video: On Mar. 15, GPM saw rain bands wrapping around developing Tropical Cyclone Emeraude's center and rain was falling at over 220 mm (8.7 inches) per hour in south of the center. Storm tops heights above 15 km (9.3 miles) high. view more
Credit: Credits: NASA/JAXA/SSAI, Hal Pierce
Tropical Cyclone Emeraude developed early on March 16 in the Southern Indian Ocean, but NASA's GPM core satellite saw the storm coming together the day before.
The Global Precipitation Measurement or GPM Core Observatory satellite saw tropical cyclone Emeraude forming in the South Indian ocean on March 15, 2016 at 0900 UTC (5 a.m. EDT). A rainfall analysis using data collected by GPM's Microwave Imager (GMI) and Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) showed rain bands wrapping around a tropical low pressure area. GPM's DPR measured rain falling at the extreme rate of over 220 mm (8.7 inches) per hour in powerful storms south of the low's center of circulation.
GPM's radar (DPR Ku Band) data were able to show the 3-D structure of precipitation within the tropical low. GPM radar measured storm tops heights above 15 km (9.3 miles) high. Intense showers were returning radar reflectivity values greater than 52 dbZ to the satellite. The GPM mission is co-managed by NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.
On March 16 at 0900 UTC (5 a.m. EDT), Tropical Cyclone Emeraude was located near 10.8 degrees south latitude and 84.9 degrees east longitude. That's about 768 nautical miles (883.8 miles/1,422 km) east-southeast of Diego Garcia. It was moving to the west-northwest at 5 knots (5.7 mph/9.2 kph). Maximum sustained winds were near 55 knots (63.2 mph/101.9 kph) and it was strengthening.
The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) expects Emeraude to turn to the east-southeast, intensifying to 105 knots by March 18 as it moves through an area of warm sea surface temperatures and low vertical wind shear. Emeraude is then expected to turn south and weaken.
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