🚨 Clinch, GA; Ware, GA: Flood Advisory issued August 29 at 8:30PM EDT until August 29 at 10:30PM EDT by NWS Jacksonville FL 🚨 Pima, AZ; Santa Cruz, AZ: Flash Flood Warning issued August 29 at 5:29PM MST until August 29 at 6:30PM MST by NWS Tucson AZ 🚨 Larimer County Below 6000 Feet/Northwest Weld County; Northeast Weld County: Special Weather Statement issued August 29 at 6:28PM MDT by NWS Denver CO 🚨 Montgomery: None 🚨 Pima, AZ: Flash Flood Warning issued August 29 at 5:27PM MST until August 29 at 7:30PM MST by NWS Tucson AZ 🚨 Central and East Adams and Arapahoe Counties; North and Northeast Elbert County Below 6000 Feet/North Lincoln County; Washington County: Special Weather Statement issued August 29 at 6:26PM MDT by NWS Denver CO 🚨 Coconino, AZ: Flash Flood Warning issued August 29 at 5:22PM MST until August 30 at 12:15AM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ 🚨 Blaine, MT; Hill, MT: Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued August 29 at 6:21PM MDT until August 29 at 7:00PM MDT by NWS Great Falls MT 🚨 Brantley, GA; Charlton, GA; Pierce, GA; Ware, GA: Flood Advisory issued August 29 at 8:21PM EDT until August 29 at 11:15PM EDT by NWS Jacksonville FL 🚨 Pima, AZ: Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued August 29 at 5:20PM MST until August 29 at 6:15PM MST by NWS Tucson AZ
Active Tropical Systems & Formation Outlook
A whole-basin summary of all active tropical cyclones and the NHC
Tropical Weather Outlook, generated with the
tropycal
package. Select a storm below for its official forecast and model guidance.
ZCZC MIATCDEP1 ALL
TTAA00 KNHC DDHHMM
Tropical Storm Karina Discussion Number 9
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL EP112026
200 PM PDT Sat Aug 29 2026
Recent satellite imagery, along with microwave imagery, shows
that Karina has made many improvements to its structure in the last
several hours. However, there does appear to be some dry air that
has gotten into the core of the cyclone, which should hinder its
intensification a bit. The latest Dvorak fix from TAFB has T4.0/65
kt, and the objective intensity estimates from UW-CMISS are in the
range of 57-61 kt. Thus, the initial intensity has been set to 60
kt for this advisory, just below hurricane strength.
The storm continues on a northwestward heading of about 315/11 kt,
driven by a ridge of high pressure over the southwestern United
States. The storm is expected to slow down and turn westward as a
mid-level trough to the north weakens this ridge, allowing for the
ridge over the central North Pacific to build southeastward and take
over as the primary steering flow. The current NHC track is very
similar to the previous track except for a few small adjustments,
and it closely follows the HCCA guidance.
The SHIPS guidance maintains a favorable environment for the cyclone
to intensify for the next 60 h. With light wind shear, warm
sea-surface temperatures, and plenty of moisture in the environment,
the conditions are conducive for Karina to continue to intensify.
Karina is at the edge of becoming a hurricane now, and is likely to
reach that status well within the next 24 h. Models still maintain
a fairly good signal for the cyclone to become a major hurricane
within the next 48 h, but that could occur sooner if the structure
of the storm gets better organized. After this weekend, SHIPS
diagnostics indicate that the environment will gradually become less
favorable, which will lead to a slow weakening trend. The current
NHC intensity forecast is close to the middle of the guidance.
FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS
INIT 29/2100Z 16.4N 118.8W 60 KT 70 MPH
12H 30/0600Z 16.9N 120.4W 65 KT 75 MPH
24H 30/1800Z 17.4N 122.0W 75 KT 85 MPH
36H 31/0600Z 17.7N 123.7W 90 KT 105 MPH
48H 31/1800Z 17.9N 125.3W 100 KT 115 MPH
60H 01/0600Z 18.3N 126.8W 100 KT 115 MPH
72H 01/1800Z 19.0N 128.8W 95 KT 110 MPH
96H 02/1800Z 20.4N 131.5W 80 KT 90 MPH
120H 03/1800Z 22.2N 133.5W 60 KT 70 MPH
$$
Forecaster Katz/Beven
NNNN
ZCZC MIATCDEP2 ALL
TTAA00 KNHC DDHHMM
Tropical Storm Lowell Discussion Number 9
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL EP122026
1100 AM HST Sat Aug 29 2026
Lowell remains a sheared cyclone at this time, with the low-level
center near the eastern edge of the main convective mass. Since the
organization and the various satellite intensity estimates have
changed little from the previous advisory, the initial intensity
remains 40 kt.
