The image showed that the eye had become cloud-filled and bands of thunderstorms continued to circle the center of the storm, mostly in the western, northern and eastern quadrants. VIIRS collects visible and infrared imagery and global observations of land, atmosphere, cryosphere and oceans.
Alex's Future
Alex continues to accelerate and a gradual turn to the northwest is expected. On Jan. 15 Forecaster Pasch of NOAA's National Hurricane Center said that the post-tropical cyclone is forecast to merge with or become absorbed by another extra-tropical low within two days. For updates, visit NHC:
www.nhc.noaa.gov
Jan. 14, 2016 - NASA Sees Formation of Unusual North Atlantic Hurricane Alex
The low pressure area known as System 90L developed rapidly since Jan. 13 and became Hurricane Alex on Jan. 14. Several satellites and instruments captured data on this out-of-season storm. NASA's RapidScat instrument observed sustained winds shift and intensify in the system and NASA's Aqua satellite saw the storm develop from a low pressure area into a sub-tropical storm. NOAA's GOES-East satellite data was made into an animation that showed the development of the unusual storm.
Early on Jan. 13 (left) NASA's RapidScat instrument saw the strongest sustained winds near 27 meters per second (60.4 mph/97.2 kph) northwest of center. Eight hours later strongest sustained winds near 30 mps (67.1 mph/108 kph) shifted east of center.
Credits: NASA JPL/Doug Tyler
Twice on Jan. 13 NASA's RapidScat instrument measured the strongest sustained winds in what was then a tropical low pressure area called "System 90L." RapidScat flies aboard the International Space Station. RapidScat's earliest view of System 90L showed strongest sustained winds were near 27 meters per second (mps)/60.4 mph/97.2 kph) and were located northwest of center. Eight hours later at 1200 UTC (7 a.m. EST) strongest sustained winds shifted east of center and increased to near 30 mps (67.1 mph/108 kph), making them tropical-storm force.
Later in the day at 2100 UTC (4 p.m. EST) satellite images indicated that the low pressure system developed into a subtropical storm and was named Alex. At the time, Alex was located near 27.1 degrees north latitude and 30.8 degrees west longitude, about 782 miles (1,260 km) south-southwest of the Azores.
By 1500 UTC (10 a.m. EST) on January 14, hurricane force winds extended outward up to 25 miles (35 km) from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 150 miles (240 km).
This animation of GOES-East satellite imagery from Jan. 10 to 14 shows the development of Hurricane Alex in the Central Pacific Ocean.
Credits: NASA/NOAA GOES Project
An animation of GOES-East satellite visible and infrared imagery from Jan. 10 to 14 showed the development of Hurricane Alex in the Central Pacific Ocean. The animation was created at the NASA/NOAA GOES Project at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. The animation showed the sub-tropical low pressure area consolidate quickly on Jan. 13 and reach hurricane status on Jan. 14, 2016.
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer or MODIS instrument that flies aboard NASA's Aqua satellite captured a visible image of Hurricane Alex on Jan. 14 at 15:30 UTC (10:30 a.m. EST) in the central Atlantic Ocean. The image revealed an eye and showed bands of thunderstorms spiraling into the low level center of circulation.
According to the National Hurricane Center, Alex is the first hurricane to form in the month of January since 1938. Alex is also the first North Atlantic hurricane thriving in January since Alice of 1955, which formed on Dec. 30, 1954. Alice developed on December 30, 1954 from a trough of low pressure in the central Atlantic Ocean in an area of unusually favorable conditions.
Hurricane Alex on Jan. 14 at 15:30 UTC (10:30 a.m. EST) in the central Atlantic Ocean. The image revealed an eye and showed bands of thunderstorms spiraling into the low level center of circulation. Credit:
Credits: NASA Goddard MODIS Rapid Response
The Azores Meteorological Service has issued a Hurricane Warning for the islands of Faial, Pico, Sao Jorge, Graciosa, and Terceira in the central Azores, and a Tropical Storm Warning for the islands of Sao Miguel and Santa Maria in the eastern Azores. A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Faial, Pico, Sao Jorge, Graciosa, and Terceira in the central Azores and a Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Sao Miguel and Santa Maria in the eastern Azores.
At 10 a.m. EST (1500 UTC), the National Hurricane Center said that the center of Hurricane Alex was located near latitude 31.5 North, longitude 28.4 West. Alex was moving toward the north-northeast near 20 mph (31 kph) and a turn toward the north with an increase in forward speed is expected over the next day or two. On the forecast track, the center of Alex will move near or over portions of the Azores Friday morning, Jan. 15.
