Tropical Storm GELANE – UPDATE 4 (Feb 21)

GELANE Out of Steam Much Sooner than Expected

Tropical Storm GELANE weakened rapidly and is now expected to dissipate as a significant storm up to 36 hours sooner than previously forecast (within the next 48 hours).

Tropical Storm GELANE Visible/IR Satellite Image. Source: UW-CIMSS. Click image to enlarge.

Tropical Cyclone GELANE (TC 16S) Details

• Date/Time: 20 February 2010 –  03:00 UTC
• Position:  Near 21.5ºS, 61.5ºE
• Sustained Movement: 190  degrees
  
• Forward speed:  13 km/hr ( 7 kt)
• The system has been tracking  SSW.
  

Current Wind Distribution:

• Maximum Sustained winds: 113 km/hr (61.0 kt)
• Maximum Gusts:  ~ 140 km/hr (~ 75kt)
• GELANE is currently a Tropical Storm on FEWW New Hurricane Scale

Wave Height and Location:

• Maximum significant wave height: ~ 7m (21 ft)
  
• Location: TC GELANE was located about ~ 625 km EAST (97 degrees) of  Saint-Denis, Réunion, and about 435 km EAST (110 degrees) of  Port Louis, Mauritius.
  
• Sources: CIMSS, JTWC and Others

See also: UW- CIMSS Cyclone Portal

Related Links:

• Cyclone GELANE – UPDATE 3 (Feb 20)
• CYCLONE GELANE: AVOID ME IF YOU CAN
• Cyclone GELANE UPDATE 2 (Feb 19)
• Cyclone GELANE (TC 16S) UPDATE 1 (Feb 18)
• Cyclone GELANE (TC 16S)
• FEWW New Hurricane Scale

Cyclone GELANE – UPDATE 3 (Feb 20)

GELANE Still a Major Hurricane, May Turn Deadly

Tropical Cyclone GELANE, having reached sustained wind speeds of  about 235 km/hr, is now a Cat. 4A Hurricane force on the FEWW New Hurricane Scale with sustained winds of about 218 km/he (117.5 kt) and wind gusts of up to 260 km/hr (140 kt).

The Cyclone could track west moving toward Madagascar with the islands of Mauritius and  Réunion still in crosshairs.

Cyclone GELANE Visible/IR Satellite Image. Source: UW-CIMSS.  Click images to enlarge.

Tropical Cyclone GELANE (TC 16S) Details

• Date/Time: 20 February 2010 –  01:00 UTC
• Position:  Near 18.5ºS, 61.5ºE
• Sustained Movement: 200  degrees
  
• Forward speed:  13 km/hr ( 7 kt)
• The system has been tracking  SSW.
  

Current Wind Distribution:

• Maximum Sustained winds: 218 km/hr (117.5 kt)
• Maximum Gusts:  ~ 260 km/hr (~ 140kt)
• GELANE is currently a Cat. 4A Hurricane on FEWW New Hurricane Scale

Wave Height and Location:

• Maximum significant wave height: ~ 10m (30 ft)
  
• Location: TC GELANE was located about ~ 685km (~ 370 NM) NORTHEAST (246.3 degrees) of  Saint-Denis, Réunion, and about 455 km EAST-NORTHEAST (245.5 degrees) of  Port Louis, Mauritius.
  
• Sources: CIMSS, JTWC and Others

See also: UW- CIMSS Cyclone Portal

GELANE Satellite Image – Meto France.

• Radar Animation
• Satellite image animation

The MODIS instrument on NASA’s Aqua satellite caught an impressive visible image of Gelane on February 19 at 09:45 UTC (4:45 a.m. ET) that clearly showed the eye of this Category 4 cyclone. Credit: NASA MODIS Rapid Response Team. Click Image to Enlarge!

The AIRS instrument on NASA’s Aqua satellite captured Gelane on Feb. 19 at 4:41 a.m. ET (09:41UTC). Even Gelane’s eye is visible in this infrared image, and it’s surrounded by very high, powerful thunderstorms with cloud tops as cold as -63F. Credit: NASA/JPL, Ed Olsen. Click Image to Enlarge!

Related Links:

• CYCLONE GELANE: AVOID ME IF YOU CAN
• Cyclone GELANE UPDATE 2 (Feb 19)
• Cyclone GELANE (TC 16S) UPDATE 1 (Feb 18)
• Cyclone GELANE (TC 16S)
• FEWW New Hurricane Scale

Cyclone GELANE UPDATE 2 (Feb 19)

TC GELANE Strengthens to a Category 3A Hurricane on FEWW New Hurricane Scale

With sustained winds of about 190 km/hr (gusts of up to 235 km/hr), Cyclone GELANE (TC 16S) is now a Category 3A Hurricane on  FEWW New Hurricane Scale. Fire-Earth believes the cyclone would reach Category 4A strength, possibly stronger, as forecast yesterday.

