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October 28, 2010 - Typhoon Megi (15W) over China
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A weakening Typhoon Megi swirled in the South China Sea on October 22, 2010, stretching far-reaching storm bands across eastern China and Taiwan. At the time the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard the Aqua satellite captured this true-color image, Megi was a Category 2 Typhoon as measured by the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale (SSHS). It soon weakened to Category 1 status as the eye wall continued to disintegrate and made landfall in Zhangpu County, Zanghzou, Fujian Province, China. By October 24, the storm had entirely dissipated.
Typhoon Megi was first identified by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) on October 12, 2010 as an area of disturbed weather roughly 90 km (55 mi) southeast of Guam. Late on October 13, the storm had developed a distinct eye and wind speed increased, causing the JTWC to classify the storm as a minimal Typhoon. By October 16, Megi strengthened to a Category 3 Typhoon, then turned westward and once again strengthened to a Category 5 status. On the morning of October 18, it made landfall in Isabel Province, weakened to a Category 2 after crossing Luzon, then strengthened as it traveled across the South China Sea, returning to Category 4 status until October 20 when wind shear began to weaken the storm.
“Super Typhoon” is a term utilized by the JTWC for storms that reach maximum sustained 1 minute surface winds of at least 150 mph (234 km/h). Megi attained 10-minute sustained wind speeds of 145 mph (230 km/hr), 1-minute sustained wind speeds of 190 mph (305 km/hr) and gusts of 220 mph (350 km/h), becoming the first typhoon of the 2010 season to attain Super Typhoon Status in the Pacific Basin. It was also one of the most intense typhoons ever recorded, based on a minimum pressure of 885 millibars.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Aqua
Date Acquired: 10/22/2010
Resolutions:
1km ( B), 500m ( B), 250m ( B)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
A weakening Typhoon Megi swirled in the South China Sea on October 22, 2010, stretching far-reaching storm bands across eastern China and Taiwan. At the time the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard the Aqua satellite captured this true-color image, Megi was a Category 2 Typhoon as measured by the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale (SSHS). It soon weakened to Category 1 status as the eye wall continued to disintegrate and made landfall in Zhangpu County, Zanghzou, Fujian Province, China. By October 24, the storm had entirely dissipated.
Typhoon Megi was first identified by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) on October 12, 2010 as an area of disturbed weather roughly 90 km (55 mi) southeast of Guam. Late on October 13, the storm had developed a distinct eye and wind speed increased, causing the JTWC to classify the storm as a minimal Typhoon. By October 16, Megi strengthened to a Category 3 Typhoon, then turned westward and once again strengthened to a Category 5 status. On the morning of October 18, it made landfall in Isabel Province, weakened to a Category 2 after crossing Luzon, then strengthened as it traveled across the South China Sea, returning to Category 4 status until October 20 when wind shear began to weaken the storm.
“Super Typhoon” is a term utilized by the JTWC for storms that reach maximum sustained 1 minute surface winds of at least 150 mph (234 km/h). Megi attained 10-minute sustained wind speeds of 145 mph (230 km/hr), 1-minute sustained wind speeds of 190 mph (305 km/hr) and gusts of 220 mph (350 km/h), becoming the first typhoon of the 2010 season to attain Super Typhoon Status in the Pacific Basin. It was also one of the most intense typhoons ever recorded, based on a minimum pressure of 885 millibars.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Aqua
Date Acquired: 10/22/2010
Resolutions:
1km ( B), 500m ( B), 250m ( B)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
