Satellite Imagery

- Hurricane Sector -

- - click on image for animation - -

The above GOES-13 satellite image is created with the Interactive Weather Satellite Viewer at NASA's Global Hydrology and Climate Center and is updated every 30 minutes (EDT = UTC - 4 hours). The full image is shown at the bottom of this page. Below as well Meteosat Satellite Images of the central Atlantic. These will show waves coming from the African Coast can become the infamous 'Cape Verde storms' or the next big one for the Caribbean islands... Also below, an image of current sea surface temperature. Hurricanes get their energy from warm water. The water usually has to be at least 80F to be able to fuel a hurricane. Is it warm enough yet?

- - Waves from African Coast - -

Below the most recent combined Meteosat-SSM/I MPE (Multi-sensor Precipitation Estimate) and Meteosat Airmass product, focussing on any waves coming off the African coasts. These waves have the potential to develop into hurricanes. Updated every 30 minutes (MPE) or 60 minutes (Airmass). More information on these products on the EUMETSAT Website. Image Copyright EUMETSAT. For a more detailed view of the African coast a high spatial (but lower temporal) resolution loop can be found on NASA's NAMMA project website.

- - Precipitation Estimate (MPE) - -

- - Air Mass - -

- - click on images for animation - -

- - Saharan Air Layer (SAL) - -

The Saharan Air Layer (in red below) is a very dry air-mass coming from the African continent. Because it is so dry it can inhibit the formation and/or intensification of tropical storms. See also: NOAA's Hurricane FAQ. Source original image: CIMSS at University of Wisconsin-Madison, below my cropped version to accentuate the Atlantic.

- - Saharan Air Layer - -

- - Click on image for movies and other info - -

- - Tropical Waves - -

Although not a satellite image, the so-called Unified Surface Analysis below, shows among other things the location of tropical waves, high/low temperatures, windspeed and direction, the ITCZ, fronts and high and low pressure systems. Comparing it for example to the satellite image below shows how much convection is associated with those waves or low pressure systems. It is produced by the Ocean Prediction Center (NOAA/NCEP). I cropped the original image, full size can be retrieved by clicking on it.

- - Unified Surface Analysis (NOAA/NCEP) - -

- - Click on image for full resolution - -

- - GOES-East/Meteosat Combi - -

The two satellite GOES-East and Meteosat cover the Atlantic from different angles. The GOES images are cut off in the Eastern Atlantic, preventing us to see waves coming off the African Coast, while Meteosat doesn't show the Caribbean Islands well. I have not been able to find a nice image combining these two in one, so that we get a clear picture of what is happening in the Atlantic and if something is going to threaten the islands. Therefore I created one myself by combining two NOAA images using the same type of map-projection. Below you see the GOES-East image on the left and the Meteosat on the right with the split just east of 30W. Note that the times shown below the image can be a bit different and therefore the overlap less perfect (Meteosat gets updated less frequently).

- - GOES/Meteosat Combi - -

- - More GOES (Central Atl., Caribbean, Gulf+Eastern US) - -

- - GOES Central Atlantic - -

- - Click on image to see latest loop, + add overlays - -

- - GOES Caribbean - -

- - Click on image to see latest loop, + add overlays - -

- - G O E S - -

- - Click on image to create different projections, zoomed images and loops!

Sea Surface Temperature
Source: Weather Underground

Note: Weather satellite data (except SST-map) courtesy of the Global Hydrology and Climate Center in Huntsville Alabama, NOAA/NESDIS and EUMETSAT.

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