Tropical Cyclone Ita off the coast of Australia

Cyclone Ita rapidly intensified, reaching Category 4 (JTWC) on the Saffir-Simpson scale (or a Category 5 on the Australian scale: BOM advisory). The black and white image is the combination of the 0.6, 1.6 and 11 micron channels. The colour image shows the 11 micron channel temperatures with red showing the coldest cloud tops. The eye of the cyclone can be clearly seen. This image on 10 April at 11:25 UTC shows the Metop-A IR 10.8 micron channel temperatures over-laid with the surface winds from ASCAT. The winds are average winds — much higher gustiness would have been experienced on the surface.