TRMM Satellite Maps Cyclone Hudhud’s Heavy Rainfall From Space
Video: This TRMM flyby rainfall analysis of Cyclone Hudhud from Oct. 7-14 showed heavy rainfall in many areas. Up to 550 mm (~22 inches, dark red) over ocean and over land, the highest totals are 200 to 250 mm (~8 to 12 inches, green) and 50 to 100 mm (~2 to 4 inches, blue). Image Credit: NASA/SSAI, Hal Pierce
The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission or TRMM satellite monitors rainfall in the tropics from its orbit in space. Data from TRMM was used to create maps showing rainfall totals as Cyclone Hudhud made landfall in east central India.
Cyclone Hudhud, which reached the equivalent of a category 4 hurricane on the U.S. Saffir-Simpson scale over the Bay of Bengal, weakened slightly before making landfall Sunday morning (local time) on the central southeast coast of India near the port city of Visakhapatnam. Hudhud came ashore with wind gusts of up to 120 mph and so far is being blamed for 24 fatalities in India.
This TRMM rainfall analysis of Cyclone Hudhud from Oct. 7-14 showed heavy rainfall in many areas. Up to 550 mm (~22 inches, dark red) over ocean and over land, the highest totals are 200 to 250 mm (~8 to 12 inches, green) and 50 to 100 mm (~2 to 4 inches, blue) Image Credit: NASA/SSAI, Hal Pierce
The TRMM-based, near-real time Multi-satellite Precipitation data (TMPA) analysis is used to monitor rainfall over the global Tropics. A TMPA rainfall analysis for the period 7-14 October 2014 over India and the surrounding region shows the rainfall associated with the passage of Hudhud. Rainfall totals were highest over the open ocean where upwards of 550 mm (~22 inches) may have fallen; over land, the highest totals are 200 to 250 mm (~8 to 12 inches) and were along the coast near where Hudhud made landfall.
Farther inland, the amounts of are lower, generally on the order of 50 to 100 mm (~2 to 4 inches); however, as the remnants of Hudhud continue to track closer to the foothills of the Himalayas, the surge of moisture associated with Hudhud is acting to reinvigorate the monsoon and has started to bring heavy rains to parts of Nepal and northern India.
TRMM is a joint mission between NASA and the Japanese space agency JAXA.
