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NASA's Aqua satellite flew over the Kong-Rey super typhoon on October 2 at 12:35 EDT (0435 UTC) and analyzed it with infrared light. Powerful storms surrounded a clear (purple) eye. Credit: NASA JPL, Heidar Thrastarson
NASA's Aqua satellite provided an infrared view of the Kong-Rey Super Typhoon as it continued to follow the Pacific Northwest. Another typhoon, Trami, crossed the same area last week and the colder waters it left behind are expected to affect Kong-Rey.
NASA's Aqua satellite flew over the Kong-Rey Super Typhoon on 2 October at 1235 EDT (0435 UTC) and the atmospheric infrared sounder or AIRS instrument aboard the cloud-top temperatures analyzed in infrared. Temperatures at the top of the coldest clouds were pushed north-east of the center and were as cold or colder than 208 Kelvin (minus 85.2 degrees Fahrenheit / minus 65.1 Celsius). Cloud top temperatures that indicate severe storms can create heavy rainfall.
The Joint Typhoon Warning Center noted at 11:00 am EST (15:00 UTC): "The improved infrared satellite imagery shows that Kong-Rey has maintained a well defined eye surrounded by a deep convection that wraps around of him.However, deep convection [strong development of thunderstorms] has become slightly less symmetrical in recent hours, particularly in the northeast quadrant.
The center of Super Typhoon Kong-Rey was located near 19.2 degrees north latitude and 130.9 degrees east longitude. Kong-Rey is currently about 493 nautical miles south-southeast of Kadena Air Base in Okinawa Island, Japan. Kong-Rey is heading northwest. Maximum sustained winds decreased to near 155 mph (250 km / h / 135 knots).
Kong-Rey will continue to experience cooler sea surface temperatures by October 3 as a result of the upwelling (bringing cooler ocean bottom water to the surface) produced by the super Typhoon Trami who crossed the region several days ago.
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