NASA MODIS Image of the Day: July 23, 2011 – Hurricane Dora
On July 20, 2011, Dora strengthened to a Category 2 hurricane off the coast of southwestern Mexico.
Although the storm was headed out to sea, it had the potential to bring tropical storm conditions to parts of Mexico, and cause dangerous surf and rip current conditions, the U.
S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard NASA’s Terra satellite captured this natural-color image on July 20. Dora bears the spiral shape and distinct eye characteristic of strong storms, and Dora’s clouds graze Mexico’s coast. At 11:00 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) on July 20, the NHC reported that Dora had maximum sustained winds of 105 miles (165 kilometers) per hour with higher gusts. The storm was located roughly 215 miles (355 kilometers) south-southwest of Lázaro Cárdenas. By 8:00 a.m. PDT on July 22, the NHC reported that the storm was weakening, with maximum sustained winds now at 85 miles (104 kilometers) per hour, making it a Category 1 storm on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. The storm is predicted to continue motion to the northwest, and expected to parallel the coast of Baja California over the next few days, with continued weakening likely. The NHC warns that tropical storm-force winds may continue to affect land along the track of the storm. Large swells generated by Dora will affect the coast of southwestern Mexico and Baja California for the next several days. Life-threatening surf and rip current conditions are likely to occur in this area.
