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Credit: NASA/NOAA/NRL
Tropical Depression 18W formed west of Guam and intensified into a tropical storm. NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite observed the storm moving toward the Philippine Sea on the morning of September 12. At 0346 UTC on September 12 (September 11 at 11:46 p.m. EDT), NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite passed over Tropical Depression 18W and measured cloud-top temperatures. The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument aboard NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite captured an infrared image of the storm, revealing the coldest cloud top temperatures and the location of the strongest storm.
VIIRS data showed that strong thunderstorms around the center of circulation caused cloud temperatures to cool to minus 80 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 62.2 Celsius). Such cold temperatures indicate storms and rapid emergence of high clouds in the troposphere. NASA research has shown that storms with clouds surrounded by cold have the potential to produce heavy rainfall.
The National Weather Service (NWS) in Tiyan, Guam said at 5 a.m. EDT (0900 UTC) on Monday, Sept. 12, the center of Tropical Storm 18W was located near latitude 13.2 degrees north and longitude 141.1 degrees east. 18W was moving west at 17 mph. Tropical Storm 18W is forecast to move west-northwestward before gradually turning northwestward on Tuesday night and Wednesday, September 14.
Maximum sustained winds increased to 45 mph, making 18W a tropical storm. Intensification is expected to continue over the next few days…and Tropical Storm 18W could become a hurricane Tuesday afternoon or Tuesday night.
No watches or warnings were issued from NWS, Guam.