For the past 12 h or so Lowell has been moving west-northwestward
or 285/11 kt. A westward motion should resume soon and continue for
the next 2-3 days as a low- to mid-level ridge to the north is the
main steering influence. After that time, the track guidance splits
into three camps, likely due to the potential effects of Tropical
Storm Karina on Lowell's steering flow. One camp, which includes
the Google Deepmind Ensemble Mean, the HFIP Corrected Consensus,
the UKMET, and the ECMWF - which has flip-flopped into this camp -
calls for Lowell to continue generally westward. A second camp,
which includes the GFS and the various regional hurricane models,
forecast a turn toward the west-northwest or northwest. The third
camp, which includes the Canadian, Canadian Ensemble Mean, the GFS
Ensemble mean, and the NAVGEM, have Lowell slowing its westward
motion, with the NAVGEM turning it back to the east. Needless to
say that with this kind of spread the forecast is low confidence.
Overall, the guidance envelope has trended a little more to the west
and a little faster. That being said, the new forecast track is a
little north of the previous track due to the current
west-northwestward jog.
The ongoing shear has been slower to diminish than forecast
yesterday. However, the dynamical models are in good agreement
that it should diminish during the next 12-24 h, with Lowell
strengthening as it becomes vertically aligned. After 24 h, the
intensity forecast shows a faster rate of development as conditions
become more favorable. By the end of the forecast period, the
intensity forecast becomes more uncertain due to Lowell's potential
interaction with Karina. The forecast intensity, which has minor
tweaks from the previous forecast, calls for Lowell and Karina to
stay far enough apart for Lowell to maintain its strength or keep
strengthening. However, a slower forward motion could expose Lowell
to stronger shear associated with outflow from Karina and cause a
weaker storm. The new intensity forecast again lies in the middle
of a guidance envelope with significant spread.
FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS
INIT 29/2100Z 13.2N 137.1W 40 KT 45 MPH
12H 30/0600Z 13.2N 138.6W 40 KT 45 MPH
24H 30/1800Z 13.1N 140.9W 45 KT 50 MPH
36H 31/0600Z 13.1N 142.8W 55 KT 65 MPH
48H 31/1800Z 13.2N 144.5W 65 KT 75 MPH
60H 01/0600Z 13.3N 146.2W 75 KT 85 MPH
72H 01/1800Z 13.4N 147.6W 85 KT 100 MPH
96H 02/1800Z 13.8N 150.0W 95 KT 110 MPH
120H 03/1800Z 14.4N 152.3W 95 KT 110 MPH
$$
Forecaster Beven
NNNN
HAFS and GEFS guidance is only available for storms in the US/NHC domain (Atlantic & East/Central Pacific). For this system, the basin summary and best-track position are shown.
WDPN33 PGTW 292100
MSGID/GENADMIN/JOINT TYPHOON WRNCEN PEARL HARBOR HI//
SUBJ/PROGNOSTIC REASONING FOR TYPHOON 20W (BANG-LANG) WARNING NR 015//
RMKS/
1. FOR METEOROLOGISTS.
2. 6 HOUR SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS.
SUMMARY:
INITIAL POSITION: 27.7N 169.2E
INITIAL INTENSITY: 65 KTS
GEOGRAPHIC REFERENCE: 524 NM NORTH-NORTHEAST OF WAKE ISLAND
MOVEMENT PAST 6 HOURS: NORTHWARD AT 24 KTS
SIGNIFICANT WAVE HEIGHT: 25 FEET
SATELLITE ANALYSIS, INITIAL POSITION AND INTENSITY DISCUSSION:
ANIMATED ENHANCED INFRARED (EIR) SATELLITE IMAGERY DEPICTS TYPHOON
(TY) 20W (BANG-LANG) WITH QUICKLY COLLAPSING DEEP CONVECTION AND
CLOUD TOPS WARMING TO ABOVE -60C WITHIN THE LAST FEW HOURS.
