March 29, 2024
GOES-17 improves West Coast weather forecasts
SOUTHLAND – (INT) – More accurate weather forecasts are being promised thanks to a new stationary satellite.

GOES-17 is helping forecasters track the weather and other environmental hazards in California, Alaska and Hawaii. The satellite has begun transmitting its first images from its new orbital position above the Pacific Ocean.

Forecasters are using GOES-17 data to see weather forming over the northeastern Pacific Ocean, where many weather systems that affect the continental U.S. first form.

Until recently, high-quality data coverage of the Pacific Ocean was sparse. Now that GOES-17 data is available, however, forecasters have access to more detailed views of high-impact weather systems and other environmental hazards like wildfire smoke and volcanic ash.

GOES-17 helps forecasters predict the intensity and impact of Pacific storms that hit the West Coast. These include atmospheric river events that bring heavy rain and high-elevation snow to California and the Pacific Northwest.

Now that it is operational, GOES-17 replaces GOES-15 as NOAA’s GOES West satellite.
Story Date: February 26, 2019
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