a warm core, tropical system to a cold core system. At that time, he was 125 miles north-northeast of St. Johns, Newfoundland, Canada near 49.3 North and 51.7 West. Igor still had sustained hurricane-force winds of 80 mph although they are expected to weaken today, Sept. 22. Igor's minimum central pressure was 950 millibars, and he was moving north-northeast near a super-speedy 39 mph!

As Igor moved north his circulation continued increase. By 5 p.m. EDT on Sept. 21, tropical-storm force winds extended outward up to 520 miles from its center making the system over 1,000 miles wide!

Environment Canada noted that Hurricane Igor passed just south and east of Newfoundland on Tuesday, Sept. 21 and brought heavy rain and strong winds. Heavy rainfall extended far north and west of Igor's center as it neared Newfoundland, and hurricane-force winds were reported even into the evening.

A trough of low pressure (an elongated area of low pressure) that had passed over Newfoundland the day before (Monday) Igor arrived was still in the vicinity and interacted with the hurricane. The trough took moisture and energy from Igor and caused more heavy rainfall over the region. There were reports of extensive flooding, power outages and wind damage throughout the eastern half of Newfoundland over the last two days. Igor is one storm that the Atlantic will not miss.

Below are some unofficial storm totals from Igor, from Environment Canada as of 2:30 a.m. NDT.

Total rainfall
--------------------------------------------------------
St. Lawrence 239 mm (9.49 inches)
Bonavista 197 mm (7.75 inches)
St. Pierre 160 mm (6.29 inches)
St. John's west 134 mm (5.27 inches)
St. John's airport 120 mm (4.72 inches)

Peak wind gusts
--------------------------------------------------------
Cape pine 172 km/h (107 mph)
Sagona Island 163 km/h (101 mph)
Bonavista 155 km/h (96 mph)
Pool's Island 146 km/h (91 mph)
St. John's airport 137 km/h (85 mph)

Text credit: Rob Gutro, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.


September 21, 2010

Hurricane Watches Up in Canada as the GOES-13 Satellite Sees Hurricane Igor Still Expanding

This visible satellite image of Hurricane Igor as he moves into the Canadian Maritimes and Tropical Storm Lisa in the far eastern Atlantic.› View larger image
This visible satellite image of Hurricane Igor from the GOES-13 satellite was captured at 1145 UTC (7:45 a.m. EDT) and shows his huge size (now 706 miles in diameter) as he moves into the Canadian Maritimes (top left). Tropical Storm Lisa is seen in the far eastern Atlantic in the larger image.
Credit: NOAA/NASA GOES Project
The TRMM satellite captured rainfall occurring in Igor (left) and Julia (right) when it passed over on Sept. 19.› View larger image
The TRMM satellite captured rainfall occurring in monster Hurricane Igor (left) and fading Tropical Depression Julia (right) when it passed over them on Sept. 19 at 1954 UTC (3:54 p.m. EDT). At that time TRMM showed Igor had a large area of rain drenching Bermuda. Red indicates rainfall of up to 2 inches per hour.
Credit: NASA/SSAI, Hal Pierce Hurricane Igor may be changing into an extra tropical storm and losing his warm core of energy, but he hasn't lost his punch as hurricane watches are up today in eastern Canada. The GOES-13 satellite captured a look at Hurricane Igor this morning, and noticed the storm continues to grow larger and part of that expansion is likely a result of absorbing Julia's remnants.

The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite or GOES-13 is stationary in its position in space, watching over the weather in the eastern U.S. GOES-13 captured a visible satellite image of Hurricane Igor at 1145 UTC (7:45 a.m. EDT) today, Sept. 21 and the image showed Igor's huge size has continued to grow even larger over the last couple of days. Hurricane Igor is now about now 920 miles in diameter!

GOES-13 is operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and images are created by NASA's GOES Project, located at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.

Igor is quickly losing tropical characteristics today and is transforming from a warm core system to a cold core system, just like typical low pressure systems in the northern hemisphere.

Igor's center was passing near Newfoundland at 11 a.m. EDT morning. As Igor moves north, a hurricane watch is in effect for the coast of Newfoundland from Stones Cove Northward and Eastward to Fogo Island and a Tropical Storm Warning is in Effect for the coast of Newfoundland from Burgeo Northward and Eastward to Triton and the islands of St-Pierre and Miquelon.

Hurricane Igor is maintaining hurricane strength with maximum sustained winds near 75 mph as he continues to track north. Hurricane-force winds extend 85 miles from his center, and tropical-storm force winds extend out to 460 miles, so his diameter has grown to a massive 920 miles!

At 11 a.m. the center of Hurricane Igor was located 35 miles south of Cape Race, Newfoundland, Canada, near 46.2 North and 52.8 West. Based on observations from southeastern Newfoundland this morning, Igor's minimum central pressure was 952 millibars. Igor is moving northeast at 46 mph and is forecast to turn to the north-northeast and then turn north on Wednesday as he continues to move into the cooler waters of the North Atlantic Ocean. Igor is forecast to become a strong extratropical cyclone later in the day.

