Incredible Convection Pulsing Within the Core of Major Hurricane Irma (credit: Michael Lowry)

#Irma's convective pulses tonight are truly something else (satellite loop via @UWSSEC) pic.twitter.com/AXKZw6e8Kx

— Michael Lowry (@MichaelRLowry) September 5, 2017

DISCUSSION: As Major Hurricane Irma continued to intensify during the later part of the evening on Monday (Labor Day in the United States), there were some absolutely incredible satellite-based observations found in association with Irma.  For example, as shown in the high-resolution GOES-16 infrared satellite imagery attached above (courtesy of Meteorologist Michael Lowry), there was particularly intense convection pivoting around the core of the circulation of Major Hurricane Irma.  This observation was further substantiated by what was observed as "convective pulsing" at the center of Major Hurricane Irma which indicated that there was tremendously efficient ventilation of heat energy at the top of this very dangerous tropical cyclone.  Furthermore, it also indicated that even at Category 4 status, Major Hurricane Irma is still continuing to intensify at an already high level of intensity.  Thus, making an already dangerous tropical cyclone even more intimidating.  There still remains a possibility that this tropical cyclone could reach Category 5 status (i.e., sustained winds greater than or equal to 156 mph) before or shortly after reaching the Leeward Islands.

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©2017 Meteorologist Jordan Rabinowitz