GAMMA another RECORD FOR MOST NAMED TROPICAL CYCLONES

LARGE [3.9 mb] TD #27 GAMMA QUICKTIME ANIMATION of rain accumulation SMALLER [.7 mb] TD #27 GAMMA QUICKTIME ANIMATION of rain accumulation See MEDIUM [1.4 mb]TD #27 GAMMA MPEG ANIMATION of rain accumulation

TROPICAL STORM GAMMA BRINGS FLOODING TO HONDURAS The pace of the 2005 hurricane season is finally slowing down, but the season is not yet over as evidenced by the record 24th named storm of the season-- Tropical Storm Gamma. The 27th tropical depression of the season formed on the 13th of November 2005 from an area of low pressure in the southeastern Caribbean. The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite captured these images of Tropical Depression #27 at 11:37 UTC (6:37 am EST) on 14 November 2005 when the system was in the far southeastern Caribbean just west of the Windward Islands. The first image shows a top-down-view of the rainfall pattern associated with TD #27 as obtained from TRMM's sensors. Rain rates in the center of the swath are from the TRMM Precipitation Radar (PR), the only radar able to measure precipitation from space. Rain rates in the outer swath are from the TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI). The rain rates are overlaid on infrared (IR) data from the TRMM Visible Infrared Scanner (VIRS). TRMM shows the system is still in the process of organizing with no eye and little evidence of curvature in the rain field.

However, the next image, taken at the same time, shows a 3D perspective of the system courtesy of the TRMM PR. The PR reveals areas of deep convection as evidenced by the tall towers (shown in red). When these towers occur near the center of the circulation, it is usually a sign that the system is about to strengthen. However, TD #27 was also encountering westerly wind shear, which was impeding its development. At the time of these images, TD #27 had sustained winds estimated at 30 knots (35 mph) by the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

As the system moved west through the central Caribbean, it continued to encounter unfavorable shear and temporarily fell apart. On the 18th of November, however, the remnants of TD #27 re-organized over the western Caribbean into Tropical Storm Gamma just to the north of Honduras. Gamma drifted erractically over the next two days, essentially remaining in place. TRMM captured this image of Gamma at 01:59 UTC 19 November (8:59 pm EST 18 November) as it was drifting right along the northern coast of Honduras with sustained winds reported at 40 knots (46 mph) by NHC. The circulation is still poorly organized with no obvious curvature in the rain bands. However, a large area of heavy (red areas) to moderate rain (green areas) extends north of the center. And although Gamma did not intensify (which is consistent with absence of any deep convection near the center at this time), the storm brought heavy rains and flooding to Honduras.

The TRMM-based, near-real time Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis (MPA) at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center provides estimates of rainfall over the global Tropics. MPA rainfall totals are shown for the period 14 to 21 November 2005 with storm symbols marking the track Gamma. Rainfall totals of 6 (green) to 10 (yellow) inches are evident along the northern coast of Honduras. So far, 32 fatalities have been reported in Honduras as a result of flooding and mudslides with many still missing. Five fishermen from neighboring Belize were also missing.