Tropical Storm Fami Form, Fast and Furious

February 1 at 2231 UTC (5:31 p.m ET) as it was approaching landfall in Madagascar. Heavy rain was falling from high thunderstorm cloud tops that were as cold as minus 63F.

image reveals that once Fami made landfall, the storm was developing an eye (blue) in the upper levels of the storm.

At 1 a.m. ET (0600 UTC), Tropical Storm Fami had maximum sustained winds near 46 mph (40 knots) and was located in southern Madagascar, about 235 nautical miles west-southwest of Antananarivo, Madagascar. That’s near 21.2 South and 43.8 East. Fami is moving east-southeast near 9 mph (8 knots).

Tropical Storm Oli Kicking Up Waves in South Pacific

NASA’s Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument captured an infrared image of Oli’s cloud temperatures on February 2 at 0041 UTC. High thunderstorm cloud tops surrounded Oli’s center as cold as minus 63F. There is a separate band of clouds associated with Oli to the north.

At 1500 UTC (10 a.m. ET) on February 2, Oli had maximum sustained winds near 52 mph (45 knots) with higher gusts. It was located about 480 nautical miles west of Bora Bora, near 14.8 South and 159.5 West. Oli has tracked eastward at 11 mph (10 knots).