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NASA's Aqua satellite flew over Hurricane Helene on 13 September at 12:45 EDT (0445 UTC) and analyzed it in infrared light. The strongest storms with the coldest peaks appeared in red. Credit: NASA / NRL
NASA's Aqua satellite provided Helene with an infrared look as he continued on his way to the Azores in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean. Satellite imagery shows that Helene is decoupled from wind shear.
The National Hurricane Center or NHC said: "Helen's surface circulation has become completely exposed this morning, the center being decoupled about 110 miles south of the edge of the remaining deep convection." This means that the circulation or center of the storm is off-center and that most of the storm has been moved away from the center of rotation. This decoupling took place because Helene is dealing with a vertical shear of the southwest wind (coming from the southwest). NHC noted that wind shear is expected to increase later on September 13th.
What is wind shear?
In general, wind shear is a measure of how wind speed and direction change with altitude. Wind shear can tear or weaken a tropical cyclone.
NASA's infrared view on Helen
NASA's Aqua satellite flew over Hurricane Helene on 13 September at 12:45 EDT (4:45 UTC) and the medium-resolution imaging spectroradiometer or MODIS instrument on board analyzed cloud top temperatures in infrared light. The lowest cloud temperatures were pushed north-east of the center and were as cold or colder as minus 70 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 56.6 degrees Celsius). Cold cloud top temperatures indicate strong storms capable of creating heavy rain.
The status of Helene on September 13, 2018
At 0500 EDT (0900 UTC), the center of Hurricane Helene was located near latitude 23.5 degrees North and longitude 37.3 degrees West. Hélène is currently about 1,170 miles (1,885 km) southwest of the Azores. Helen moves north near 14 mph (22 km / h). A turn north-northeast with an increase in forward speed is expected tonight, followed by a turn to the northeast during the weekend of September 15 and 16.
Maximum sustained winds decreased to near 120 km / h with higher gusts. The continuation of the weakening is expected for the next few days and Helene is expected to become a tropical storm here tonight.
The head to the Azores
On September 13, Hélène weakened as she was heading north over the East Atlantic and that interests in the Azores should follow the course of the storm.
Explore more:
NASA examines the concentration of water vapor from Hurricane Helene
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