image: NASA's TRMM satellite saw Fabio's remnants on July 18, 2012, at 2043 UTC in the cool ocean waters with temperatures of about 19 Celsius (66.2 Fahrenheit). Temperature lines are in Celsius. view more
Credit: SSAI/NASA, Hal Pierce
NASA's TRMM satellite noticed that Fabio's remnants have "chilled out" in very cool waters of the Eastern Pacific, while only dropping light to moderate rains.
On July 18, 2012 at 2043 UTC (1:43 p.m. PDT), the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite saw the remnants of what was once Hurricane Fabio southwest of the California coast. Upper level winds were shearing it apart and cool ocean waters with temperatures of about 19 Celsius (66.2 Fahrenheit) near the center of the low's circulation were chilling it at the surface. Temperatures of 26.6 C (80F) are needed to maintain a tropical cyclone, and the area where Fabio's remnants are located are weakening the low pressure area.
A rainfall analysis from TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) instruments showed that the remnant low contained only light to moderate rainfall. This area of rainfall was shown to be located well to north of the low's center. Fabio's remnants are expected to dissipate on July 19 or 20 in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.