Cyclone Yasa strengthens rapidly in the South Pacific
Himawari-8 Clean Window Infrared (10.41 µm) imagery, 0000 UTC 14 December to 0000 UTC 16 December 2020 (Click to animate)
Himawari-8 Clean Window Infrared (10.41 µm) imagery (courtesy the Japanese Meteorological Agency, JMA) from 14-15 December 2020 (click here for an animated gif) show the development of a potent storm with an obvious clear and large eye by 0000 UTC on 16 December. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center notes: ” TC 05P HAS RAPIDLY INTENSIFIED 50 KNOTS OVER THE PAST 24 HOURS, FROM 85 KNOTS AT 14/18Z TO 135 KNOTS AT 15/18Z.” Yasa further intensified to a Category 5 tropical cyclone at 0000 UTC on 16 December.
2.5-minute rapid scan #Himawari8 Infrared images of Category 5 (as of 0000 UTC) Cyclone #Yasa northwest of Fiji: https://t.co/CcSMlqeInA pic.twitter.com/zZ4Vl4DalM
— Scott Bachmeier (@CIMSS_Satellite) December 16, 2020
Visible imagery from GOES-17 and Himawari-8, (mp4 animation below, click here for an animated gif, and here for a full-sized mp4), during the day on 16 December show a well-developed storm with a clear eye.
Stereoscopic view of Cyclone Yasa, 1800 UTC 15 December to 0550 UTC 16 December 2020. Click to animate. GOES-17 Visible imagery on the left, Himawari imagery on the right
Storm-centered stereoscopic view of Cyclone Yasa, 1800 UTC 15 December to 0550 UTC 16 December 2020. Click to animate. GOES-17 Visible imagery on the left, Himawari imagery on the right
Storm-centered stereoscopic view of the eye of Cyclone Yasa, 1800 UTC 15 December to 0550 UTC 16 December 2020. Click to animate. GOES-17 Visible imagery on the left, Himawari imagery on the right