GOES-13 Satellite Sees a "Giant Apostrophe" from Strong Eastern U.S. Low Pressure

NASA image captured April 12, 2011 at 1731 UTC (1:31 p.m. EDT)

A giant swirl of clouds that form an apostrophe-like shape over the eastern U.S. was spotted in visible imagery from the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite, GOES-13 on April 12, 2011 at 1731 UTC (1:31 p.m. EDT).

The GOES-13 satellite monitors weather over the eastern continental U.S. and Atlantic Ocean, while GOES-11 monitors the western U.S. and the Eastern Pacific Ocean. GOES-13 captured this image of the clouds associated with a strong upper level low pressure area that is moving though the Tennessee River Valley and bringing moderate to heavy rainfall as it moves eastward. The low is forecast by the National Weather Service to bring unsettled conditions to the Mid-Atlantic and then to New England late Tuesday and Wednesday as it tracks northeast.

Severe thunderstorms are possible today in extreme eastern Virginia and North Carolina as the cold front associated with the low pushes through that region. Meanwhile, rainfall from the low stretches from Massachusetts south to Florida today.

It seems that New Englanders are having a tough time getting warm spring weather and this low won't help as it moves north. The low pressure area may even bring some light to moderate snowfall on the northern fringe of the storm.

The GOES series of satellites keep an eye on the weather happening over the continental U.S. and eastern Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. NASA's GOES Project, located at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., procures and manages the development and launch of the GOES series of satellites for NOAA and creates images and animations. The GOES satellites are operated by NOAA.

Rob Gutro
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

Credit: NOAA/NASA GOES Project

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission.

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