Hurricane And Typhoon Updates – The latest on tropical storms

Hurricane And Typhoon Updates – The latest on tropical storms

This week, many of our NASA assets were used to provide forecasters with information to incorporate into their analysis of Hurricane Laura. Satellite imagery, photographs from the International Space Station, and a computer program that produces animations of imagery are all things that we used to analyze the storm. This vital information is also used by disaster responders to inform recovery efforts.

A View from Space – Astronaut Chris Cassidy aboard the International Space Station took several photos of Hurricane Laura as it neared the Gulf Coast on Aug. 26. The photos showed the extent of this large hurricane and also revealed a clear eye surrounded by powerful thunderstorms.

Hurricane Visualizations – During its approach to Louisiana, Hurricane Laura dramatically intensified from Category 2 to 4 (105 mph winds increasing to 150 mph) on Aug. 26. Combining data from multiple of NASA and international partner Earth-observing satellites, this animation shows rainfall rates from both Hurricanes Marco and Laura.

A Nighttime View of Landfall – Together with NOAA, our Suomi NPP satellite passed over Hurricane Laura soon after it made landfall in southwestern Louisiana on Aug. 27. The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument aboard the satellite captured a nighttime image. Laura’s cloud cover extends from Houston east to just west of New Orleans.

For more than five decades, we have used the vantage point of space to understand and explore our home planet, improve lives, and safeguard our future.