Dangerous Heat in the Southwest; Severe Thunderstorms and Heavy Rain in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic

Dangerous heat will persist across the Southwest U.S. through Friday with daytime highs of 110-115°F. Heat across the southern Plains will briefly ease to near-normal by late week. Strong to severe thunderstorms may produce damaging wind, hail, a tornado or two, heavy rain and flash flooding across parts of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Heavy rainfall threat continues across the Gulf Coast. Read More >

Satellite image

WHERE ARE THEY?

There are five geostationary meteorological satellites that provide images over the most the Earth. Geostationary satellites remain in sync with the earth's orbit, so they are stationary in relation to the surface of the earth. These satellites have the advantage of providing more frequent images than polar orbiting satellites since they remain in the same location.

The five geostationary weather satellites all orbit over the equator at a height of about 35,800 km. Japan's GMS remains near longitude 140 East and covers southeast Asia, Australia, and the Pacific Ocean. India's INSAT orbits at 75 East and covers southeast Asia, west Africa and the Indian Ocean. Europe's METEOSAT hovers near 0 degrees and overlooks Europe, Africa and the south Atlantic Ocean. The U.S. satellites are named Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) East and GOES West. GOES East orbits near longitude 75 West and provides coverage over the eastern U.S. and Canada, South America and the Atlantic Ocean. Goes West orbits near 135 W and covers the western U.S and Canada, Hawaii, Mexico and the Pacific Ocean.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s TIROS, the military's Defense Meteorological Satellite (DMSP) and Russia's METEOR are all polar orbiting satellites. They complete an orbit every 101-110 minutes.

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