A hurricane's eye is calm because this quiet center is the hub around which the section of strongest winds forms. Without this hub, the storm would not develop the necessary power. The rotating winds cause the updrafts of air that give a storm hurricane strength. read more
Suddenly, a band of air at a certain radial distance starts rotating more strongly than the others; this becomes the "eyewall" — the region of strongest winds that surrounds the eye in a hurricane. The rotating winds cause updrafts: air that moves from the ocean's surface to the top of the storm. read more
The eye of a hurricane develops as wind speeds increase to 80 miles per hour or more. The eye can be anywhere from 20 to 40 miles in width as storm conditions persist, according to the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research. It forms a round, cylindrical shape that extends up and above the actual storm like a tube. read more