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In 2020, there were a record 30
named hurricanes in the

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Atlantic.

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Hurricanes occur in the warmer
months when the ocean

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temperature rises. 

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NASA monitors and tracks
hurricanes through

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Earth-Observing satellites. These

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instruments allow NASA to see
things like the movement of

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storms at night, rainfall rates,
surface wind speed, cloud

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heights, ocean heat, and humidity.

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All the data collected is free
and accessible to the public, so

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regional and local governments
as well as federal agencies like

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FEMA can better prepare for
hurricanes in advance, leading

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to more efficient relief action.

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NASA also tracks the long term
changes of hurricanes. As human

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caused climate change appears to
be strengthening the strongest

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storms. More storms are
increasing in strength within a

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24-hour period, which is a
process called rapid

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intensification. In 2020, a
record-tying nine storms rapidl

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 intensified

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NASA has developed a machine
learning model that could more

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accurately detect rapidly
intensifying storms, with the

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goal of giving people more time
to prepare for high intensity

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storms and flooding.

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In addition to rapid
intensification, storms are

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stalling, or moving forward mor
 slowly, making them mor

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 destructive

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These hurricanes can slow to
just a few miles an hour,

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dumping rain and fierce winds on
one location at a time.

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Using satellites NASA also helps
to assess the aftermath of

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storms. In 2020, NASA's
Disasters program provided data

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to groups in Alabama, Louisiana,
and Central America to identify

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regions significantly affected
by hurricanes, like which

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neighborhoods remain dark with
no power. This helps to both

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identify vulnerable communities
and make informed decisions

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about where to send resources.

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Hurricanes can displace entire
cities of people whose homes or

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neighborhoods are destroyed and
cause millions of dollars worth 

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f damage every year.

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In addition to on-the-ground
relief, it's important to

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continue to monitor hurricane
behavior and characteristics so

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that weather models can more
accurately predict the magnitude

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and trajectory of storms.

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When it comes to hurricanes, our
eyes in the sky can provide

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critical data to help keep
people in the know and out of

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harm's way.