The International Space Station captured stunning images of Hurricane Helene as it flew over the natural phenomenon on Thursday, September 26, 2024.
At the time of capturing the impressive images, Helene was moving toward the coast of the Gulf of Florida, with winds exceeding 120 miles per hour, according to the National Hurricane Center of the United States.
The video, shared through the official account of the International Space Station on social media, shows the magnitude and power of the hurricane from a unique perspective, over 400 kilometers above the Earth.
Helene made landfall in Florida as a category 4 hurricane and has since weakened to a tropical storm. Authorities activated warnings in coastal areas several days ago to minimize the impacts of destructive winds, torrential rains, and flooding as much as possible.
The images captured by the Station allow meteorologists to study the evolution of the cyclone in real time from space. This information is valuable for predicting its trajectory and mitigating damage in the affected areas.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) also deployed its WP-3D Orion aircraft, known as "Kermit," to penetrate the eye wall of Hurricane Helene.
The mission took place on September 26, when the cyclone was rapidly intensifying before reaching the coast. The goal was data collection, which allowed scientists to gather vital information about the behavior of the hurricane to improve predictions and response measures for natural disasters.
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