Special Weather Statement Graphic

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- The 26th Operational Weather Squadron released a Special Weather Statement Graphic on April 14 as a severe weather outbreak was preparing to hit four states. (Courtesy graphic)

Hurricane Dean in the Gulf of Mexico

A Defense Meteorological Satellite Program nighttime image of Hurricane Dean churning in the Gulf of Mexico . The DMSP F-16 satellite image from 8:50 p.m. (EDT) Aug. 19, is a multispectral image that uses both infrared and visual satellite imagery to produce a color composite that reveals clouds and lights. The infrared portion is in blue, showing clouds, and the visible portion is in yellow, showing city lights. Image courtesy of the Air Force Weather Agency.

A Defense Meteorological Satellite nighttime image of the wide-spread power outages across the Gulf Coast of the United States after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the area.

A Defense Meteorological Satellite nighttime image of the wide-spread power outages across the Gulf Coast of the United States after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the area. The DMSP F-15 satellite image from 9:21 p.m. (CST) Aug. 30, is a 1.5nm Resolution, Visible/Infrared composite with the Infrared portion in blue showing clouds and the Visible portion in yellow showing city lights and fires. Image courtesy of the Air Force Weather Agency.

A Defense Meteorological Satellite Program satellite image of Hurricane Katrina as it made landfall on the Gulf Coast of the United States Aug. 29, 2005.

A Defense Meteorological Satellite Program satellite image of Hurricane Katrina as it made landfall on the Gulf Coast of the United States Aug. 29, 2005. The DMSP F-15 satellite provides multispectral images that use both infrared and visual satellite imagery to produce a color composite that reveals cloud depths and layers. Image courtesy of the Air Force Weather Agency.

A Defense Meteorological Satellite nighttime image of the Gulf Coast of the United States.

A Defense Meteorological Satellite nighttime image of the Gulf Coast of the United States. The DMSP F-15 satellite image from Sep. 17, 2003, is a 1.5nm Resolution, Visible/Infrared composite with the Infrared portion in blue showing clouds and the Visible portion in yellow showing city lights. Image courtesy of the Air Force Weather Agency.

Defense Meteorological Satellite Program nighttime image of Hurricane Rita

A Defense Meteorological Satellite Program nighttime image of Hurricane Rita churning in the Gulf of Mexico Sep. 22, 2005. The DMSP F-16 satellite image from 8:59 p.m. (CDT) Sep. 22, is a multispectral image that uses both infrared and visual satellite imagery to produce a color composite that reveals clouds and lights. The infrared portion is in blue, showing clouds, and the visible portion is in yellow, showing city lights. Image courtesy of the Air Force Weather Agency.

Defense Meteorological Satellite Program satellite image

A Defense Meteorological Satellite Program satellite image of Hurricane Rita churning in the Gulf of Mexico Sep. 23, 2005. The DMSP F-15 satellite provides multispectral images that use both infrared and visual satellite imagery to produce a color composite that reveals cloud depths and layers. Image courtesy of the Air Force Weather Agency.

Rita recovery tracked by DMSP imagery

LOS ANGELES AFB, Calif. – These images show Defense Meteorological Satellite Program nighttime imagery of the Gulf Coast Region Sept. 23 compared to a satellite pass over the area Sept. 27 – before and after Hurricane Rita’s impact on the area’s power grid. Low-light imagery from Air Force Space Command’s Space and Missile Systems Center Defense Meteorological Satellite Program satellites help agencies assess damage and track repair progress by comparing “lights at night” images taken before and after a disaster. This imagery provides data on human activity as indicated by city and industrial lights. (Images courtesy of Air Force Weather Agency)