Mid-level eye feature

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A mid-level eye feature is an eye-like structure often found in intensifying tropical cyclones. Like an "eye" in hurricanes or typhoons, it is a circular area at the circulation center of the storm in which convection is absent. However, it is typically confined to the middle levels of the tropical cyclone circulation. (850-500mb). For instance, showers and precipitation may still be present at the surface, but deeper convection and colder cloud tops may be absent in the area of the mid level eye.

Mid-Level eye features are most commonly found in intense tropical storms and hurricanes of category 1 strength on the Saffir-Simpson Scale. For example, a mid level eye feature was found in Hurricane Beta when the storm had maximum wind speeds of 50 mph. However, they are sometimes found in less intense tropical storms, or even tropical depressions. Mid-level eye features are typically not visible on visible wavelengths from space, however, they are easily seen on infrared or microwave imagery.