Additional rainfall accumulations of 1 to 3 inches are possible over eastern Newfoundland today, totaling as much as between 4 and 8 inches of rainfall there from Igor. According to the National Hurricane Center, Canadian buoy 44139 located about 150 miles west of the center reported sustained winds of 62 mph (100 Km/hr) this morning, and Canadian buoy 41138 located just east of the center reported a pressure of 962 millibars.

On Sept. 15, Julia and Igor had both been powerful category four hurricanes but Julia's wind speeds had continued to drop since because of wind shear from monster hurricane Igor's outflow. By 11 a.m. EDT on Sept. 20, the National Hurricane Center issued their final warning on Julia. She was 1,100 miles west of the Azores near 34.7 North and 46.4 West and maximum sustained winds were near 46 mph, but quickly weakening. Julia had later been downgraded into a low pressure system and is now in the 2010 Atlantic Hurricane Season history books. Meanwhile, Igor's life history is not finished as he makes a track further into the North Atlantic Ocean.

Text credit: Rob Gutro, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.


September 20, 2010

NASA's MODIS and AIRS Instruments Watch Igor Changing Shape, Warming Over 3 Days

MODIS images of Igor on Sept. 18 (left), on Sept. 19 (center) and on Sept. 20 (right).› View larger image
The MODIS instrument on NASA's Terra satellite captured a visible image of Igor (Left) at 11:30 am on Sept. 18, while MODIS in the Aqua satellite captured Igor's center just southwest of Bermuda on Sept. 19 at 1:30 p.m. EDT (center). MODIS on Terra captured Igor after it passed Bermuda on Sept. 20 at 11:15 a.m. EDT (right).
Credit: NASA/MODIS Rapid Response Team
Hurricane Igor's cold cloud temperatures and cloud cover on Sept. 18 (left), Sept. 19 (center), and Sept. 20 (right).› View larger image
The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder Instrument (AIRS) that flies on NASA's Aqua satellite captured infrared images of Hurricane Igor's cold cloud temperatures and cloud cover on Sept. 18 (left), Sept. 19 (center), and Sept. 20 (right). Igor lost its circular shape by Sept. 20, and there were very few high, strong thunderstorms (purple) where the cloud tops were colder than -63F.
Credit: NASA/JPL, Ed Olsen
Past locations of Igor were overlaid on this TRMM satellite view. Red areas are heavy rainfall indicating almost 2 inches per hour.› View larger image
TRMM captured Igor's rainfall on September 19, 2010 at 0144 UTC showing that the hurricane no longer had an eye. The yellow and green areas indicate moderate rainfall between .78 to 1.57 inches per hour. Red areas are heavy rainfall at almost 2 inches per hour. Past locations of Igor were overlaid on this TRMM satellite view.
Credit: NASA/SSAI, Hal Pierce The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer or MODIS, is an instrument that flies on NASA's Aqua and Terra satellites and provides incredible views of tropical cyclones like Hurricane Igor, from its vantage point in space. Imagery from the MODIS instruments on these two satellites captured from Sept. 18 to 20 showed that powerful Hurricane Igor in the Atlantic Ocean is morphing from a rounded storm to more of a comma-shaped storm.

The MODIS instrument on NASA's Terra satellite captured a visible image of Igor at 11:30 am on Sept. 18, while MODIS in the Aqua satellite captured Igor's center just southwest of Bermuda on Sept. 19 at 1:30 p.m. EDT. In imagery on both days, Hurricane Igor maintained a rounded shape and its eye was cloud-filled. When the MODIS instrument that flies aboard NASA's Terra satellite captured Igor after it passed Bermuda on Sept. 20 at 11:15 a.m. EDT, the imagery showed the Igor appeared elongated from south to north, and more resembled a comma-shape. There was even an eye visible in the latest image.

The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder Instrument (AIRS) that flies on NASA's Aqua satellite captured infrared images of Hurricane Igor's cold cloud temperatures and cloud cover on Sept. 18, Sept. 19, and Sept. 20. Igor lost its circular shape by Sept. 20, and there were very few high, strong thunderstorms where the cloud tops were colder than -63F. Infrared data from AIRS on Sept. 20 indicated that Igor was losing its strength as the cloud tops in the thunderstorms within were warming (less high in the atmosphere) and waning.

NASA and JAXA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite also continues to fly over Igor as he makes his track northward in the Atlantic Ocean.

Hurrricane Igor continued to weaken as the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite passed over on September 19, 2010 at 0144 UTC showing that the hurricane no longer had an eye. Igor's wind speeds had decreased to about 75 knots (~86 mph) when TRMM collected the TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI) data used in the precipitation analysis. TRMM is managed by both NASA and the Japanese Space Agency.

By 2p.m. EDT on Sept. 20, all warnings and watches for Bermuda had been discontinued. Igor had moved about 350 miles north-northeast of Bermuda and was headed into the North Atlantic. It was located near 37.1 North and 62.5 West. Now, a tropical storm watch is in effect for the coast of Newfoundland from Stones Cove northward and Westward to Jones Harbour, Canada.

Igor was just barely a hurricane, with maximum sustained winds near 75 mph. It was moving northeast at 26 mph. Its minimum central pressure was 965 millibars.

