NASA measures rainfall in stronger Tropical Storm Ignacio

The Global Precipitation Measurement or GPM mission core satellite measured rainfall as Tropical Depression Twelve was upgraded to Tropical Storm Ignacio.

Tropical Depression 12E strengthened into Tropical Storm Ignacio at 5 p.m. EDT yesterday, August 25. At that time, it became the ninth named tropical storm of the Eastern Pacific hurricane season.

The GPM core observatory satellite saw Ignacio on August 25, 2015 at 2256 UTC. GPM's Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) found rain falling at a rate of over 74 mm (2.9 inches) per hour with storm tops reaching to altitudes of close to 15 km (8.7 miles). GPM is managed by both NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.

On August 26, the strongest convection (rising air that form the thunderstorms that make up a tropical cyclone) has been persisting mainly over the western half of the circulation. That means more thunderstorm development on that side of the storm. Recent microwave images show increased banding of thunderstorms.

At 5 a.m. EDT (0900 UTC) on August 26, the center of Tropical Storm Ignacio was located near latitude 12.3 North, longitude 134.1 West. That's about 1,485 miles (2,385 km) east-southeast of Hilo, Hawaii. Ignacio currently poses no threat to land areas.

Ignacio is moving toward the west near 7 mph (11 km/h). This westward motion is expected to continue today with an increase in forward speed. A turn toward the west-northwest is forecast on Thursday.

Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 50 mph (85 kph) and the National Hurricane Center expects Ignacio to become a hurricane by Thursday, August 27. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1001 millibars. For updated forecasts, visit: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov.