central dense overcast central dense overcast tropical cyclone strong subtropical cyclone large central area thunderstorms surrounding circulation center caused formation eye wall round angular oval irregular shape feature shows tropical cyclones tropical storm hurricane strength far center embedded temperature difference cloud tops cyclone eye help determine tropical cyclone intensity locating center problem strong tropical storms systems minimal hurricane strength location obscured high cloud canopy center location problem resolved use microwave satellite imagery cyclone reaches hurricane intensity eye appears center defining center low pressure cyclonic wind field tropical cyclones changing intensity lightning steady state storms tracking cloud features frequently updated satellite imagery determine intensity highest maximum sustained winds tropical cyclone heaviest rainfall usually located cloud tops characteristics large region thunderstorms surrounding center stronger tropical subtropical cyclones shows brightly cold cloud tops satellite imagery forms development eyewall tropical cyclone shape round oval angular irregular development preceded narrow dense shaped convective band early development angular oval shape rounds increases size appears smooth tropical cyclone shapes occur environments low levels vertical wind shear strongest winds tropical cyclones tend located deepest convection seen satellite imagery cloud tops radius maximum wind usually cloud tops area tropical cyclone rainfall reaches maximum intensity mature tropical cyclones steady state contains nearly lightning activity lightning common weaker tropical cyclones systems fluctuating intensity eye eye region calm weather center strong tropical cyclones eye storm roughly circular area typically miles diameter surrounded eyewall ring thunderstorms surrounding center circulation cyclone lowest barometric pressure occurs eye lower atmospheric pressure outside storm weaker tropical cyclones eye defined covered high caused cloud outflow surrounding central dense overcast use tropical cyclone strength indicator dvorak satellite strength estimate tropical cyclones visual patterns cyclone define upper lower bounds intensity central dense overcast pattern patterns central dense overcast utilizes size pattern start equivalent minimal tropical storm intensity mph shape central dense overcast considered farther center stronger deemed banding features utilized determine tropical cyclone center degree spiral channels polar microwave satellite imagery definitively locate center tropical cyclones maximum sustained winds mph mph center obscured visible infrared satellite imagery makes diagnosis intensity challenge winds tropical cyclones estimated tracking features rapid scan satellite imagery pictures taken minutes apart half hour
Central dense overcast