A NASA satellite captured Tropical Cyclone Ashobaa as it prepared to make landfall in eastern Oman.
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument on NASA's Terra satellite captured the stunning image. The storm passed over Ashobaa on June 11 at 2:35 a.m. EDT.
The image revealed "a powerful, thick band of thunderstorms spiraling into the center from the southwestern quadrants of the storm. The western quadrant was over the east coast of Oman, bringing heavy rain, tropical-storm-force winds and very rough surf," NASA said in a statement.
At 11 a.m. EDT on June 11, the joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) reported the sustained winds from the storm at 40 knots, and they believe storm will continue to weaken as it moves inland. It was centered near 20.8 North latitude and 59.8 East longitude, about 72 nautical miles and is moving west at about six about 6.9 miles per hour.
"The JTWC forecast track calls for the center of Ashobaa to pass just north of Masirah Island. The Oman Meteorology department expects Ashobaa to make landfall between Ras Al Hadd to Masirah Island. As Ashobaa moves toward landfall and then moves inland, tropical-storm force winds and heavy rainfall can also be expected in southern Al Sharqiya, northern Al Sharqiya, Southern Al Batinah , Muskat, Al Wusta, and Al Dhakilia," NASA said.
The JWTC expects the storm to quickly die out as it interacts with the land and encounters the present dry air. It is expected to weaken to a depression by June 13.
