For Hurricanes, Storms, Raindrop Size Makes All the Difference

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Hurricane Cindy (2005) was observed after it became an extratropical cyclone indicated by larger raindrops that are decreasing in abundance (lots of blue and green) of raindrops as the hours pass when compared to smaller raindrops in greater abundanc ...
Hurricane Cindy (2005) was observed after it became an extratropical cyclone indicated by larger raindrops that are decreasing in abundance (lots of blue and green) of raindrops as the hours pass when compared to smaller raindrops in greater abundance (lots of red) during Hurricane Charley (2004). Credit: NASA/Ali Tokay
When Tropical Storm Gaston hit Richmond, Va., in August 2004, its notable abundance of small and mid-sized raindrops created torrential rains that led to unexpected flash flooding throughout the city and its suburbs. New research from NASA has concluded that tropical cyclones like Gaston produce rain differently than another class of storms called "extra-tropical" cyclones.


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