Hurricane Season 2011: Tropical Storm 14S (South Indian Ocean)

Infrared data from NASA's Aqua satellite on Feb. 10 hinted that strong convection would likely make the low pressure area known as System 96S into the next tropical cyclone in the Indian Ocean. On Feb. 11, the same infrared data showed a well-developed, rounded area of thunderstorms and forecasters confirmed the low had become Tropical Storm 14S.

On Feb. 11 at 1500 UTC (10 a.m. EST), Tropical Storm 14S had maximum sustained winds near 35 knots (40 mph/64 kmh). It continued to move away from Western Australia and was at that time 620 miles west of Learmonth, Australia, near 20.6 South latitude and 103.1 East longitude. It was moving west-southwest near 18 knots (21 mph/33 kmh) and was generating 12-foot (~3.5 meter) high seas.

The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument that flies aboard NASA's Aqua satellite captured data that showed strong convection has developed closer to the low-level circulation center of the storm. The strongest thunderstorms within Tropical Storm 14S were in its eastern side. AIRS captured the infrared image on Feb. 11 at 06:41 UTC (1:41 a.m. EST). The strongest thunderstorms and strongest convection (rapidly rising air that condenses and forms the thunderstorms that power the tropical cyclone).

Strengthening is not expected over the weekend because Tropical Storm 14S is headed for cooler waters.

Text Credit: Rob Gutro, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.