Hurricane Michaels Heavy Rainfall Measured with GPM IMERG

Hurricane Michael’s Heavy Rainfall Measured with GPM IMERG On October 10, 2018, Hurricane Michael made landfall in the Florida panhandle as a category 4 storm and continued a destructive path northeastward through Virginia. As a result of the strong winds, storm surges and heavy rains that Michael produced, over 19 deaths and billions of dollars in damage to crops and livestock have been recorded, and at least 250, 000 people are still without power as of Monday, October 15. GPM IMERG data were used to calculate estimates of precipitation totals along Michael's track from October 7 -12, 2018, the period from Michael becoming a tropical depression fourteen off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula until it passed off the East Coast. IMERG data indicated that Michael frequently produced rainfall totals greater than 10 inches (254 mm) along it's track with the heaviest rainfall accumulation Panama City occurring off the Yucatan where over 20 inches (512 mm) were estimated. Floodwaters of Panama City, FL on 10/10/18. Credit: Jabin Botsford/ The Washington Post via Getty Images. (Above)Total rainfall using IMERG from Oct. 7 -12, 2018 in southeastern US from Michael, credit: Hal Pierce (SSAI/NASA GSFC), see IMERG Accumulation Animation. (Top left) Downed trees and power lines in Panama City on 10/10, credit: Reuters via CBS News. (Top right) Images from Georgia Grown showing before (10/10) and after (10/11) the storm passed through cotton field in Georgia, credit: Georgia Grown via Facebook.