2 satellite sectors moved
Satellite moves MDS STATUS...
Each GOES weather satellite has two “mesoscale sectors” — small, movable windows that the satellite photographs roughly every 60 seconds, far more often than its routine full-disk and continental scans. Forecasters aim them at whatever is most important that day. This section announces where they are being pointed and for how long.
GOES-East is pointing mesoscale sector 2 at a point about 45 mi NE of Des Moines, IA — to support flash flood and heavy rainfall forecasting. That means this patch of sky gets a fresh satellite image about once a minute instead of every 5 to 10 minutes, so forecasters can watch storms develop almost in real time.
- Centre point
- 42.0°N, 93.0°W view on map
- Reason given
- WPC moderate risk of excessive rainfall across IA and IL
GOES-East is pointing mesoscale sector 1 at a point about 830 mi ESE of San Juan, PR. That means this patch of sky gets a fresh satellite image about once a minute instead of every 5 to 10 minutes, so forecasters can watch storms develop almost in real time.
- Centre point
- 13.0°N, 55.0°W view on map
- Window
- from until
Show the original message
Exactly as NWS transmitted it. Everything above is our plain-English reading of this text — if the two ever disagree, this is the authoritative version.
000 NOUS42 KWNO 141221 ADMSDM SENIOR DUTY METEOROLOGIST NWS ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGE NWS CENTRAL OPERATIONS COLLEGE PARK MD 1221Z FRI AUG 14 2026 MDS STATUS... GOES-E MDS Sector 2 is centered over 42N/93W in support of WPC moderate risk of excessive rainfall across IA and IL. GOES-E MDS Sector 1 is centered over 13N/55W from 12Z until 18Z, then move to 14N/57W from 18Z until 15/00Z to support NESDIS monitoring of a tropical wave that is expected to impact the Lesser Antilles tonight into Saturday. Ready/SDM/NCO