Tropical Depression 1W-Northwest Pacific Ocean

Tropical Depression 1W formed on April 2 and was dissipating by April 4 a couple of hundred miles east southeast of Vietnam and NASA's Aqua satellite captured its brief life. The Northwestern Pacific Ocean basin can experience tropical cyclones almost all year 'round, except that activity is usually minimal in February and March. So, the first tropical cyclone of the new "season" didn't take long to form after the end of March. The Northwestern Pacific includes all of the area north of the equator and west of the International Date Line, including the South China Sea. The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder instrument that flies aboard NASA's Aqua satellite passed over Tropical Depression 1W on April 2 when it was born, and then again on April 3rd, when it faded. That was a short life for the first tropical depression of the Pacific Northwest's hurricane season, but only the beginning.

AIRS data on April second at 05:41 UTC showed a cluster of strong thunderstorms surrounding the weak center of circulation of TD1W. Some of those thunderstorms were dropping heavy rainfall and had very high cloud tops, so high they were as cold as -63 Fahrenheit/-52 Celsius. On April 2, TD1W was located about 280 miles east-southeast of Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam near 9.3 North latitude and 111.2 East longitude. It was moving very slowly at 1 knot to the west and maximum sustained winds were near 25 knots. By April 3 at 0900 UTC it had continued moving slowly, only at a rate of 2 knots westward and was then 315 miles (506 km) east-southeast of Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam near 9.1 North and 111.7 East. It still had maximum sustained winds near 25 knots, but wind shear was battering the system.

On April 4 NASA's Aqua satellite passed overhead once again and noticed that TD1W had become much more disorganized and spread out. By the fourth, TD1W had also moved more than 45 miles farther away from Vietnam and into the South China Sea. Strong convection appeared scattered and disorganized on AIRS' infrared imagery and not around the center of circulation.

Tropical Depression that influences weather, sea conditions spotted near sabah

A tropical depression that influences weather and sea conditions has been spotted near Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. The Meteorological Department of Malaysia said the tropical depression was located approximately 482km West-Northwest of Kudat, Sabah and 527km North-Northwest of Miri, Sarawak. The tropical depression is expected to track southeastwards at 4kmph. The department issued a heavy rain and thunderstorms advisory and warning on strong winds and rough seas. Intermittent rain occasionally heavy and windy conditions are expected over Sabah, Divisions of Interior (Kuala Penyu, Beaufort Districts), West Coast (Papar, Penampang, Kota Kinabalu, Tuaran, Kota Belud Districts) and Kudat Kudat, Kota Marudu, Pitas Districts) and Labuan from today and is expected to continue until Wednesday (April 6).

This condition may result in floods over low-lying areas and along river banks. Strong North/Northeasterly winds from 60kmph with waves reaching 5.5 metres occurring over the waters off Condore, Reef North and Layang-layang are expected to continue until Thursday (April 7). The condition is dangerous to all coastal and shipping activities, including workers on oil platforms said the statement.

Tropical Depression 91S-South Pacific

NASA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite spotted light to moderate rainfall in the system as continues tracking southwest and bringing rains and winds to the northern coast of Western Australia this weekend. System 91S was located in the Timor Sea, west-southwest of Darwin, Australia and was moving in a west-southwesterly direction. System 91S is forecast to continue traveling in that direction and its center is expected to remain at sea over the next several days as it heads toward the Southern Indian Ocean.

As it continues to track along coastal areas of the Northern Territory and Western Australia, cyclone warnings are in effect. A Cyclone Warning is in effect for Western Australian coastal and island areas from Kuri Bay to the Western Australia/Northern Territory border, including Kalumburu and Wyndham. In addition, a cyclone watch is in effect from Kuri Bay to Cape Leveque, not including Derby. The TRMM satellite, operated by both NASA and the Japanese Space Agency, passed over the system at 1451 UTC on April 1. The U.S. Navy and Naval Research Laboratory's Monterey Marine Meteorology Division, Calif. overlaid TRMM rainfall rate imagery on top of Japan's METSAT-2 infrared imagery to provide a complete picture of the low pressure areas cloud extent and rainfall rates. TRMM's precipitation radar instrument measured rainfall rates close to 1 inch (25 mm) per hour.

