Why All Hurricanes Look The Same From Space

Every satellite photo of a hurricane looks a lot like the last one. The striking similarity has to do with how hurricanes form. Hurricanes are a type of tropical cyclone, a rotating system of thunderstorms and heavy winds. They form over warm ocean water near the equator.

When warm, moist air rises, it creates a low-pressure area in its place, which sucks in more warm air from nearby. The moist air cools as it ascends, condensing to form clouds. The warm air keeps cycling upward like a giant chimney, coiling the clouds into a swirling mega-storm.