Extreme Weather News
Tropical cyclone BERGUITTA formed in the southwestern Indian Ocean northeast of the islands of La Reunion and Mauritius on January 12, 2018. BERGUITTA is now moving toward the southwest and threatening the islands. Early on January 16,2018 BERGUITTA had maximum sustained winds estimated at 100 kts (115 mph). This means that BERGUITTA was the equivalent of a category three hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale. Later in the day BERGUITTA's maximum sustained wind speeds were estimated at 85 kts (98 mph) with gust to 105 kts (121 mph). On January 16, 2018 at 1200Z tropical cyclone BERGUITTA was 244 NM east-northeast of Port Louis, Mauritius.
This animation was constructed using NASA's Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals for GPM (IMERG) data. The animation shows IMERG estimates of rainfall rates at half hourly intervals during the period from January 12 - 16, 2018. Rainfall rates of greater than 50 mm (1.97 inches) per hour were frequently indicated around the center of BERGUITTA and also in intense feeder bands wrapping around the periphery of the tropical cyclone. Near-realtime "early run" products are generated by NASA's Precipitation Processing System every half hour within about 6 hour of those being acquired. Data from the satellites in the GPM Constellation were calibrated with measurements from the GPM Core Observatory as well as rain gauge networks around the world. The time shown is the data acquisition end-time, rounded to the nearest minute.
Tropical Cyclone BERGUITTA is expected to batter La Reunion and Mauritius on Wednesday and Thursday. BERGUITTA's intensification is somewhat dampened due to low to moderate vertical wind above the tropical cyclone. The tropical cyclone is currently moving over warm ocean waters of 28 Celsius (82.4 Fahrenheit). The sea surface temperatures are warmer than the 26 Celsius (78.8 Fahrenheit) that is necessary for BERGUITTA to thrive. After passing close to La Reunion and Mauritius BERGUITTA is expected to weaken as ocean waters get progressively cooler south of the islands.
- Images and caption by Hal Pierce (SSAI/NASA GSFC)