GPM Analyzes Rainfall in Bahamas from Potential Tropical Cyclone 9

As the Bahamas continue to recover from Category 5 hurricane Dorian, a new developing tropical cyclone is bringing additional rainfall to an already soaked area. The Global Precipitation Measurement mission or GPM core satellite provided a look at those rainfall rates occurring in Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine, located over the Bahamas.

Potential Tropical Cyclone 9 developed around 5 p.m. EDT on Thursday, Sept. 12. At 11 a.m. EDT on Sept. 13, the depression triggered watches and warnings from NOAA's National Hurricane Center. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the northwestern Bahamas excluding Andros Island and a Tropical Storm Watch is in effect from Jupiter Inlet to the Flagler-Volusia County line, Fla.

Watches and warnings are already in effect. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the northwestern Bahamas excluding Andros Island and a Tropical Storm Watch is in effect from Jupiter Inlet to Flagler-Volusia County line, Fla.

The GPM or Global Precipitation Measurement mission's core satellite passed over Tropical Depression 9 on Sept. 13 at 2:26 a.m. EDT (0726 UTC). GPM found the heaviest rainfall northwest of the center where it was falling at a rate of over 40 mm (about 1.6 inches) per hour. GPM is a joint mission between NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, JAXA.

NOAA's National Hurricane Center noted at 2 p.m. EDT (1800 UTC), the disturbance was centered near latitude 25.4 degrees north and longitude 74.2 degrees west. The system is expected to resume a slow-motion toward the northwest and north-northwest later in the day. Maximum sustained winds are near 30 mph (45 kph) with higher gusts. The disturbance is forecast to become a tropical depression or a tropical storm later today or Saturday.

The potential tropical cyclone is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations through Sunday in the Bahamas of up to 2 to 4 inches, with isolated maximum amounts 6 inches. The U.S. Southeast Coast from central Florida into South Carolina can expect from 2 to 4 inches.

On the forecast track, the system is anticipated to move across the central and northwestern Bahamas today, and along or near the east coast of Florida Saturday and Saturday night.