Tropical Cyclone

weather · storms · ocean

Spinning monster. A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm with a low-pressure center, strong winds, and thunderstorms arranged in a giant spiral.

Many names. The same kind of storm gets different names depending on where it forms: a hurricane in the Atlantic, a typhoon in the northwestern Pacific, and a cyclone in the Indian Ocean.

Heavy rain. These storms produce heavy rain, squalls, and powerful winds that swirl around the center.

Lots each year. On average, about 80 to 90 named tropical cyclones form around the world every year, and more than half grow hurricane-force winds.