The system is expected to continue intensifying during the next 36 hours. The coral reef island of Rodrigues should expect heavy rain as the cyclone moves closer.

Cyclone GELANE. Water Vapor satellite images. Source: UW-CIMSS.  Click images to enlarge.

Tropical Cyclone GELANE (TC 16S) Details

• Date/Time: 19 February 2010 –  01:00 UTC
• Position:  Near 16.3ºS, 62.5ºE
• Sustained Movement: 180  degrees
  
• Forward speed:  9 km/hr ( 5 kt)
• The system has been tracking  SOUTH over the past 6 hours.
  

Current Wind Distribution:

• Maximum Sustained winds:  190km/hr (102 kt)
• Maximum Gusts:  ~ 235 km/hr (~ 125kt)
• GELANE is currently a Cat. 3A Hurricane on FEWW New Hurricane Scale

Wave Height and Location:

• Maximum significant wave height: ~ 9m (27 ft)
  
• Location: TC GELANE was located about ~ 885 km (~ 475 NM) NE of Réunion island.
  
• Sources: CIMSS, JTWC and Others

See also: UW- CIMSS Cyclone Portal

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GELANE through the eye of TRMM. Credit: NASA/SSAI

Related Links:

• Cyclone GELANE (TC 16S) UPDATE 1 (Feb 18)
• Cyclone GELANE (TC 16S)
• FEWW New Hurricane Scale

Cyclone GELANE (TC 16S) UPDATE 1 (Feb 18)

TC GELANE Strengthens to a Category 2B Hurricane on  FEWW New Hurricane Scale

With sustained winds of about 170 km/hr, Cyclone GELANE (TC 16S) is now a Category 2B Hurricane on  FEWW New Hurricane Scale. Fire-Earth forecasts the cyclone to reach Category 4A strength, possibly stronger, within the next 36 hours.

Cyclone GELANE. IR satellite images (NHC Enhancement). 4km resolution. Source: UW-CIMSS.  Click images to enlarge.

Tropical Cyclone GELANE (TC 16S) Details

• Date/Time: 18 February 2010 –  00:01 UTC
• Position:  Near 14.3ºS, 61.6ºE
• Sustained Movement: 150  degrees
  
• Forward speed:  11 km/hr ( 6 kt)
• The Cyclone has been tracking  SOUTH-SOUTHWEST over the past 6 hours.
  

Current Wind Distribution:

• Maximum Sustained winds:  170km/hr (92 kt)
• Maximum Gusts:  ~ 205 km/hr (~ 110 kt)
• GELANE is currently a Cat. 2B Hurricane on FEWW New Hurricane Scale

Wave Height and Location:

• Maximum significant wave height: ~ 8m (24 ft)
  
• Location: TC GELANE was located about 970 km (~ 525 NM) NE of Réunion island.
  
• Sources: CIMSS, JTWC and Others

See also: UW- CIMSS Cyclone Portal

Related Links:

• Cyclone GELANE (TC 16S)
• FEWW New Hurricane Scale

Cyclone GELANE (TC 16S)

Images of the Day: Cyclone GELANE

Powerful, awe-inspiring [scary] storm headed toward Mauritius and Réunion

Cyclone GELANE. Visible-IR satellite images. Source: UW-CIMSS. [From Top: 2km, 4km and 8km resolutions.] Click images to enlarge.

Cyclone GELANE. IR satellite images. Source: JTWC. Date and time: Feb 16, at 23:30UTC. Click images to enlarge.

Tropical Cyclone GELANE (TC 16S) Details

• Date/Time: 17 February 2010 –  15:00 UTC
• Position:  Near 14.4ºS, 61.9ºE
• Sustained Movement: 150  degrees
  
• Forward speed:  15 km/hr ( 8 kt)
• Tropical Cyclone RENE has been tracking  SOUTHWEST over the past 6 hours.
  

Current Wind Distribution:

• Maximum Sustained winds:  150km/hr (80 kt)
• Maximum Gusts:  185 km/hr ( 100 kt)
• GELANE is currently a Cat. 1 Hurricane on FEWW New Hurricane Scale

Wave Height and Location:

• Maximum significant wave height: ~ 6.6m (20 ft)
  
• Location: TC GELANE was located about 1,020 km (~ 550 NM) NE of Réunion island.
  
• Sources: CIMSS, JTWC and Others

See also: UW- CIMSS Cyclone Portal