Maximum sustained winds are near 85 mph (140 kph) with higher gusts. Little change in strength is forecast through Friday. The estimated minimum central pressure is 981 millibars.
NHC's Forecaster Pasch said "Remarkably, Alex has undergone the transformation into a hurricane. A distinct eye is present, embedded within a fairly symmetric mass of deep convection. It is very unusual to have a hurricane over waters that are near 20 degrees Celsius, but the upper-tropospheric temperatures are estimated to be around -60 degrees Celsius, which is significantly colder than the tropical mean. The resulting instability is likely the main factor contributing to the tropical transition and intensification of Alex."
Alex is expected to maintain hurricane status on Friday, Jan. 15 and transition into an extra-tropical storm by Jan. 16 as it continues to move north toward Greenland.
Jan. 13, 2016 - NASA Analyzes Winds and Rainfall in Unusual Atlantic System 90L
NASA's RapidScat instrument and Global Precipitation Measurement or GPM core satellite analyzed the surface winds and rainfall rates occurring System 90L, an unusual storm in the Northern Atlantic Ocean, which may become subtropical.
On Jan. 13, GPM saw rain in a few powerful storms was measured falling at a rate of over 94 mm (3.7 inches) per hour and cloud tops reaching heights of almost 12.5 km (7.8 miles) in System 90L.
Credits: NASA/JAXA/SSAI, Hal Pierce
For the past few days System 90L, a low pressure center far south-southwest of the Azores, has been monitored by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) for possible development into a subtropical or tropical storm.
This low pressure area was producing winds of over 52 knots (60 mph). The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June through November so a tropical storm developing this early in the year would be unusual but not unprecedented.
On Jan. 12 at 12 a.m. EST RapidScat saw System 90L's strongest winds (orange) southwest and southeast of the low pressure center at 24 meters per second (53.6 mph/86.4 kph).
Credits: NASA JPL, Doug Tyler
On Jan. 12 at 12 a.m. EST RapidScat saw System 90L's strongest winds southwest and southeast of the low pressure center at 24 meters per second (53.6 mph/86.4 kph). Maximum sustained winds are not always equally distributed in a tropical cyclone and the RapidScat instrument helps forecasters find the strongest quadrants of a storm. RapidScat is an instrument that flies aboard the International Space Station.
The GPM core observatory satellite is a joint effort between NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. GPM had an excellent daytime look at System 90L on January 13, 2016 at 1201 UTC (7:01 a.m. EST). GPM's Microwave Imager (GMI) and Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) unveiled the rainfall pattern around this low pressure center. Precipitation derived from DPR showed that rain was heaviest in an intense band of storms east of the low's center of circulation. Rain in a few powerful storms was measured falling at a rate of over 94 mm (3.7 inches) per hour. A 3-D examination of the precipitation within this band by GPM's radar (DPR Ku band) found that some storm tops were reaching heights of almost 12.5 km (7.8 miles).
At 1:05 p.m. EST on Jan. 13, the National Hurricane Center noted that "Cloudiness and thunderstorms have become a little better organized since yesterday near the center of a low pressure system centered about 850 miles south-southwest of the Azores. If this organizing trend continues, advisories will be initiated on the system later today. The low is producing winds to near 50 mph over the southern portion of its circulation [as RapidScat also observed on Jan. 12], and is expected to move northeastward and northward over the eastern Atlantic over the next few days."
NHC noted that interests in the Azores should monitor the progress of this system and strong gusty winds could begin to affect portions of those islands by late Thursday or early Friday, Jan. 15. The NHC gives this low pressure area a high chance to develop into a depression over the next two days.
Jan. 12, 2016 - NASA and NOAA Satellite Data See North Atlantic System More Concentrated
NASA and NOAA satellites continue to monitor the North Atlantic Ocean's non-tropical low pressure system for hints of development into a subtropical storm. NASA's Aqua satellite provided cloud top temperatures that show where strongest storms are within the larger system, and the storm appeared more consolidated on NOAA's GOES-East satellite imagery.
This visible image of the low pressure area in the Central North Atlantic Ocean was taken from NOAA's GOES-East satellite on Jan. 12 at 1445 UTC (9:45 a.m.) EST. Africa is seen to the right.
Credits: NASA/NOAA GOES Project
NOAA's National Hurricane Center (NHC) noted the development of the extra-tropical low pressure area on Sunday, January 10 at 1:50 p.m. EST.
