image: The MODIS instrument aboard NASA's Aqua satellite captured this image of Tropical Storm Ana over Hawaii on Oct. 20 at 23:55 UTC (7:55 p.m. EDT). view more
Credit: NASA's Goddard MODIS Rapid Response Team
Slow-moving Tropical Storm Ana was still affecting parts of Hawaii on Oct. 20 when NASA's Aqua satellite passed overhead from its orbit in space. Imagery from Aqua showed that wind shear was affecting the storm.
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer or MODIS instrument aboard NASA's Aqua satellite captured a visible picture of Tropical Storm Ana over Hawaii on Oct. 20 at 23:55 UTC (7:55 p.m. EDT). The image showed that most of the clouds and showers were north and east of the center of circulation, pushed away from the center by strong southwesterly wind shear.
The MODIS image showed clouds in Ana's eastern quadrant covered the islands of Kauai and Niihau. Kauai is geologically the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands and fourth largest of the main islands in the Hawaiian archipelago. Niʻihau or Niihau is the seventh largest of the inhabited Hawaiian Islands.
A tropical storm warning is still in effect for parts of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument from Nihoa to Maro Reef. The Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPHC) noted that rainfall totals of 4 to 8, locally up to 12, inches are possible over the northwestern Hawaiian Islands near the center of the storm.
At 8 a.m. EDT (2 a.m. HST/1200 UTC) Ana's maximum sustained winds were near 50 mph (85 kph) and little change in strength is forecast through early Thursday. The center of tropical storm Ana was located near latitude 20.8 north and longitude 165.4 west. Ana's center was about 215 miles (345 km) south-southeast of French Frigate Shoals. The French Frigate Shoals is the largest atoll in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.
Ana was moving toward the west near 9 mph (14 kph) but the storm is expected to gradually become northerly through early Thursday, Oct. 22. The estimated minimum central pressure is 999 millibars.
CPHC warnings cited large swells produced by Ana will build across the northwest Hawaiian Islands through Wednesday. Surf produced by these swells will be dangerous along the southern and southeastern facing reefs of the northwest Hawaiian Islands.
The CPHC expects Ana to curve to the northeast and start transitioning into an extra-tropical storm on Friday, Oct. 24.
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