CIMSS-NOAA Weekly Report [ Archive ]

CIMSS-NOAA WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 20, 2026

DATA, INFORMATION, AND USE-INSPIRED SCIENCE:

All-sky Profile Retrievals from GXS Proxy Data: In preparation for the upcoming GeoXO Sounder, the first geostationary hyperspectral infrared sounder, an all-sky retrieval algorithm has been developed using a deep-learning algorithm based on U-Net framework. This algorithm is capable of retrieving all-sky T/Q profiles at fixed pressure levels between 200hPa and surface, utilizing spatial features from geostationary sounder to enhance retrievals over cloudy regions. Derived all-sky products such as total precipitable water, layered precipitable water, lifted index, convective available potential energy, etc. will provide useful moisture and instability information for storm nowcasting. (Z. Ma, CIMSS, 608-890-1982; Z. Li, CIMSS; J. Li, CIMSS; A. Heidinger, NOAA NESDIS)

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Figure: (a) Truth and (b) Retrievals of 500hPa all-sky relative humidity (RH) over CONUS from 1300 to 1845 UTC on September 06, 2019.

PEOPLE, AWARDS AND RECOGNITION:

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SOCIAL MEDIA AND BLOG Posts:

CIMSS Satellite Blog Updates: The Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) Satellite Blog (https://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/satellite-blog/) was updated with the following posts: "Satellite signatures of the NASA/SpaceX Crew-12 launch" (Feb. 13), "Large-Scale Fog over Lake Superior" (Feb. 16), "SPC issues Extreme Fire Weather Outlooks for parts of the central/southern Plains — with significant wildfire outbreaks along the Oklahoma/Kansas border" (Feb. 17) and "Morning Convection Across the Midwest" (Feb. 19). (S. Bachmeier, T. Wagner, CIMSS, 608-890-1980)

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Figure: GOES-19 Shortwave Infrared image at 2313 UTC on February 17, 2026 -- showing the thermal signature of the Ranger Road Fire as it was making a rapid 65-mile run from the Oklahoma Panhandle to far southern Kansas.

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