NASA sees wind shear relax in Tropical Storm Conson

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NASA/NOAA/Rapid Response Team

NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite passed over Tropical Storm Conson on Aug. 11 and visible imagery showed that wind shear was again affecting the storm as it did days earlier. On Aug. 11 at 11:31 p.m. EDT (Aug. 12 at 03:31 UTC) the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument aboard NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite captured a visible light image of Tropical Storm Conson. Southwesterly wind shear that had pushed the bulk of clouds and showers to the northeast of the storm's center on Aug. 8 had weakened and has kicked up again on Aug. 11 and Aug. 12. The southwesterly winds were as strong as 23 mph (20 knots/37 kph).

Conson appeared almost devoid of clouds and thunderstorms on its western side because of dry and sinking air that is preventing the development of clouds. The bulk of clouds and thunderstorms were wrapped from north to east of the center of circulation.

At 5 a.m. EDT (0900 UTC) on Aug. 12, 2016, Tropical Storm Conson was centered near 26.9 degrees north latitude and 155.6 degrees east longitude, about 151 nautical miles northeast of Marcus Island, also known as Minami-Tori-shima. It is an isolated Japanese coral atoll about 1,148 miles (1,848 kilometers) southeast of Tokyo.

Conson was moving to the west at 13.8 mph (12 knots/22.2 kph) and had maximum sustained winds near 46 mph (40 knots/74 kph).

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) forecast calls for Conson to strengthen as it continues north over the next several days and moves into a more favorable environment.

Source: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center