ADDITIONALLY, THE LOW-LEVEL CIRCULATION CENTER APPEARS TO BE BARELY
PEEKING OUT FROM UNDER THE NORTHWESTERN PERIPHERY OF THE CENTRAL
DENSE OVERCAST. THE 291706Z SSMIS MICROWAVE DATA REVEALS THE
STRUCTURE OF THE STORM HAS DEGRADED; BOTH THE UPPER AND LOWER
LEVELS ARE DISORGANIZED COMPARED TO SEVERAL HOURS AGO. THERE IS NOT
EVEN A HINT OF A MICROWAVE EYE IN THE 37 GHZ MICROWAVE IMAGE.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS REVEALS A MARGINALLY UNFAVORABLE ENVIRONMENT
CHARACTERIZED BY HIGH (25-30 KTS) VERTICAL WIND SHEAR (VWS),
MARGINAL (0-20 KJ PER CM2) OCEAN HEAT CONTENT (OHC), AND WEAK DRY
AIR ENTRAINMENT, SLIGHTLY OFFSET BY DECENT EASTWARD OUTFLOW AND
WARM (27-28 C) SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURES (SST). THE INITIAL POSITION
IS PLACED WITH MEDIUM CONFIDENCE BASED ON A COMBINATION OF
LOW-LEVEL CLOUD BANDING IN ANIMATED EIR AND AGENCY POSITION FIXES.
THE INITIAL INTENSITY OF 65 KTS IS ASSESSED WITH MEDIUM CONFIDENCE
BASED ON THE SUDDEN AND INTENSE COLLAPSE IN DEEP CONVECTION, CIMSS
AUTOMATED INTENSITY ESTIMATES, AND AGENCY DVORAK FIXES.
INITIAL WIND RADII BASIS: PERSISTENCE
CURRENT STEERING MECHANISM: WESTERN FLANK OF A DEEP-LAYER
SUBTROPICAL RIDGE (STR) CENTERED NEAR THE DATELINE
AGENCY DVORAK AND AUTOMATED FIXES:
PGTW: T4.5 - 77 KTS
RJTD: T4.0 - 65 KTS
RCTP: T4.0 - 65 KTS
KNES: T4.5 - 77 KTS
PHFO: T4.5 - 77 KTS
CIMSS SATCON: 62 KTS AT 291700Z
CIMSS ADT: 47 KTS AT 291900Z
CIMSS AIDT: 43 KTS AT 291900Z
CIMSS D-MINT: 47 KTS AT 291707Z
CIMSS D-PRINT: 47 KTS AT 291900Z
FORECASTER ASSESSMENT OF CURRENT ENVIRONMENT: MARGINALLY
UNFAVORABLE
VWS: 25-30 KTS
SST: 27-28 CELSIUS
OUTFLOW: MODERATE EASTWARD
OTHER FACTORS: WEAK MID-LEVEL DRY AIR ENTRAINMENT
ANALYSIS CONFIDENCE:
INITIAL POSITION: MEDIUM
INITIAL INTENSITY: MEDIUM
INITIAL WIND RADII: LOW
3. FORECAST REASONING.
SIGNIFICANT FORECAST CHANGES: THERE ARE NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO
THE FORECAST FROM THE PREVIOUS WARNING.
FORECAST DISCUSSION: TY 20W WILL BEGIN TO TRACK NORTH-NORTHWESTWARD
IMMINENTLY, AS THE STEERING STR TO ITS EAST IS WEAKENED BY A
PASSING UPPER-LEVEL TROUGH AND 20W CONTINUES TO INTERACT WITH
TROPICAL STORM (TS) 21W TO ITS NORTHWEST. BETWEEN TAU 24-36, 20W IS
EXPECTED TO CURVE TO THE NORTHEAST AS IT BEGINS SUBTROPICAL
TRANSITION AND GETS PICKED UP BY THE UPPER-LEVEL TROUGH.
SUBTROPICAL TRANSITION IS FORECAST TO BEGIN AROUND TAU 36 AND
COMPLETE NO LATER THAN TAU 48. REGARDING INTENSITY, 20W IS EXPECTED
TO QUICKLY WEAKEN THROUGH TAU 36, AND SUSTAIN ITS INTENSITY FROM
TAU 36-48 AS A SUBTROPICAL SYSTEM. THE ENVIRONMENT WILL GET
INCREASINGLY HOSTILE AS 20W TRACKS POLEWARD, WITH VWS EXPECTED TO
INCREASE FROM 25 KTS TO 55 KTS OVER THE COURSE OF THE FORECAST
PERIOD. CONSEQUENTLY, DRY AIR IS EXPECTED TO FURTHER ENTRAIN INTO
THE CORE, ESPECIALLY AFTER TAU 24. 20W IS EXPECTED TO CROSS THE 26C
ISOTHERM AROUND TAU 12, HASTENING WEAKENING THEREAFTER.
