Video: Space Station passes over Hurricane Helene, captures eye of the storm

The footage reveals the storm's immense size and well-defined eye, giving scientists and meteorologists valuable data to assess its strength.

In Short

• Tropical storm warnings extend along the entire East Coast of Florida
• The video shows the massive hurricane system
• The space station's external cameras captured the hurricane

The International Space Station (ISS) has captured stunning footage of Hurricane Helene as it approaches the Gulf Coast of Florida, providing a unique perspective on the powerful storm from 260 miles above Earth's surface.

The video, recorded on September 26, 2024, shows the massive hurricane system with winds exceeding 120 miles per hour as the space station passed over it.

The footage reveals the storm's immense size and well-defined eye, giving scientists and meteorologists valuable data to assess its strength and potential impact.

WATCH HURRICANE HELENE AS SEEN FROM SPACE

Hurricane Helene, classified as a major hurricane, is expected to make landfall along Florida's Big Bend region late Thursday night or early Friday morning. The National Hurricane Center forecasts that the storm will continue to strengthen before it hits the coast, potentially causing significant damage and flooding.

The space station's external cameras captured the hurricane moving in a north-northeasterly direction, with its vast cloud system spanning hundreds of miles. The video clearly shows the storm's spiral bands and the ominous calm at its center.

As Helene approaches, authorities have issued hurricane warnings for a large portion of Florida's Gulf Coast, from the Tampa Bay area through the Panhandle. Tropical storm warnings extend along the entire East Coast of Florida, reaching as far north as the North Carolina-South Carolina border.

The ISS footage not only provides a breathtaking view of the hurricane but also serves as a crucial tool for meteorologists. These space-based observations help improve weather forecasting models and enhance our understanding of hurricane dynamics.

NASA continues to monitor Hurricane Helene closely, with additional passes over the storm scheduled for later in the day. These observations will provide further insights into the hurricane's development as it nears the Florida coast, helping emergency services and residents prepare for its impact