Large swells will continue to affect Bermuda and the U.S. East coast through Tuesday, Sept. 21, causing life-threatening rip-currents and rough surf. Swells affecting the Lesser Antilles, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola and the Bahamas will subside over the next couple of days.

Text credit: Rob Gutro, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.
















September 17, 2010

Hurricane Igor, Unchained, in NASA Satellite Images

AIRS infrared images of several hurricanes› View larger image
AIRS infrared images of hurricanes Igor (center), Julia (top right) and Karl (bottom right), show the temperature of the storms' cloud tops or the surface of Earth in cloud-free regions. The coldest cloud-top temperatures appear in purple, indicating towering cold clouds and heavy precipitation. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
While its intensity has dropped slightly, massive Hurricane Igor remains a powerful Category Three storm, with maximum sustained wind speeds of 105 knots (115 miles per hour) as it continues on a projected collision course with Bermuda this weekend. The storm is bringing large swells to the Lesser Antilles, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, the Bahamas and the east coast of the United States.

Igor is one of three hurricanes currently active in the Atlantic/Caribbean Sea/Gulf of Mexico – only the ninth time in recorded history that three hurricanes were active in this region at the same time. The other current storms are Julia in the central Atlantic, a Category One storm with maximum sustained winds of 75 knots (85 miles per hour), and Karl, which made landfall today in southeastern Mexico and is currently a Category One storm with maximum sustained winds of 95 knots (110 miles per hour).

All three storms were captured in infrared in these Sept. 17, 2010 images by the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument on NASA's Aqua satellite, built and managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. The AIRS data create accurate 3-D maps of atmospheric temperature, water vapor and clouds, data that are useful to hurricane forecasters. The images show the temperature of the storms' cloud tops or the surface of Earth in cloud-free regions. The coldest cloud-top temperatures appear in purple, indicating towering cold clouds and heavy precipitation. The infrared signal of AIRS does not penetrate through clouds. Where there are no clouds, AIRS reads the infrared signal from the surface of the ocean waters, revealing warmer temperatures in orange and red.

Alan Buis 818-354-0474
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
Alan.buis@jpl.nasa.gov


NASA Eyeing Igor's Eye, Bermuda Under Warning

The AIRS instrument on NASA's Aqua satellite captured an infrared image of Hurricane Igor on Sept. 17 at 5:17 UTC (1:17 a.m. EDT) and it appears that the eye of the storm is not centered within the body of it. Credit: NASA JPL, Ed Olsen › View larger image
The AIRS instrument on NASA's Aqua satellite captured an infrared image of Hurricane Igor on Sept. 17 at 5:17 UTC (1:17 a.m. EDT) and it appears that the eye of the storm is not centered within the body of it.
Credit: NASA JPL, Ed Olsen
This visible image of Hurricane Igor was captured by the MODIS instrument on NASA's Terra satellite at 10:50 a.m. EDT on Sept. 17, and shows that Igor's eye was cloud-filled at the time. Credit: NASA Goddard/MODIS Rapid Response Team › View larger image
This visible image of Hurricane Igor was captured by the MODIS instrument on NASA's Terra satellite at 10:50 a.m. EDT on Sept. 17, and shows that Igor's eye was cloud-filled at the time.
Credit: NASA Goddard/MODIS Rapid Response Team
TRMM captured a large area of heavy rainfall (falling at about 2 inches per hour) in the area north of Hurricane Igor's eye (red) on Sept. 16. The yellow and green areas indicate moderate rainfall between .78 to 1.57 inches per hour. Credit: NASA/SSAI, Hal Pierce › View larger image
TRMM captured a large area of heavy rainfall (falling at about 2 inches per hour) in the area north of Hurricane Igor's eye (red) on Sept. 16. The yellow and green areas indicate moderate rainfall between .78 to 1.57 inches per hour.
Credit: NASA/SSAI, Hal Pierce NASA's Aqua and Terra satellites kept a close eye on Hurricane Igor's eye, and noticed some differences in the storm. Infrared and visible imagery from these two NASA satellites noticed that Igor's eye was undergoing some changes. Meanwhile, Bermuda residents are eyeing Igor and are now under a hurricane warning as the storm approaches.

When NASA's Terra satellite flew over Hurricane Igor at 10:50 a.m. EDT on Sept. 17 the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument captured a visible image of the storm. The image showed that Igor's eye was cloud-filled at the time.

Earlier in the day, at 1:17 a.m. EDT, when NASA's Aqua satellite passed over Igor from its orbit in space, it captured an infrared image of Igor's eye. The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument data showed that Igor's eye was not centered within the body of the storm. The National Hurricane Center in Miami, Fla. noted that the "inner eyewall is partially broken to the west."

On Sept. 16, the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite (TRMM) flew over Igor and captured a large area of heavy rainfall (falling at about 2 inches per hour) north of Igor's eye. Much of the rainfall within Igor at the time appeared to be moderate, falling at rates between .78 to 1.57 inches per hour.

On Sept. 17 at 2 p.m. EDT, Bermuda was under a hurricane warning. At that time, Igor's maximum sustained winds had decreased to near 115 mph, but the National Hurricane Center noted that some strengthening is possible in the next day or two as Igor nears Bermuda. Igor is a category three hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Igor's center was about 655 miles south-southeast of Bermuda near 23.4 North and 60.7 West. It was moving northwest near 9 mph, and had a minimum central pressure of 946 millibars.

Igor has grown in size over the last couple of days. Hurricane force winds now extend outward up to 105 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 290 miles from the center, making Igor even more "monstrous" at almost 600 miles in diameter.

Bermuda can expect tropical storm conditions late Saturday, with hurricane conditions expected on Sunday, according to the National Hurricane Center. Dangerous surf conditions will also build as Igor approaches.

Igor's huge size and power are stirring up a lot of rough surf in the Atlantic Ocean. Large swells will continue to affect the Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Hispaniola and portions of the Bahamas and will continue over the next couple of days. In addition, large ocean swells will create dangerous surf and rip currents along the U.S. East Coast through the weekend.

Text credit: Rob Gutro, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.








September 16, 2010

NASA's 3-D Look into Hurricane Igor's Heavy Rainfall

This 3-D image of Igor's cloud heights and rainfall shows a large area of heavy rainfall on Sept. 15.› View larger image
This 3-D image of Igor's cloud heights and rainfall from NASA TRMM data shows a large area of heavy rainfall (falling at about 2 inches per hour) shown here in red on Sept. 15 at 0353 UTC. The yellow and green areas indicate moderate rainfall between .78 to 1.57 inches per hour. The image reveals that Igor's eye was still very distinct but the southwestern portion of the eye wall had eroded.
Credit: Credit: NASA/SSAI, Hal Pierce
TRMM captured a large area of heavy rainfall shown here in red, occurring in Hurricane Igor on Sept. 15.› View larger image
TRMM captured a large area of heavy rainfall (falling at about 2 inches per hour) shown here in red, occurring in Hurricane Igor on Sept. 15 at 0353 UTC (Sept. 14 at 11:53 p.m. EDT). The yellow and green areas indicate moderate rainfall between .78 to 1.57 inches per hour.
Credit: NASA/SSAI, Hal Pierce
AIRS captured an infrared image of Hurricane Igor's cloud temperatures on showing strong convective activity in his center.› View larger image
NASA's Aqua satellite AIRS instrument captured an infrared image of Hurricane Igor's cloud temperatures on Sept. 15 that showed strong convective activity (and thunderstorms) in his center as indicated by high thunderstorms (in purple) that were as cold as -63F.
Credit: NASA/JPL, Ed Olsen NASA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite has provided a 3-D look at the power "under the hood" (of clouds) in powerful Category 4 Hurricane Igor as it heads toward Bermuda. In the meantime, Igor is creating dangerous surf in the eastern Atlantic, and it will affect the U.S. East coast later today. Igor is an extremely dangerous category four hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale today, Sept. 16, and he is expected to remain a large and powerful hurricane over the next several days.

The TRMM satellite, operated by NASA and the Japanese Space Agency covers the tropics daily, and provides two dimensional views of rainfall rates within a tropical cyclone. TRMM data are also used to give forecasters a 3 dimensional look at a storm's cloud heights and rainfall, which are extremely helpful in forecasting. The National Hurricane Center in Miami, Fla. who does the forecasting for tropical cyclones utilizes TRMM data in their forecasts.

A 3-D image was created by Hal Pierce at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. using data from TRMM's Precipitation Radar (PR) instrument on Sept. 15 at 0353 UTC (Sept. 14 at 11:53 p.m. EDT). The image revealed towering clouds, or "hot towers" over 15 kilometers (9 miles) high. Those high hot towers are an indication of a strong storm.

The 3-D image also showed that Igor's eye was still very distinct but the southwestern portion of the eye wall had eroded. In addition, the image showed a large area of heavy rainfall, falling at about 2 inches per hour. For more information about how TRMM looks at rainfall, visit NASA's TRMM website at: http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/. TRMM is a joint mission between NASA and the Japanese space agency JAXA.

At 5 a.m. EDT on Sept. 16, Igor's winds had increased back up to 145 mph. It was located about 440 miles east-northeast of the Northern Leeward Islands, which is about 955 miles south-southeast of Bermuda. Igor's center was near 20.5 North and 56.8 West. Igor's estimated minimum central pressure is 929 millibars. Igor is moving toward the west-northwest near 7 mph and a turn toward the northwest and an increase in forward speed are expected over the next couple of days, according to the National Hurricane Center. Igor continues to be a huge hurricane. Hurricane winds extend out 70 miles from his center, and tropical storm force winds extend out 275 from his center, about the same distance as they were on Sept. 15.

Because Igor is so powerful and so large, he's generating large swells at sea that are currently affecting the Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Those large swells and dangerous surf are expected in the Bahamas today and through the weekend. Igor's dangerous surf will also reach the East Coast of the United States later today and last through the weekend. That means trouble for beachgoers as these swells cause heavy surf and rip tides.

When Hurricane Earl brushed the U.S. East Coast in the first week of September it created the same surf conditions expected with Igor. Over a weekend as Earl lingered, more than 100 people were rescued off of the Delaware, Maryland and New Jersey beaches because of deadly rip tides.

