Spiral Bands

Description Localized areas of tall/deep clouds, heavy rain, and high winds, known as spiral bands, may extend a few hundred kilometers outward from the center of a hurricane. Spiral Bands in VIS Imagery On the visible satellite image, spiral bands appear as brighter bands of convection spiraling inward toward the center (eye) of a hurricane. As you look at the satellite imagery, try to trace the spiral bands from the point they appear to begin as separate cloud structures to the point they become diffuse.

Spiral Bands in IR Imagery Spiral bands may appear as colder features in infrared imagery (note the temperature bar on the bottom edge of the IR image), but may not be as easily discernible as in the visible imagery. Finding it difficult to easily identify spiral bands? It can be tricky, but you will get more practice locating spiral bands in the Explore Hurricanes section.