image: On July 6, NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite provided a visible image of Post-Tropical Cyclone Edouard merging with a frontal boundary in the Northern Atlantic Ocean. view more
Credit: Credit: NASA Worldview, Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS)
When NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite passed over the western North Atlantic Ocean on July 6, it provided forecasters with a visible image of Edouard after it transitioned into a post-tropical cyclone.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) defines a post-tropical cyclone as a former tropical cyclone. This generic term describes a cyclone that no longer possesses sufficient tropical characteristics to be considered a tropical cyclone. Post-tropical cyclones can continue carrying heavy rains and high winds. Two classes of post-tropical cyclones include extratropical and remnant lows.
The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument aboard Suomi NPP provided a visible image that showed Edouard's center of circulation has merged with a frontal boundary. Therefore, the system was classified as extratropical.
On July 6 at 5 p.m. EDT (2100 UTC), NOAA's National Hurricane Center (NHC) said that Edouard had become post-tropical. At that time, the center of Post-Tropical Cyclone Edouard was located near latitude 42.7 degrees north and longitude 46.0 degrees west. It was centered about 445 miles (715 km) southeast of Cape Race Newfoundland, Canada. The post-tropical cyclone was moving quickly toward the northeast near 38 mph (61 kph). Maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph (75 kph) with higher gusts. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1005 millibars.
The National Hurricane Center forecast said the post-tropical cyclone is forecast to continue moving quickly northeastward for the next day or so until it is absorbed into a larger frontal zone over the north Atlantic late today, July 7 or early Wednesday.
Tropical cyclones/hurricanes are the most powerful weather events on Earth. NASA's expertise in space and scientific exploration contributes to essential services provided to the American people by other federal agencies, such as hurricane weather forecasting.
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By Rob Gutro
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center