Text credit: Rob Gutro, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.











September 15, 2010

GOES-13's Family of Tropical Cyclones: Tropical Storm Karl, Hurricanes Igor and Julia

GOES-13 captured an image of Tropical Storm Karl and Hurricanes Igor and Julia in one image on Sept. 15› View larger image
Credit: NOAA/NASA GOES Project On September 15, three tropical cyclones were active in the Atlantic Ocean basin, two of them powerful Category Four hurricanes on the Saffir-Simpson scale. The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite called GOES-13 satellite captured an image of Tropical Storm Karl and Hurricanes Igor and Julia in one image on Sept. 15 at 1445 UTC (10:45 a.m. EDT).

At that time, Tropical Storm Karl (left) was making landfall in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, Category 4 Hurricane Igor was spinning in the Atlantic Ocean (center) over 1000 miles southeast of Bermuda, and Category 4 Hurricane Julia trailing to Igor's east (far right) about 600 miles west-northwest of the Cape Verde Islands in the eastern Atlantic Ocean.

GOES satellites are operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. NASA's GOES Project, located at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. creates satellite images and animations using GOES satellite data.

Text credit: Rob Gutro, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.




NASA Satellite Measures Monstrous Hurricane Igor as a "10 Hour Drive"

This image of Hurricane Igor was captured from the MODIS Instrument that flies aboard NASA's Terra satellite.› View larger image
This image of Hurricane Igor was captured from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Instrument that flies aboard NASA's Terra satellite at 1420 UTC (10:20 a.m. EDT) on Sept. 14.
Credit: NASA Goddard/MODIS Rapid Response
Western half of Hurricane Igor's clouds showing strong convective activity in his center as indicated by high thunderstorms.› View larger image
NASA's Aqua satellite AIRS instrument captured an infrared image of the western half of Hurricane Igor's clouds temperatures on Sept. 14 at 1723 UTC (1:23 p.m. EDT) that continued to show strong convective activity in his center as indicated by high thunderstorms (in purple) that were as cold as -63F.
Credit: NASA JPL, Ed Olsen Hurricane Igor is a monster hurricane in terms of strength and size. To get a perspective on its size, it is the same distance from one end of the storm to the other as it is from Boston, Mass. to Richmond, Va., some 550 miles. That's a 10-hour drive from one end to the other, and NASA satellites captured that entire distance in one image.

Because Hurricane Igor is a large storm and even if Igor doesn't make a direct landfall in Bermuda, the extent of the winds (the wind field) is so large that the National Hurricane Center noted that Bermuda can be buffeted by winds of hurricane-force or tropical storm-force on its current track.

Maximum sustained winds this morning were near 145 mph, and although the hurricane-force winds extend outward from the center up to 45 miles (90 miles in diameter), tropical-storm-force winds extend as far as 225 miles (550 miles in diameter). Igor is expected to be close to Bermuda within the next 3 to 4 days.

Hurricane Igor was captured in one image from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Instrument that flies aboard NASA's Terra satellite at 1420 UTC (10:20 a.m. EDT) on Sept. 14. The image showed the massive extent of Igor's cloud cover, stretching over 500 miles. The image also showed that Igor's eye was covered with high clouds.

At 5 a.m. EDT on Sept. 15, infrared imagery from NASA's Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument indicated that the cloud tops had warmed over the western part of the center, and that Igor's eye had cooled. That indicates slight weakening, because higher, colder cloud tops indicate strong convection (rapidly rising air that forms the thunderstorms that power Igor) and when they warm that means that convection has waned. Infrared imagery from AIRS on Sept. 14 at 1723 UTC (1:23 p.m. EDT) continued to show strong convective activity in his center as indicated by high thunderstorms that were as cold as -63F. Since that time, cloud tops have warmed.

At 0352 UTC this morning (11:52 p.m. EDT Sept. 14) NASA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite showed that the southwestern part of the eyewall has eroded, further confirming the weakening that the infrared data showed. However, the National Hurricane Center noted that Igor is still in a good environment for strengthening.

On Sept. 15 at 5 a.m. EDT, Hurricane Igor was still a powerful Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph. It was about 1,090 miles southeast of Bermuda, near 19.5 North and 54.5 West. Igor was moving west-northwest near 10 mph and had a minimum central pressure of 935 millibars.

Igor is expected to run into southerly wind shear in 3 to 4 days, which may cause some weakening. NASA satellites will watch for those signs as Igor continues moving through the Atlantic Ocean this week.

Text credit: Rob Gutro, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.


September 14, 2010

Stunning NASA Infrared Imagery of Hurricane Igor Reveals a 170 Degree Temperature Difference!

This image shows a clear and large eye, very strong convection (purple) and high, powerful thunderstorm cloud tops around Igor's center.› View larger image
This impressive infrared image of Hurricane Igor from NASA's AIRS instrument shows a clear and large eye, and very strong convection (purple) and high, powerful thunderstorm cloud tops around his center. The image was captured from the AIRS instrument on NASA's Aqua satellite on Sept. 14 at 14:47 UTC (10:47 a.m. EDT). Note the warm ocean temperatures (dark orange) well over the 80 degree F threshold needed to maintain intensity.
Credit: NASA/JPL, Ed Olsen NASA satellites provide infrared images to forecasters that show temperature, and today's imagery of powerful Hurricane Igor showed the storm's perfect form and the warm ocean waters around it that are keeping it fueled. NASA's infrared data also revealed a huge difference of 170 degrees between the cold cloud tops in Hurricane Igor and the warm sea surface temperatures powering it below.

