Super Typhoon Maemi

Super Typhoon Maemi

The MODIS instrument onboard NASA's Terra satellite captured this true-color image of Typhoon Maemi located approximately 400 miles south-southest of Okinawa, Japan. At the time this image was taken, Maemi was packing sustained winds of 172 mph with gusts to 200 mph.

Maemi is the Korean name for a cicada that legend says chirps madly to warn of a coming typhoon.

Image courtesy Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team at NASA GSFC.