A tropical cyclone called Caleb was spotted by NASA in the Southern Indian Ocean near Cocos Island on March 23 at 0700 UTC (3:00 EST). The cyclone was made visible by NASA's VIIRS or Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite aboard on NASA-NOOAA's Soumi NPP satellite.

The image showed clouds and the rising air that condensed and formed the storms and make up the tropical cyclone. The easterly wind flow caused the clouds to move west from the center. Shortly after this the AIRS or Atmospheric Infrared Sounder instrument aboard on NASA's Aqua satellite gave the data of the cyclone locations temperatures.

According to NASA's AIRS, data showed some cloud top temperatures of thunderstorms west of Caleb's center were as cold as minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit or minus 53 degrees Celsius. It was revealed by NASA research that cold could possibly generate heavy rainfall.

Caleb's formation at 0900 UTC (5 a.m. EST) was noted by the Joint Warning Center when its maximum sustained winds were near 40 knots (46 mph/74 kph). The cyclone was located near 12.4 degrees south latitude and 100.6 degrees east longitude, 215 nautical miles east of Cocos.

Cyclocane updates Caleb for the past six hours as located near 12.4S 100.6E, approximately 215 NM east of Cocos and had tracked southeastward at 10 knots. Maximum sustained winds were estimated at 40 knots gusting to 50 knots.

As the most affected area Cocos is a small island also called Keeling island, belongs to Australia. It is located in the Indian Ocean, southwest of Christmas Island and approximately midway between Australia and Sri Lanka. It is inhabited by a total population of 600. The island was affected during this time by Caleb, the twelfth tropical cyclone of the Southern Indian Ocean.

The forecast track of the Joint Typhoon Warning Center showed Caleb as heading southeast. It would get stronger briefly then turn west and dissipate after five days.

Related