When NASA's Aqua satellite passed over Igor on Sept. 14 at 14:47 UTC (10:47 a.m. EDT) the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument captured icy cold cloud top temperatures in the strong thunderstorms that surround Igor's well-defined eye. Those cloud top temperatures were as cold or colder than -90F, indicating they were near the top of the troposphere, and very strong.

The infrared imagery also showed the warmer, open 20 nautical-mile wide eye (because it was not cloud-filled). In addition, AIRS got a reading on the sea surface temperatures around Igor, which were all warmer than the 80F threshold needed to maintain a tropical cyclone, so Igor has a good energy source for the next day or two. So, the difference between Igor's cold cloud top temperatures and the warm ocean surface waters that are powering it are greater than 170 degrees Fahrenheit!

The AIRS instrument is managed out of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. and NASA's Ed Olsen creates those stunning images.

At 11 a.m. EDT today, Sept. 14, Hurricane Igor was still a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale with maximum sustained winds near 135 mph. It was located far from land, about 710 miles east of the Northern Leeward Islands, near 18.3 North and 52.3 West. It was moving west-northwest near 7 mph, and is forecast by NOAA's National Hurricane Center to turn toward the northwest on Wednesday. Igor's minimum central pressure is 945 millibars.

Although Igor is over 700 miles from the Northern Leeward Islands, large ocean swells will reach them today creating dangerous conditions at beaches. Large swells will reach Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands later today and tomorrow. These dangerous surf conditions also create rip currents along the beaches.

Text credit: Rob Gutro, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.


September 13, 2010

On Sept. 12 at 1600 UTC, Igor's maximum sustained winds had just increased to 135 mph, making him a Category 4 Hurricane.› View larger image
Credit: NASA/Goddard MODIS Rapid Response Team NASA's Aqua Satellite Sees Igor Become a Cat 4 Hurricane

The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument on NASA's Aqua satellite captured Hurricane Igor on Sept. 12 at 1600 UTC (12 p.m. EDT) in the Atlantic Ocean. At that time, Igor's maximum sustained winds had just increased to 135 mph, making him a Category 4 Hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale.








Cameras on the International Space Station captured spectacular views of Hurricane Julia and Hurricane Igor, both moving west-northwest across the Atlantic on September 14, 2010. At the time the video was obtained, Julia was a Category 1 hurricane with winds of about 75 miles an hour, while Igor remained a powerful Category 4 storm with winds of 135 miles an hour. Credit: NASA/JSC



Igor Now a Category 4 Hurricane With Icy Cloud Tops and Heavy Rainfall

On Sept. 12 at 15:53 UTC, Igor showed strong convection and powerful thunderstorms around its center (purple).› View larger image
NASA's Aqua satellite captured an infrared image of Hurricane Igor on Sept. 12 at 15:53 UTC (1:53 p.m. EDT). At that time it showed strong convection and powerful thunderstorms around its center (purple) with cold cloud top temperatures between -76F to -94 Fahrenheit! Igor's eye is also clearly seen in this infrared image.
Credit: NASA/JPL, Ed Olsen
Hurricane Igor's rainfall, and there was a lot of heavy rain falling (red) at over 2 inches per hour.› View larger image
TRMM on Sept. 12 at 0504 UTC (1:04 a.m. EDT) captured an image of Hurricane Igor's rainfall, and there was a lot of heavy rain falling (red) at over 2 inches per hour.
Credit: NASA/SSAI, Hal Pierce NASA Satellites have noticed two distinct features in Igor that both indicate how powerful he has become, icy cold, high cloud tops and very heavy rainfall. NASA's Aqua and TRMM satellites have provided that insight to forecasters who are predicting Igor's next move as a powerful Category 4 Hurricane.

Last week, Igor was a tropical storm who faded into a tropical depression. The National Hurricane Center had forecast that over the weekend Igor would approach more favorable conditions (low wind shear and warm sea surface temperatures) causing it to strengthen into a hurricane and it did. Tropical storm Igor was upgraded by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami, Florida to a hurricane on Sunday, September 12 at 0300 UTC (Sept. 11 at 11 p.m. EDT) .

The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite, which is operated jointly by NASA and the Japanese Space Agency, JAXA captured a good look at Igor a few hours after it reached hurricane status. TRMM passed over Igor and captured his rainfall rates at 0504UTC ( 1:04 a.m. EDT). The TRMM Precipitation Radar (PR) and TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI) instruments revealed that Igor had a well defined circular eye containing bands of heavy rainfall (falling at a rate of as much as 2 inches per hour).

NASA's Aqua satellite captured an infrared image of Hurricane Igor on Sept. 12 at 15:53 UTC (1:53 p.m. EDT). At that time it showed strong convection and powerful thunderstorms around its center with cold cloud top temperatures between -76F to -94 Fahrenheit (-60 Celsius to -70 Celsius)! Igor's eye was also clearly seen in the infrared image.