MODEL DISCUSSION: DETERMINISTIC MODEL TRACK GUIDANCE IS IN FAIR
AGREEMENT THROUGH THE FORECAST PERIOD, THOUGH THERE IS A DISTINCT
SPREAD BETWEEN HISTORICALLY RELIABLE MODELS -- GFS, ECMWF, AND
EXPERIMENTAL AI MODELS -- AND THE HISTORICALLY WEAKER PERFORMING
MODELS -- UKMET, GSM, NAVGEM, AND GALWEM -- THE LATTER GROUP
HEAVILY INFLUENCING THE M…
HAFS and GEFS guidance is only available for storms in the US/NHC domain (Atlantic & East/Central Pacific). For this system, the basin summary and best-track position are shown.
WDPN32 PGTW 292100
MSGID/GENADMIN/JOINT TYPHOON WRNCEN PEARL HARBOR HI//
SUBJ/PROGNOSTIC REASONING FOR TROPICAL STORM 21W (ETAU) WARNING NR
012//
RMKS/
1. FOR METEOROLOGISTS.
2. 6 HOUR SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS.
SUMMARY:
INITIAL POSITION: 30.7N 164.9E
INITIAL INTENSITY: 35 KTS
GEOGRAPHIC REFERENCE: 690 NM NORTH OF WAKE ISLAND
MOVEMENT PAST 6 HOURS: NORTH-NORTHWESTWARD AT 08 KTS
SIGNIFICANT WAVE HEIGHT: 25 FEET
SATELLITE ANALYSIS, INITIAL POSITION AND INTENSITY DISCUSSION:
ANIMATED ENHANCED INFRARED (EIR) SATELLITE IMAGERY DEPICTS TROPICAL
STORM (TS) 21W (ETAU) AS A HIGHLY SHEARED AND MOSTLY EXPOSED
LOW-LEVEL CIRCULATION CENTER NEARLY COMPLETELY INUNDATED WITH DRY
AIR WRAPPING INTO THE CORE. ADDITIONALLY, 21W HAS NEARLY STALLED IN
ITS POLEWARD MOTION AS THE GRIP OF TYPHOON (TY) 20W STRENGTHENS
WITH CLOSER PROXIMITY. ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS REVEALS AN
UNFAVORABLE ENVIRONMENT, CHARACTERIZED BY MODERATE TO HIGH (20-25
KTS) VERTICAL WIND SHEAR, DRY AIR ENTRAINMENT, MARGINAL (0-20 KJ
PER CM2) OCEAN HEAT CONTENT, AND TEMPERATE (26-27 C) SEA SURFACE
TEMPERATURES (SST). THE INITIAL POSITION IS PLACED WITH HIGH
CONFIDENCE BASED ON THE PARTIALLY EXPOSED LLCC IN ANIMATED EIR. THE
INITIAL INTENSITY OF 35 KTS IS ASSESSED WITH MEDIUM CONFIDENCE
BASED ON THE AUTOMATED CIMSS INTENSITY ESTIMATES AND AGENCY DVORAK
FIXES LISTED BELOW.
INITIAL WIND RADII BASIS: PERSISTENCE
CURRENT STEERING MECHANISM: THE WESTERN PERIPHERY OF A DEEP-LAYER
SUBTROPICAL RIDGE (STR) CENTERED NEAR THE DATELINE AND BINARY
INTERACTION WITH TYPHOON 20W
AGENCY DVORAK AND AUTOMATED FIXES:
PGTW: T2.5 - 35 KTS
RJTD: T2.5 - 35 KTS
RCTP: T2.5 - 35 KTS
KNES: T2.5 - 35 KTS
PHFO: T3.0 - 45 KTS
CIMSS ADT: 32 KTS AT 291940Z
CIMSS AIDT: 36 KTS AT 291940Z
CIMSS D-MINT: 33 KTS AT 291708Z
CIMSS D-PRINT: 36 KTS AT 291910Z
FORECASTER ASSESSMENT OF CURRENT ENVIRONMENT: UNFAVORABLE
VWS: 20-25 KTS
SST: 26-27 CELSIUS
OUTFLOW: MODERATE POLEWARD
OTHER FACTORS: DRY AIR ENTRAINMENT
ANALYSIS CONFIDENCE:
INITIAL POSITION: HIGH
INITIAL INTENSITY: MEDIUM
INITIAL WIND RADII: LOW
3. FORECAST REASONING.
SIGNIFICANT FORECAST CHANGES: THERE ARE NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO
THE FORECAST FROM THE PREVIOUS WARNING.
