Satellite Images Show the Fierce Power of Super Typhoon Meranti

Chris Dolce
Published: September 12,2016
Super Typhoon Meranti became a Category 5 in the western Pacific Ocean late Monday morning U.S. time. Maximum sustained winds increased to 180 mph, making it the strongest tropical cyclone in the Northern Hemisphere so far in 2016.
Given the tropical cyclone's extreme intensity, satellite images of it have been fascinating for many meteorologists sharing them on social media. Here are some of those jaw-dropping images.
(MORE: Latest on Meranti)
This first image shows Meranti as a super typhoon on Monday morning as it reached Category 5 strength. The orange, red and pink colors indicate colder (and higher) cloud tops in the infrared satellite image.

Japan's Himawari-8 satellite captured this visible satellite image of Meranti as the sun was setting in east Asia Monday. Visible satellite imagery shows how the typhoon would look if you were in space viewing it with your naked eye.

(CIRA/RAMMB)

Here's another infrared satellite image of Meranti on Monday showing its well-defined eye.

(NOAA)

A zoomed out visible satellite image view of Meranti on Monday from Japan's Himawari-8 satellite.

(JMA)

Meranti's cyclonic (counterclockwise) wind flow around its eye is illustrated by this next image taken on Monday.

Infrared view of Meranti as a Category 5 with winds of 180 mph. To see an animated version of this, click here.

(CIMSS)

This final look a Meranti is an animation of visible satellite imagery from Monday. Click the play buttom below to view.

MORE: Typhoon Nepartak Hits Taiwan and China in July 2016