On Sept. 13 at 11 a.m. EDT, Igor had maximum sustained winds near 150 mph and was a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. The center of Hurricane Igor was located 880 miles east of the Northern Leeward Islands near latitude 17.5 north and longitude 49.7 west. Igor is moving toward the west near 10 mph and a turn toward the west-northwest is expected tonight or tomorrow. Estimated minimum central pressure is 933 millibars.

Igor is expected to remain a major hurricane for a couple of days.

Text credit: Rob Gutro, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.



September 10, 2010

NASA Infrared Satellite Hinted Igor Would Live Again

This infrared image of Tropical Storm Igor was taken from NASA's Aqua satellite on Sept. 10› View larger image
This infrared image of Tropical Storm Igor's cold, high thunderstorms was taken from NASA's Aqua satellite on Sept. 10 at 0335 UTC. The center of Igor was filled with high, strong thunderstorms (purple), and he later strengthened from a tropical depression back into a tropical storm.
Credit: NASA/JPL, Ed Olsen
This visible image of Igor's clouds was captured on September 9 when it was over the Cape Verde Islands.› View larger image
This visible image of Igor's clouds was captured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer instrument on NASA's Aqua satellite on September 9 at 12:20 UTC (8:20 a.m. EDT) when it was over the Cape Verde Islands.
Credit: NASA MODIS Rapid Response Team Infrared satellite imagery can measure cloud top temperatures and determine if the thunderstorms in a tropical cyclone are getting stronger, and that's what an instrument on NASA's Aqua satellite did with Tropical Storm Igor. Infrared imagery today showed colder, higher cloud tops than yesterday when Igor weakened to a tropical depression.

NASA's Aqua satellite captured an infrared image of Tropical Storm Igor's cold, high thunderstorms on Sept. 10 at 0335 UTC (Sept. 9 at 11:35 p.m. EDT). The image showed center of Igor was filled with high, strong thunderstorms an indication of strengthening. Igor did strengthen from a tropical depression back into a tropical storm at 11 a.m. EDT today, Sept. 10.

At 11 a.m. EDT Igor was located in the far eastern Atlantic Ocean 465 miles west of the Cape Verde Islands near 16.4 North and 31.0 West. It had maximum sustained winds near 40 mph. Igor was moving west at 16 mph and had a minimum central pressure of 1004 millibars.

Vertical wind shear across Igor decreased over the last 24 hours from 20 knots (23 mph) down to 10 knots (12 mph) and that helped Igor re-strengthen. The wind shear is expected to continue decreasing allowing Igor to strengthen further as he moves into warmer sea surface temperatures over the weekend. The National Hurricane Center noted that Igor could become a hurricane by Sunday.

Text credit: Rob Gutro, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.















NASA Sees the Hidden Power in a Igor

The red area in the center of Igor shows heavy rainfall of over 50 millimeters (~2 inches) per hour.› View larger image
The TRMM satellite captured the rainfall happening with Tropical Storm Igor on Sept. 10 at 0520 UTC (1:20 a.m. EDT). The red area in the center of the storm shows heavy rainfall of over 50 millimeters (~2 inches) per hour. The yellow and green areas indicate moderate rainfall between .78 to 1.57 inches per hour.
Credit: NASA/SSAI, Hal Pierce Igor may be a tropical depression in the early part of the day on Sept. 10, but NASA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite revealed a hidden power of very heavy rainfall happening "under the hood" of Igor's clouds, hinting at re-strengthening.

The TRMM satellite, as it is more commonly known, can peer through the clouds and calculate the rate in which rain is falling. When TRMM passed over Igor early this morning at 0520 UTC (1:20 a.m. EDT) it revealed some heavy rainfall.

At 5 a.m. EDT on Sept. 10, Igor is located in the far eastern Atlantic Ocean 350 miles west of the Cape Verde Islands near 16.0 North and 29.3 West. It had maximum sustained winds near 35 mph, and is expected to re-strengthen later today into a tropical storm. Igor was moving west at 13 mph and had a minimum central pressure of 1004 millibars.

TRMM rainfall analyses are created at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. Hal Pierce creates these stunning and important images that reveal a storm's rainfall. He uses TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI)data and Precipitation Radar (PR) data overlaid on an infrared image from TRMM's Visible Infrared Scanner (VIRS).

In the image, "scattered powerful thunderstorms are shown dropping moderate to heavy rainfall in the western side of the depression," Pierce said.

Igor's intensity has fluctuated but wind speeds were estimated to be about 30 knots (~34.5 mph) at the time of that TRMM satellite pass. Easterly vertical wind shear has taken a toll but Igor has been predicted to rebound to tropical storm intensity in a day or so and potentially become a hurricane within the next three days.

Wind shear is keeping Igor at bay during the morning of Sept. 10. At 5 a.m. EDT, Igor's strongest convection and thunderstorms were located east of the center. Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center expect Igor to move into an environment with less wind shear, allowing it to regain strength as a tropical storm and later into a hurricane.

Text credit: Rob Gutro, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.


