Did you know that hurricanes, typhoons, and tropical cyclones are basically just different names for the same weather event.
The map above shows where each name is used around the world.
Very simply:
- Hurricane: a tropical cyclone that occurs in the Atlantic Ocean and northeastern Pacific Ocean.
- Typhoon: occurs in the northwestern Pacific Ocean
- Cyclone: occurs in the south Pacific or Indian Ocean.
To learn more have a look at the following books:
- Divine Wind: The History and Science of Hurricanes
- Encyclopedia of Hurricanes, Typhoons, and Cyclones
- Hurricanes!
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James Driscoll says
Please note that they are not typhoons south of the Pacific Equatir, they are cyclones. Applies to Papua New Guinea and various other pacific island nations. Also, these type of storms do not form near the Equator since they require the Coriollis Effect in order to develop.
Robert Williams says
When I was on holiday in Crete at the end of September last year we had a “Medicane”.
I had never heard of it, but it was widely reported on BBC.
Mr. Doe says
I call it ‘orkaan’.