NASA Satellites Eyeing 4 Tropical Systems Around the World For Possible Development

NASA satellites are all keeping an eye on for possible development. They are Systems 90S, 91S and 99S in the Southern Pacific, and System 93B in the Northern Indian Ocean. Despite a poor chance for development in all of them, one has triggered warnings in northern Australia because of its proximity to land. NASA and the Japanese Space Agency manage the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission or TRMM satellite and TRMM passed over two of those four systems today. TRMM captured light to moderate rainfall in the low pressure area called “System 90S” on March 30 at 01:49 UTC. Rainfall rates were between 5 and 20 millimeters (0.2 and 0.8 inches) per hour within the storm. System 90S is located 500 miles north-northwest of Port Hedland, Australia, near 12.0 South latitude and 116.0 East longitude.

Infrared satellite imagery from the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite revealed that the low has consolidated during the morning hours, while the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer-E instrument showed deep convection on the north and south sides of the center of circulation. Despite these developments atmospheric dynamics are not currently favorable, so the Joint Typhoon Warning Center currently gives this low a poor chance for development. The second tropical low pressure area NASA satellites are watching is also 500 miles away from land, and that’s System 99S. System 99S is 500 miles north of the Cocos Islands today, near 9.8 South and 99.4 East. The TRMM satellite measured rainfall rates between 5 and 20 millimeters (0.2 and 0.8 inches) per hour within the System 99S early today. The AIRS infrared imagery captured from NASA’s Aqua satellite shows that areas of deep convection exist on all sides of the low pressure center, but it’s not uniform. Vertical wind shear is currently light and sea surface temperatures are warm enough to support development, however, the chance that it will develop into a tropical storm in the next 24 hours is poor. As the week progresses, perhaps the chance will improve with the environmental conditions.

The third tropical low pressure area isn’t a tropical storm but it has triggered a watch for Australia’s Northern Territories. Because of System 91S’ location, about 200 miles northeast of Darwin, Australia (near 10.0 South and 133.1 East), a tropical cyclone Watch has been issued for the coastal communities between Cape Hotham, Port Keats, including Darwin and the Tiwi Islands. The Tiwi Islands include Melville and Bathurst Islands and are part of Australia’s Northern Territory, 25 miles (40 km) north of Darwin where the Arafura Sea joins the Timor Sea. In addition, a Strong Wind Warning has been issued from Milingimbi to Troughton Island.

Tropical Cyclone Cherono

Tropical Cyclone Cherono and saw some heavy rain still existing in the storm as it dissipates.

The TRMM satellite passed directly above the remnants of tropical cyclone Cherono in the South Indian Ocean on March 22, 2011 at 0225 UTC (March 21 at 10:25 p.m. EDT). TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) showed that Cherono, although weakened, still had some life and was producing very heavy rainfall of over 50 mm/hr (~2 inches) south-southeast of Reunion Island.

The image of Cherono's rainfall was created by Hal Pierce of the TRMM team at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. Rain rates in the center of the image swath are from the TRMM PR, the only spaceborne radar of its kind, while those in the outer portion are from the TMI. The rain rates are overlaid on infrared (IR) data from the TRMM Visible Infrared Scanner (VIRS).

---

View this : 8 Week Body Makeover

---

System 98S (Southern Indian Ocean)

System 98S has been battered with wind shear over the last couple of days and is still holding together as a tropical depression. Infrared satellite imagery from NASA's Aqua satellite revealed an area of strong convection and thunderstorms around the low pressure area's center yesterday, indicating that the low is maintaining strength even in adverse conditions.

On March 16, System 98S was located about 615 nautical miles southeast of Diego Garcia, near 14.2 South latitude and 80.3 East longitude in the Southern Indian Ocean. The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument on NASA's Aqua satellite has been capturing imagery of the low pressure area and today showed that the low level circulation center east of the main area of convection is partially exposed to outside winds.

AIRS infrared imagery also showed that convection had begun flaring or increasing on the western side of the circulation center during the morning hours, indicating strengthening. Flaring convection means the creation of more towering thunderstorms. Thunderstorms power a tropical cyclone. There was also an indication in microwave satellite imagery that thunderstorms were wrapping around the low level center.

Tropical Cyclone Carlos Now Affecting Western Australia

Tropical Cyclone Carlos continues to live and has moved into the Southern Indian Ocean, and is affecting Western Australia.

cyclone Carlos on February 22 at 1850 UTC (1:50 p.m. EST) as the storm's center was battering coastal Australia. TRMM's rainfall data shows that most of the rainfall with Carlos was located off shore but some bands of moderate rainfall were affecting coastal Australia.

Tropical storm force wind speeds on the Saffir Simpson scale estimated to be over 50 kts (~58 mph). Carlos has been predicted to batter the Australian coast as it continues traveling southwestward. It is expected to intensify to minimal hurricane force with wind speeds of 65 kts (~75 mph) on February 24 after moving into the open waters of the Indian Ocean.