Hurricane Igor neared the northern Leeward Islands on September 16, 2010, as the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite passed overhead. Acquired at 1:15 p.m. Atlantic Standard Time (AST), this natural-color image shows Igor’s spiral arms grazing the archipelago in the southwest. Spanning hundreds of kilometers, Igor retains a distinct eye.
At 5:00 p.m. AST on September 16, the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported that Igor was about 405 miles (650 kilometers) northeast of the northern Leeward Islands. With winds of roughly 125 miles (205 kilometers) per hour, Igor was a Category 3 hurricane. Although no coastal watches or warnings were in effect, the NHC advised U.S. interests in Bermuda to carefully monitor the storm’s progress.
NASA image by Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Rapid Response Team at NASA GSFC. Caption by Michon Scott.