17P Now a Low with a Fair Chance for a Comeback

17P low on Feb. 24 at 0709 UTC (2:09 a.m. ET). The rainfall was scattered around the low’s center. The yellow and green areas indicate moderate rainfall between .78 to 1.57 inches per hour. The small red area indicates heavy rainfall at almost 2 inches per hour.

Today, February 24, the low formerly known as 17P is centered near 13.1 degrees South latitude and 161.4 degrees West longitude, approximately 560 nautical miles east of Pago Pago.

The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite, managed by NASA and the Japanese Space Agency flew over 17P’s low on Feb. 24 at 0709 UTC (2:09 a.m. ET). TRMM data showed that the rainfall was scattered around the low’s center at that time. Most of the rain was light to moderate, falling at rates between 20 and 40 millimeters (.78 to 1.57 inches) per hour. Later in the morning, the rainfall shifted mostly to the southwest of the center.

17P is Now a Fading Depression

17P on February 23 at 6:58 a.m. ET and the MODIS instrument captured in infrared image of the storm. It was difficult to find a center of the storm.

Tropical cyclone 17P has had a brief life. After becoming a tropical storm yesterday, atmospheric conditions have weakened the cyclone back down to tropical depression status today, February 23 and it is expected to dissipate in the next couple of days.

On February 22 at 6 p.m. ET (21 UTC), the Joint Typhoon Warning Center issued their final advisory on 17P. At that time, its maximum sustained winds were near 34 mph (30 knots) and it continued to weaken. It was still 615 nautical miles east-northeast of the island of Pago Pago, near 12.2 degrees South latitude and 160.8 West longitude.