Using ASCAT Wind and Other Data in Marine Forecasting

5.0 Closing the Case, 25 November » 5.3 ASCAT and Vis Image

The ASCAT wind data at 0645 UTC on 25 November also corresponds well with the cloud band associated with the cold front on the 06 UTC visible 0.6 um image.

ASCAT Wind Data at 0645 UTC Overlaid on MSG Vis 0.6 µm Image at 06 UTC 25 Nov 2013

ASCAT does a good job of showing the northwesterly flow ahead of the cold front. We also see the wind shift from northwesterly to southwesterly on the northwestern parts of the frontal band, and from northwesterly to westerly over southeastern portions of the frontal band. Cyclonic rotation of the winds has also been detected to the south and west of the front, in the region west and north of the storm’s vortex. In the area of cold air cumulus cloud cover to the west and south of the cold front, the winds are southwesterly, as would be expected.