Due to the total solar eclipse over parts of the contiguous U.S. on April 8, 2024, there are many wondering what the cloud cover may be then. Q: Will it be cloudy over the path of the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024? A: We don’t know what the cloud cover will... Read More

From GOES-A (1) in 1975, to GOES-T (18) launched in 2022! On January 4, 2023 GOES-18 is operational as GOES-West, here’s a look-back at all the GOES. Note that the GOES-R series imagers support the generation of a true color image, given they have the blue (or 0.47 micrometer) band. Continuity is critical for operational satellites... Read More

With the help of NASA, private industry and others, NOAA’s GOES-2 (as GOES-B) was launched on June 16, 1977. Similar to SMS-1/2 and GOES-1/3, there were 2 spectral bands: one visible and one longwave infrared. A still image with a map overlay is also available to provide geo-referencing for the images... Read More

An F5 tornado struck the village of Oakfield, Wisconsin late in the day on 18 July 1996 (NWS Milwaukee story). An animation of GOES-8 (GOES-East) Visible images (below) showed the development of supercell thunderstorms as they moved east-southeastward across the area. Oakfield is located just southwest of Fond du Lac (KFLD), and... Read More