September 09, 2010

TRMM Sees Some Heavy Rainfall in Tropical Storm Igor

TRMM showed an area of strong thunderstorms producing heavy rainfall (red) up to 2 inches per hour in Igor.› View larger image
On Sept. 8 at 4:26 p.m. EDT, TRMM showed an area of strong thunderstorms producing heavy rainfall (red) up to 2 inches per hour in the newly named storm
Credit: NASA/SSAI, Hal Pierce The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite passed over Tropical Storm Igor on September 8 at 2026 UTC ( 4:26 PM EDT). A rainfall analysis from TRMM's Precipitation Radar (PR) showed an area of strong thunderstorms producing heavy rainfall in the newly named storm.

At 2 p.m. EDT on Sept. 9, Igor's winds were still sustained near 40 mph, and unchanged from earlier today. Igor is moving somewhat erratically, however. Early this morning he was moving north, now northwest at 10 mph. Igor was centered about 65 miles northwest of Brava in the Cape Verde Islands, near 15.5 North and 25.4 West. Minimum central pressure is 1006 millibars.

Igor is forecast by the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida to intensify and reach hurricane strength on Sunday, September 12. TRMM is a joint mission between NASA and JAXA. For more information on TRMM, visit: http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov.

Text credit: Rob Gutro, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.


GOES-13 Sees Tropical Storm Igor Still Affecting the Cape Verde Islands

Rounded area of strong thunderstorms near the center of Tropical Storm Igor.›
GOES-13 on September 9 at 1145 UTC (7:45 a.m. EDT) showed a rounded area of strong thunderstorms near the center of Tropical Storm Igor. Igor is now encountering wind shear so most of the strong thunderstorms are being pushed west of its center.
Credit: NOAA/NASA GOES Project Tropical Storm Igor is still bringing gusty winds and rains to the southernmost Cape Verde Islands in the eastern Atlantic Ocean, and visible satellite imagery from the GOES-13 satellite provided a clear picture of the storm.

GOES-13 is one of a series of Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites operated by NOAA. NASA's GOES Project at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. creates images and animations using GOES satellite data and created the latest image on Sept. 9 at 1145 UTC (7:45 a.m. EDT). That image showed a rounded core of thunderstorms around Igor's center.

Other satellite data showed deep convection near the low-level center of Igor that formed around 1030 UTC (6:30 a.m. EDT) and that has expanded since that time. Deep convection indicates strong uplift in the air that creates clouds and thunderstorms that power a tropical cyclone. The strongest convection in Igor, however appears to be west of its center because of easterly wind shear around 24 mph blowing it away from the center.

Despite the strong thunderstorms near its center, Tropical Storm Igor is barely hanging onto tropical storm strength with maximum sustained winds near 40 mph. That is expected to change over the next couple of days, as the storm moves into a better environment with less wind shear. At 8 a.m. EDT on Sept. 9, Igor was about 50 miles south-southeast of the southernmost Cape Verde Islands, near 14.1 North and 24.2 West. It was moving north at a slow 2 mph. However, Igor is expected to turn west or west-northwest and speed up over the next day or two. Igor's minimum central pressure is currently 1006 millibars.

The tropical storm watch is still in effect for the southern Cape Verde Islands, including Maio, Sao Tiago, Fogo and Brava. Some parts of the Cape Verde islands may expect 1 to 3 inches of rainfall from Igor. Later today, however, the tropical storm watch will likely be discontinued as Igor continues to move away.

Text credit: Rob Gutro, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.


September 08, 2010

GOES-13 Catches Tropical Storm Igor Forming in Far Eastern Atlantic

The newly formed Tropical Storm Igor just west of the African Coast (right).› View larger image
This image from the GOES-13 satellite at 10:45 a.m. EDT (1445 UTC) on September 8 shows the newly formed Tropical Storm Igor just west of the African Coast (right).
Credit: NOAA/NASA GOES Project The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite called GOES-13 keeps an eye on the Atlantic Ocean for developing tropical cyclones, and when Tropical Storm Igor formed this morning it appeared near the eastern edge of GOES-13's "sight."

The GOES-13 satellite captured a visible image of the newly formed Tropical Storm Igor at 10:45 a.m. EDT (1445 UTC) on September 8, just west of the African Coast. GOES satellites are operated by NOAA, and images and animations are created by the NASA GOES Project at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.

Even though just "born," Igor is already a trouble-maker as a tropical storm watch is already up for the southern Cape Verde Islands today.

The government of the Cape Verde Islands has issued a tropical storm watch for the southern Cape Verde Islands including Maio, Sao Tiago, Fogo and Brava. The Cape Verde Islands are an island country that includes an archipelago of 10 islands located in the central Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Western Africa. A tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area within the next 12 to 24 hours for Igor.

At 11 a.m. EDT on Sept. 8, Tropical Storm Igor had maximum sustained winds near 40 mph. Igor is centered about 95 miles southeast of the southernmost Cape Verde Islands near 13.7 North and 23.5 West. It is moving west at 8 mph and has a minimum central pressure of 1005 millibars.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami, Fla. noted that slow strengthening is forecast over the next two days.

Text credit: Rob Gutro, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.
 
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