Satellite images

Satellite weather images are similar to photos you would take with a normal camera if you happened to be orbiting the planet.

The only difference is that by using frequencies outside the spectrum of visible light they can take images in complete darkness and show much more than a normal photo. The most common non-visible frequencies used by satellites are infrared (measuring heat) or water vapour (measuring cloud density).

They're an overview, a rough guide as to what's going on. They clearly show the storms (as spirals of white cloud) and settled areas of high pressure (those with no cloud).