Live Satellite
Satellite imagery is the fastest way to see how organized a storm is. The views below come from the GOES-East satellite, which watches the Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico from above the equator. Each image updates about every 10 minutes.
Use GeoColor for an overall picture, infrared to judge cloud-top height and storm strength, and water vapor to spot dry air and moisture feeding into the system. The National Hurricane Center uses these same views when writing its advisories.
GeoColor — Tropical Atlantic
GeoColor, tropical Atlantic sector. Source: NOAA STAR. Updates every 10 minutes.
Infrared Band 13 — Tropical Atlantic
Band 13 infrared, tropical Atlantic sector. Source: NOAA STAR. Updates every 10 minutes.
Water Vapor Band 8 — Tropical Atlantic
Band 8 water vapor, tropical Atlantic sector. Source: NOAA STAR. Updates every 10 minutes.
GeoColor — Gulf of Mexico
GeoColor, Gulf of Mexico sector. Source: NOAA STAR. Updates every 10 minutes.
What to look for
A well-defined eye
A clear, circular opening at the center means the storm is organized and usually intensifying. A ragged or filled-in eye means it is struggling.
Symmetrical outflow
Clouds streaming outward evenly in all directions tell you the storm is venting heat. Lopsided outflow often points to wind shear pushing it apart.
Cold cloud tops near the center
On infrared, brighter white means colder, taller cloud tops. Deep cold tops wrapped around the center are a sign of a strong, deep core.
Dry air being pulled in
On water vapor, dark areas are dry air. When dark tones wrap toward the center, dry air is being drawn in, which weakens the storm.
Frequently asked questions
What is GeoColor?
GeoColor is a composite image that approximates true color during the day and adds a city-lights overlay at night. It makes it easier to see a storm's structure relative to land and ocean in a single view.
What does infrared show at night?
Infrared measures cloud-top temperature, which works in daylight and darkness. Brighter whites are colder, taller cloud tops, which usually mark the strongest part of a storm. This is why infrared is the default at night.
Why does the image look stretched at the edges?
GOES-East is a satellite over the equator, so it sees the Atlantic at an angle. Features near the edges of the sector appear stretched because of the viewing geometry. The center of the image is the most accurate.
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