FORECAST DISCUSSION: TS 21W IS FORECAST TO CONTINUE SLOWLY TRACKING
NORTHWESTWARD AS IT REMAINS TUGGED BETWEEN THE STEERING STR TO ITS
EAST AND 20W TO ITS SOUTHEAST. AN EMERGING POSSIBILITY IN MODEL
GUIDANCE SUGGESTS THAT 21W MAY BE FORCED EQUATORWARD BY 20W BETWEEN
TAU 0-24 BEFORE RESUMING ITS FORECASTED POLEWARD TRACK. AS 21W
TRACKS POLEWARD, IT WILL ENCOUNTER INCREASINGLY HOSTILE CONDITIONS,
WITH SSTS DROPPING BELOW 26C BY TAU 12 AND VWS INCREASING UP TO 30
KTS BY TAU 48, ULTIMATELY INDUCING SUBTROPICAL TRANSITION BY TAU 36.
21W IS FORECAST TO COMPLETE SUBTROPICAL TRANSITION BY TAU 48.
HOWEVER, SHOULD 21W MAKE A MOMENTARY DETOUR EQUATORWARD, CONDITIONS
WOULD IMPROVE TEMPORARILY BETWEEN TAU 0-24, OPENING THE POSSIBILITY
FOR SLIGHT STRENGTHENING. INTENSIFICATION WOULD NOT BE SIGNIFICANT
DURING THIS TIME, LIKELY 5-10 KTS, BUT REMAINS POSSIBLE SHOULD 21W
ENTER THE SLIGHTLY MORE FAVORABLE ENVIRONMENT. ADDITIONALLY, IN THE
EQUATORWARD LOOP SCENARIO, 21W WOULD LIKELY RETAIN TROPICAL
CHARACTERISTICS FOR LONGER THAN CURRENTLY FORECAST, WHICH WOULD
REQUIRE A SIGNIFICANT ADJUSTMENT TO THE CURRENT FORECAST
PHILOSOPHY.
MODEL DISCUSSION: DETERMINISTIC MODEL TRACK GUIDANCE REMAINS IN
POOR AGREEMENT, WITH MODELS GENERALLY SPLIT INTO TWO GROUPS: THOSE
THAT FAVOR AN EQUATORWARD LOOP IN RESPONSE TO INTERACTION WITH 20W
AND THOSE THAT FAVOR A CONTINUOUS POLEWARD TRACK. MODELS THAT
DEPICT THE LOOP INCLUDE GFS, GEFS ENSEMBLE MEAN, HAFS-A,
EXPERIMENTAL AIGFS. MODELS DEPICTING A DIRECT POLEWARD TRACK
INCLUDE ECMWF, UKMET, GALWEM, NAVGEM, GSM, AND EXPERIMENTAL AI
MODELS GOOGLE DEEPMIND AND AIGEFS. THE SPLIT IN MODEL GUIDANCE
INJECTS SIGNIFICANT UNCERTAINTY INTO TH…
HAFS and GEFS guidance is only available for storms in the US/NHC domain (Atlantic & East/Central Pacific). For this system, the basin summary and best-track position are shown.
ECMWF 10-m Streamlines
This map visualizes near-surface winds from the ECMWF operational model using streamlines — continuous curves that show the direction of the wind at every point. Streamlines help us visually detect patterns of atmospheric flow, such as jets, troughs, and areas of rotation.
Forecasters at the NHC monitor 10-meter wind fields for signs of a closed low-level circulation — a common feature of early tropical cyclone formation. When streamlines wrap into a tight, circular pattern and form a closed loop, it may signal that a system is transitioning from a disorganized disturbance into a structured cyclone.
This early organization of wind flow is a key threshold in classifying an area as a potential tropical cyclone. While other ingredients like convection and mid-level humidity are also necessary, closed low-level circulation is often the first structural milestone forecasters look for.
