Hurricane Irma weather maps reveal creepy skull-like face
An unnerving satellite photo of Hurricane Irma reminds some of a similar sinister image of Hurricane Matthew from last year.
Hurricanes show their devastating power, but it seems recently, the storms also like to show their faces.
Weather Channel senior meteorologist Stu Ostro shared a satellite image of Hurricane Irma on Twitter late Friday that had sinister face-like features, including a grim mouth and disturbing eye.
Ostro paired the image with a similar one of Hurricane Matthew captured last October when that storm made landfall in Haiti. (We wrote about it here.)
For the second year in a row, an eerie #hurricane face on satellite images at landfall #Matthew #Irma pic.twitter.com/DSigBrYEYB
— Stu Ostro (@StuOstro) September 9, 2017
Irma's image looks less terrifying than Matthew to some, primarily because the 2016 Matthew image appeared more skull-like, even baring its "teeth."
Some Twitter users found less frightening reminders in the image.
Irma kinda looks like someone familiar pic.twitter.com/0jFsvvgq5Q
— Raito (@Raitoish) September 9, 2017
I also see a bit of The Grinch in it too. pic.twitter.com/MnI6eHqQ2y
— Angie (@AngieSays) September 9, 2017
Looks like a pig. So when pigs fly? Welp, that time is here.
— The Rick (@ACOWproductions) September 9, 2017
What's eerie about a pink puppy?
— V Tony Loz (@VLo_79) September 9, 2017
irma looks like sonogram photo of evil elephant
— ceci (@ceci_StufF) September 9, 2017
The firstone is a skull but the second one is a turkey LOL
— Redvolucionario ★ ☯ (@Revolutionist77) September 10, 2017
Oh look, it's Snoopy! Snoopy would never hurt anybody... Here boy!
— A.J.Nasty (@zul1732) September 9, 2017
Now you have utterly creeped me out, Mr. O. Looks like Freddy coming to eat us. 😄 #Jacksonville
— SkeeterInSunshine (@stonly19) September 9, 2017
To me it looks like a heart with a whole in it! @weatherchannel pic.twitter.com/ylN9f8auGn
— Rozzi Bea (@RozziBea) September 10, 2017
Of course, as some Twitter users pointed out, there's a name for the tendency our minds have to perceive some familiar pattern where none exists.
Not creepy at all. It's a scientific phenomenon called Pareidolia. Our minds try to find an object in randomness. Nothing supernatural
— Jennifer Fabulous! (@WhiteSoxJJ216) September 10, 2017
But some people can make everything about food, and that's at least a little comforting.
Nope still see veal parm. Now I'm hungry.
— Vin Crosby (@VinCrosby) September 9, 2017
Tech Culture: From film and television to social media and games, here's your place for the lighter side of tech.
Batteries Not Included: The CNET team shares experiences that remind us why tech stuff is cool.