The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder known as the AIRS instrument aboard NASA's Aqua satellite measured temperatures in the system's cloud tops on Jan. 11 at 0435 (Jan. 10 at 11:35 p.m. EST) and later at 1541 UTC (10:41 a.m. EST). AIRS provides valuable temperature data such as cloud top and sea surface temperatures. AIRS saw the coldest cloud top temperatures near -63F/-53C and strongest storms expanded from east of center to around the center of this out-of-season extra-tropical low pressure area.
On Jan. 11 at 1541 UTC, the AIRS instrument aboard NASA's Aqua satellite saw coldest cloud top temperatures near -63F/-53C and strongest storms now circling the center in this out-of-season extra-tropical low pressure area.
Credits: NASA JPL, Ed Olsen
NOAA's GOES-East satellite captured a visible image of the low pressure area on Jan. 12 at 1445 UTC (9:45 a.m.) EST. Clouds and storms surrounded the center of circulation and in a band east of the center. The low pressure area has been designated "System 90L."
On Jan. 12 at 2 p.m. EST, the low was centered 1,100 miles southwest of the Azores, an archipelago in the mid-Atlantic. The National Hurricane Center noted that cloudiness and thunderstorms have become a little more concentrated and organized near the center of the storm's circulation. The low was producing winds to near 60 mph over the southern and eastern quadrants of its circulation. The cyclone is expected to move eastward to northeastward over the eastern subtropical Atlantic over the next couple of days.
NHC said "Although environmental conditions are only marginally conducive for development, this system could become a subtropical or tropical storm within the next day or so. Regardless of subtropical or tropical cyclone formation, this system is expected to produce hazardous marine conditions over portions of the eastern Atlantic for the next few days."
The National Hurricane Center gives this system a medium chance to develop into a depression over the next five days.
Jan. 11, 2016 - NASA Eyeing an Interesting Weather System in Northern Atlantic
A non-tropical low pressure system that has a possibility of developing subtropical characteristics has developed in the Northern Hemisphere tropics. During the week of January 4, Tropical Storm Pali developed in the Northern Central Pacific Ocean. On January 10 an area of low pressure developed in the Northern Atlantic Ocean, far to the east of Bermuda and NASA's Aqua satellite captured a look at the system in infrared light.
On Jan. 11 at 0435 UTC, the AIRS instrument aboard NASA's Aqua satellite saw coldest cloud top temperatures near -63F/-53C and strongest storms east of the center in this out-of-season extra-tropical low pressure area.
Credits: NASA JPL, Ed Olsen
NOAA's National Hurricane Center (NHC) noted the development of the extra-tropical low pressure area on Sunday, January 10 at 1:50 p.m. EST. The system was about 900 miles east of Bermuda and is producing a large area of gale-force winds and maximum winds of hurricane force.
On Jan. 11 at 0435 UTC (Jan. 10 at 11:35 p.m. EST) the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder aboard NASA's Aqua satellite captured infrared data on the system. AIRS provides valuable temperature data such as cloud top and sea surface temperatures. AIRS showed strongest storms with coldest cloud top temperatures near minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 53 degrees Celsius) east of the center of circulation.
By 1200 UTC (7 a.m. EST) the National Weather Service (NWS) High Seas Forecast (HSF) stated that there is an Atlantic Gale Warning in the area of the low pressure system. At that time, the low pressure area was centered just north of 31.5 degrees north latitude and 44 degrees west longitude, about 900 miles southwest of the Azores. Minimum central pressure was near 985 millibars. The NWS HSF said that cold front associated with the system extends from 31 degrees north latitude and 39 west longitude to 25 degrees north latitude and 40 west longitude to 19 degrees north and 50 degrees west to 19 degrees north and 57 degrees west. The clouds along that front are visible in the AIRS infrared image and look like a long tail that extends from the east of the low to the south of the low pressure center.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) noted at 1400 UTC (2 p.m. EST) that the non-tropical low was producing a large area of gale-force winds with maximum winds near 60 mph. Shower activity was limited near the center, but NHC noted that the low could gradually acquire some subtropical or tropical characteristics during the next couple of days while it moves southeastward and then eastward into the eastern subtropical Atlantic. NHC said over the next 5 days this system has a 40 percent chance of becoming a depression.
NHC said "regardless of subtropical or tropical cyclone formation, this system is expected to produce hazardous marine conditions over portions of the central and eastern Atlantic for the next few days."
Last Updated: Jan. 16, 2016
Editor: Lynn Jenner
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