NASA sees Tropical Storm Songda singing of rain and gusty winds for the Philippines

In a series of three infrared images from the period of May 19-22, 2011, NASA's Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument revealed the strengthening of Tropical Storm Songda. The area with strongest convection has expanded and organized over that time. That area of strongest convection has the coldest, highest thunderstorm cloud tops near -63 F/-52C, and heaviest rainfall. The time series of imagery over those four days also shows that Songda took on a more rounded shape as it continued to strengthen from a tropical depression to a tropical storm. Today, May 23, satellite imagery shows a strong band of deep convection is persisting along the southern edge of Songda.

On May 21, Tropical Storm 04W still had maximum sustained winds near 40 mph (35 knots/64 kmh). On Sunday, May 22, the maximum sustained winds increased to 52 mph (45 knots/83 kmh) and the storm was renamed "Tropical Storm Songda." At that time the center of the storm was near 10.0 N and 136.4 E, or 190 miles north-northeast of Palau. By 2100 UTC on May 22, Songda's winds again increased to 55 knots as it continued moving north-northwest.

On May 23, Songda's maximum sustained winds have again increased and are now clocked at 69 mph (60 knots/111 kmh). Tropical storm-force winds extend out 100 miles (161 km) from the center. Further strengthening is expected by the forecasters at the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Songda's center was located about 295 miles (475 km) northwest of Palau, near 11.5 North and 131.8 East, and it was moving west-northwest near 12 mph (10 knots/~18 kmh). Songda is kicking up high waves in the Northwestern Pacific, up to 22 feet (6/7 meters) high.

Songda is expected to continue intensifying over the next couple of days, but its center is forecast stay offshore from Luzon, Philippines and track east of land. However, the western side of the storm is expected to bring gusty winds, heavy rainfall and rough surf to Luzon over the next couple of days as it approaches and sweeps north toward Taiwan.

Provided by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center