NASA GOES SATELLITE VIEW OF HURRICAN MITCH IN THE CARIBBEAN, 1998-10-27 (photo)

Hurricane Mitch, one of the fiercest Atlantic storms on record, is shown in the Caribbean on October 24 in this GOES (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite) satellite image. The color-tinted clouds are a result of using the thermal infrared channels of the satellite. Mitch whipped the Caribbean Sea on October 27 with vicious winds and lashed the Mexican and Central American coasts with heavy rains that threatened to trigger deadly mudslides and flooding. Mitch was extremely dangerous and capable of causing "catastrophic damage," the National Hurricane Center said. ELD/SB