This simulated 3-D view of tropical cyclone Kenanga, looking toward the southwest, was derived from GPM's radar (DPR Ku Band) data. This image of Kenanga's rainfall structure shows that extremely powerful storms south of Kenanga's deteriorating eye wall were returning very strong reflectivity values to the satellite. GPM's radar probes revealed that storm tops in the remaining intact eyewall on the western side of the tropical cyclone were reaching heights above 12.7 km (7.9 miles).

GPM is a joint mission between NASA and the Japanese space agency JAXA.

Images and captions produced by Hal Pierce (SSAI/NASA GSFC)

On December 18, 2018 at 1504 UTC the GPM core observatory satellite flew above powerful tropical cyclone Kenanga in the South-West Indian Ocean. Tropical cyclone Kenanga's most distinctive feature was it's large eye. At the time of this GPM pass Kenanga's maximum sustained wind speeds were about 90 kts (104 mph). This analysis of the tropical cyclone's rainfall was derived from data collected by GPM's Microwave Imager (GMI) and GPM's Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) instruments. GPM clearly showed the extreme rainfall in Kenanga's well defined circular eyewall. The heaviest rainfall was found by GPM in the tropical cyclone's southeastern quadrant. GPM's radar (DPR Ku Band) measured precipitation there falling at a rate of over 161 mm (6.3 inches) per hour on that side of the tropical cyclone.

This 3-D animation shows the estimated relative heights of storms within tropical cyclone Kenanga. These heights are based on measurements by the GPM satellite's radar (DPR Ku Band) blended with estimates from the HIMAWARI-8 satellite's infrared temperatures. GPM's radar probes of Kenanga's eastern side indicated that storm tops in that part of the tropical cyclone were reaching heights above 12.2 km (7.6 miles).

Tropical cyclone Kenanga's wind speeds recently peaked at about 115 kts (132 mph). Kenanga is now expected to gradually weaken as the tropical cyclone moves toward the southwest over progressively cooler sea surface temperature.

Click here to see a 1280x720 (Quicktime) 3-D flyby animation.

Click here to see a 1280x720 (MPEG) 3-D flyby animation.

GPM is a joint mission between NASA and the Japanese space agency JAXA.

Images and captions produced by Hal Pierce (SSAI/NASA GSFC)

A close-up analysis of rainfall around tropical cyclone Kenanga is shown here. Data from GPM's Microwave Imager (GMI) and Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) were used in this analysis. The lighter strip indicates the area covered by GPM's radar (DPR Ku Band). DPR found that a powerful storm northeast of Kenanga's center of circulation was dropping rain at a rate of over 119 mm (4.7 inches) per hour.

This 3-D animation used GPM's radar to show the structure of precipitation within tropical cyclone Kenanga. This simulated flyby around Kenanga shows storm tops that were reaching heights above 13.5 km (8.4 miles).

Click here to see a 1280x720 (Quicktime) 3-D flyby animation.

Click here to see a 1280x720 (MPEG) 3-D flyby animation.

GPM is a joint mission between NASA and the Japanese space agency JAXA.

Images and captions produced by Hal Pierce (SSAI/NASA GSFC)