Look for small, circular loops in the streamlines over oceanic regions — especially where other environmental factors also align for storm formation.
ECMWF Predictions
No active storm found in ECMWF data at this time.
Environmental Indicators
Hypothetical TC Drift Paths
This map displays hypothetical tropical cyclone (TC) paths projected from genesis-favorable zones identified by an environmental mask. These paths are computed using the Emanuel Beta and Advection Model, a physically based framework that estimates the motion of nascent cyclones by combining steering-level winds and planetary rotation effects.
The model blends winds from two critical pressure levels — 850 hPa (lower troposphere) and 250 hPa (upper troposphere) — weighted toward the lower level where most of a tropical cyclone's mass resides. It also incorporates a background component associated with beta drift, which arises from the variation of the Coriolis force with latitude.
Each pink trajectory represents a storm initialized from a grid cell where all five environmental thresholds were favorable: high CAPE, low vertical wind shear, high mid-level humidity, warm SSTs, and positive low-level vorticity. Arrows darken with time, tracing the cyclone’s evolution in 6-hour steps. These tracks can move over land given the steering winds, but in reality these storms weaken quickly when no longer over warm water. This means the tracks that move over significant would likely die out quickly and are not well represented in this model.
Hypothetical storms often drift westward and poleward, steered by large-scale tropical flow and Earth's rotation — this helps forecasters anticipate where early-stage disturbances might evolve into organized storms.
Pressure & Rainfall (hPa)
This chart shows 24-hour forecasts of surface pressure (in hPa) and precipitation (in mm) for select U.S. cities.
The data comes from the Open-Meteo API,
which sources its predictions from high-resolution numerical weather models like ICON (from the German Weather Service)
and ECMWF's IFS. These are advanced general circulation models (GCMs) that solve physical equations governing the
atmosphere — including thermodynamics, fluid motion, and radiation — to simulate and forecast future states of weather.
A sudden drop in pressure may signal the approach of a developing storm system. Increasing rainfall intensity often
tracks with tropical activity or frontal systems. These paired indicators help visualize evolving atmospheric instability and potential hazards.
NBDC Gulf Buoy Data
This data comes from the National Data Buoy Center (NDBC), a division of NOAA responsible for monitoring ocean
and atmospheric conditions using moored buoys, coastal stations, and drifting floats. These sensors play a vital role in
tracking tropical cyclone development by recording variables like wind speed,
barometric pressure, air & sea surface temperatures, and wave height — all of which
help determine storm structure and intensification.
A sudden drop in sea-level pressure or a spike in wind gusts can signal rapid cyclone strengthening.
Water temperature above ~26°C is a key fuel source for tropical cyclones. Wave and swell height give insight
into the storm’s reach and energy transfer across the ocean. Monitoring these in real time helps improve forecasts and early warnings.
Wind: N (10°), 5.8 kt | Gust: 5.8 kt
Pressure: 29.97 | Air Temp: 86.4 °F
Water Temp: 87.8 °F | Dew Point: 78.3 °F
Swell: 1.0 ft | Wind Wave: 0.3 ft
NWS U.S. Radar
The National Weather Service (NWS) collects radar data using the NEXRAD (Next Generation Radar) network —
a nationwide system of over 150 high-resolution Doppler radar stations. Radar works by emitting pulses of energy
that bounce off precipitation (like raindrops, hail, or snow) and return to the radar dish. Doppler radar not only detects the
location and intensity of storms, but also their motion — by measuring shifts in frequency caused by movement of particles toward
or away from the radar site. This allows meteorologists to spot rotating storms and potential tornadoes in real time.
GOES 15-min Satellite
The GOES (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite) system is operated by NOAA
and provides continuous weather observation over the Americas. Orbiting 22,300 miles above Earth,
GOES satellites deliver high-resolution imagery every 15 minutes, helping track tropical systems, cloud formation,
and atmospheric motion in real time. The Geocolor imagery shown here combines visible and infrared data
to highlight clouds, land, and sea in a natural-looking format.
GOES Band 13 – Infrared (IR) Imagery
Band 13 (10.3 µm) is one of the most important infrared channels for tropical meteorology, measuring emitted radiation from cloud tops.
Colder colors (red, yellow) signal deep convection, where strong thunderstorms punch through the upper atmosphere.
These features often indicate the early stages of tropical cyclone formation.
Most recent GOES Band 13 image. Provided by NOAA/NESDIS/STAR.
