NASA Sees Two Tropical Cyclones Competing in the Indian Ocean - Update 10 May, 2013.
The Indian Ocean is alive with tropical activity today, May 10, as there’s a tropical storm in both the northern and southern oceans. Tropical Cyclone Jamala (formerly 24S) and newborn Tropical Cyclone 01B were both captured on one image from NASA’s Terra satellite today.
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument that flies aboard NASA’s Terra satellite captured this visible image of compact Tropical Cyclone Jamala in the southern Indian Ocean and the much larger Tropical Cyclone One B (01B) in the Northern Indian Ocean on May 10 at 04:25 UTC (12:25 a.m. EDT).
On May 10 at 0900 UTC (5 a.m. EDT), Tropical Cyclone Jamala (formerly Cyclone 24S) had maximum sustained winds near 40 knots (46 mph/74 kph). It was centered near 8.7 south latitude and 86.2 east longitude, about 805 nautical miles (926.4 miles/1,491 km) east of Diego Garcia. Jamala is crawling to the south-southeast at 3 knots (3.4 mph/5.5 kph). Forecasters at the Joint Typhoon Warning Center expect Jamala to shift westward in movement and intensify up to hurricane strength.
A different look at Tropical Cyclone Jamala, using multi-spectral satellite imagery revealed a partially-exposed low-level circulation center and a large area of deep convection displaced over the western side of the storm.
North of the equator in the Northern Indian Ocean, newborn Tropical Cyclone 01B developed from low pressure System 92B. 01B formed near the northern tip of Sumatra. On May 10 at 0900 UTC Tropical Cyclone 01B had maximum sustained winds near 35 knots (40.2 mph/64.8 kph). It was located 1,052 nautical miles (1,211 miles/1,948 km) south of Chittagong, India, centered near 4.8 north latitude and 93.6 east longitude. Tropical Cyclone 01B was moving to the northeast at 4 knots (4.6 mph/7.4 kph) and is forecast to move northwest into the central Bay of Bengal.
Multi-spectral satellite imagery shows that the fragmented bands of thunderstorms that were seen yesterday, May 9, have now solidified, strengthened and have become tightly wrapped around 01B’s center.
Residents of northwestern Burma and eastern Bangladesh should keep a watch on Tropical Cyclone 01B. Forecasters at the Joint Typhoon Warning Center expect 01B to intensify into hurricane force and make landfall on May 14 or 15 in northwestern Burma and eastern Bangladesh.
NASA’s Terra satellite captured this visible image of Tropical Cyclone Jamala in the southern Indian Ocean (bottom) and the much larger Tropical Cyclone One B (01B) in the Northern Indian Ocean on May 10 at 04:25 UTC (12:25 a.m. EDT).
NASA Sees a Strengthening Tropical Cyclone Mahasen - Update 13 May, 2013
The first tropical cyclone in the Northern Indian Ocean this season has been getting better organized as seen in NASA satellite imagery. Tropical Cyclone Mahasen is projected to track north through the Bay of Bengal and make landfall later this week.
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite captured a visible image of Tropical Cyclone Mahasen in the Northern Indian Ocean on May 15 at 07:55 UTC (3:55 a.m. EDT). The image was created by NASA’s MODIS Rapid Response Team at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland and showed Mahasen had consolidated over the last two days. Mahasen appeared rounded and its strongest thunderstorms appeared to be surrounding the center of circulation. The center also appears to be topped with a large dense overcast. The image showed Mahasen’s center was northeast of Sri Lanka, although a band of strong thunderstorms south of the storm’s center were affecting the island nation at the time of the image.
On Monday, May 13 at 0900 UTC (5 a.m. EDT) Mahasen had maximum sustained winds near 50 knots (57.5 mph/92.6 kph). Those winds are expected to increase of the next couple of days. Mahasen was centered near 12.1 north latitude and 86.3 east longitude in the Bay of Bengal, and about 660 nautical miles (759.5 miles/ 1,222 km) south of Kolkata, India. Mahasen is moving to the northwest at 4 knots (4.6 mph/7.4 kph), but is expected to move in a more northerly direction as a result of interaction with a mid-latitude trough (elongated area) of low pressure moving in from the west.
The storm is expected to reach hurricane force by May 15 as it curves northwest. The current forecast track from the Joint Typhoon Warning Center takes the center of Mahasen just north of Chittagong early on May 17 and into northern Burma. Residents in Bangladesh and Burma should begin making preparations for storm surge, heavy rain and strong winds.
NASA’s Aqua satellite captured this visible image of a well-rounded Tropical Cyclone Mahasen in the Northern Indian Ocean on May 15 at 07:55 UTC (3:55 a.m. EDT). Mahasen is northeast of Sri Lanka and moving northward.
NASA Satellites See Cyclone Mahasen Make the Curve - Update 14 May, 2013
Tropical Cyclone Mahasen is moving northward through the Bay of Bengal and is now being pushed by a trough of low pressure, curving the storm’s track to the northeast. NASA’s Terra and Aqua satellites recently captured visible and infrared imagery as the storm began to curve.
NASA’s Aqua satellite flew over Cyclone Mahasen on May 13 at 20:05 UTC (4:05 p.m. EDT) and the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument took the temperature of its cloud tops using infrared light. AIRS showed a large area of strong thunderstorms around the center of circulation where cloud top temperatures were as cold as -63 Fahrenheit (-52 Celsius). The heaviest thunderstorms remained over water and just skirted the southeastern coast of India.
NASA’s Terra satellite flew over Mahasen on May 14 at 05:35 UTC (1:35 a.m. EDT). The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument aboard Terra captured a visible image of the cyclone, revealing that it was a tightly wound, compact storm. Satellite imagery shows that strong convection has developed around the storm’s center, visible in the MODIS image as high thunderstorm cloud tops that cast shadows on surrounding lower thunderstorms.
On May 14, Tropical Cyclone Mahasen continues moving through the Bay of Bengal. At 1500 UTC (11 a.m. EDT) Mahasen’s center was near 15.1 north and 86.4 east, about 484 nautical miles (557 miles/896 km) south-southeast of Kolkata, India. Mahasen was moving to the northeast at 7 knots (8 mph/13 kph) and it had maximum sustained winds near 45 knots (51.7 mph/83.3 kph).
Sea surface temperatures in the Bay of Bengal are warm enough to support a tropical cyclone. They are currently near 29 to 30 Celsius (84.2 to 86 Fahrenheit) along the forecast track toward Bangladesh. Vertical wind shear has also decreased, which will allow Mahasen to strengthen over the next couple of days.
Mahasen is forecast to intensify to 70 knots before making landfall near Chittagong, Bangladesh on Thursday, May 16.
NASA’s Terra satellite flew over Mahasen on May 14 at 05:35 UTC (1:35 a.m. EDT). The MODIS instrument aboard Terra captured a visible image of the cyclone, revealing that it was a tightly wound, compact storm.
Aqua satellite flew over Cyclone Mahasen on May 13 at 20:05 UTC (4:05 p.m. EDT) and the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument took the temperature of its cloud tops using infrared light. AIRS showed a large area of strong thunderstorms (purple) around the center of circulation.
Source: NASA
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