Hurricane Season 2010: Tropical Storm Tasha (Ocean)

NASA's Terra Satellite Sees Tropical Storm Tasha After Landfall

Tropical Storm Tasha formed quickly in the South Pacific Ocean last weekend and made landfall on the coast of Queensland, Australia on Christmas day (local time). NASA's Terra satellite passed over Tasha after its center made landfall and captured a visible image of the storm revealing some powerful thunderstorms.

On Dec. 24, Tropical Storm Tasha formed quickly and headed for landfall near Cairns, Australia. At 1800 UTC (1 p.m. EST or 4 a.m. on Dec. 25 local time –Brisbane/Australia), Tasha was near 17.1S 146.3E, about 35 nautical miles east-southeast of Cairns with maximum sustained winds near 39 mph. At that time a NASA Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite image showed banding of thunderstorms and the storm was getting more organized.

On Dec. 24 at 3:14 p.m. EST (6:14 a.m. local time on Dec. 25), the Australia Bureau of Meteorology issued a Severe Weather Warning, calling for "damaging winds, heavy rainfall and further flooding for people about the Queensland coast, ranges and adjacent inland areas between Cardwell and St Lawrence." In addition, a High Surf Warning was posted.

On December 25 at 0400 UTC, which was 2 p.m. local time (Australia/Brisbane time), NASA's Terra Satellite captured a visible image of Tropical Cyclone Tasha inland over northeastern Australia. The satellite image showed an area of very bright white clouds around the center of the storm indicating the highest, strongest thunderstorms within the tropical storm. The image was created by the MODIS Rapid Response Team located at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.

Tasha was generating rainfall at up to 2 inches (50 mm) per hour before it made landfall, according to NASA's TRMM satellite data. That heavy rainfall combined with another weather system that affected Queensland and created record flooding as Tasha made landfall and moved inland.

Text Credit: Rob Gutro

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD