This website works best with a newer web browser such as Chrome, Firefox, Safari or Microsoft Edge. Internet Explorer is not supported by this website.

CIMSS Satellite Blog

MENU

Tropical Cyclone Judy in the South Pacific Ocean

By Scott Bachmeier •

JMA Himawari-9 Infrared Window (10.4 µm) images [click to play animated GIF | MP4]

JMA Himawari-9 Infrared Window (10.4 µm) images of Tropical Cyclone Judy in the South Pacific Ocean on 27 February 2023 (above) displayed some unusually cold cloud-top infrared brightness temperatures — with isolated vales of -100ºC and colder (red pixels embedded within interior darker black regions).

The Central Cold Cover feature was displaced to the NNW of the low-level storm center — and Judy was moving through an environment of low deep-layer wind shear (below).

===== 28 February Update =====

JMA Himawari-9 Infrared Window (10.4 µm) images [click to play animated GIF | MP4]

On the following day, 2.5-minute interval rapid scan Himawari-9 Infrared images (above) showed Judy as the storm was rapidly intensifying during its southward trek across the Vanuatu island chain. A ragged eye structure was intermittently observed.

A GMI Microwave (85 GHz) image at 1717 UTC (below) revealed that the eye of Judy was passing over the island of Epi, Vanuatu at that time.

GMI Microwave (85 GHz) image [click to enlarge]

===== 01 March Update =====

JMA Himawari-9 Infrared Window (10.4 µm) images [click to play animated GIF | MP4]

Judy then further intensified to a Category 3 storm at 0900 UTC on 01 March (SATCON) — however, not long after that time, 2.5-minute rapid scan JMA Himawari-9 Infrared images (above) showed that the ragged eye became obscured by high clouds from surrounding deep convection.

Categories: Himawari-9, Microwave, Other Satellites, Tropical cyclones