When Hurricane Helene hit the southeastern United States last month, it caused widespread power outages and devastating flooding on the ground. But as revealed in new NOAA data, the superstorm also generated shockwaves in Earth’s atmosphere.

When Hurricane Helene slammed into Florida with 140-mph winds, the impacts on the ground were deadly, and that power reverberated up into Earth’s atmosphere, creating ripples seen by a NASA instrument more than 55 miles above.

"Like rings of water spreading from a drop in a pond, circular waves from Helene are seen billowing westward from Florida," expert Ludger Scherliess said.