Phenomena: Human Activity Tropical Cyclones Hurricanes
Satellite: NOAA-21
Product: Day/Night Band
Instrument: VIIRS
Timespan: June 9, 2024 and July 9, 2024
NOAA-21 captured imagery of the devastating power loss across East Texas following Hurricane Beryl’s landfall. This imagery compares the nighttime lights on June 9 to July 9, showing the effects the hurricane had on the power grid throughout the region, most noticeably the Houston metro area.
Beryl was the earliest Category 5 hurricane observed in the Atlantic basin on record, and only the second Category 5 hurricane to occur in July after Hurricane Emily in 2005.
This image was captured by the Day/Night Band on the NOAA-21 satellite's VIIRS instrument, which scans the entire Earth twice per day at a 750-meter resolution. Multiple visible and infrared channels allow it to detect atmospheric aerosols, such as dust, smoke and haze associated with industrial pollution and fires. The polar-orbiting satellite circles the globe 14 times daily and captures a complete daytime view of our planet once every 24 hours.