tropical cyclone

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tropical cyclone

Go inside a tropical cyclone's eye to learn how low-pressure cores exist amid cloud walls and high winds

Know about the hurricanes, its formation, and the challenges in forecasting

Life cycle of a North Atlantic hurricane

Hurricane Dennis

Tracks and frequency of tropical cyclones and tropical storms

Superstorm Sandy

Earth's Western Hemisphere

“Supertyphoon” Chaba

For Students

tropical cyclone summary

Read Next

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Hurricane Katrina infographic. Path of the Hurricane Katrina disaster. Includes information on casualties, damage, and the flooded parts of NOLA. tropical cyclone, storm

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Lightning over the outskirts of Oradea, Rom., during the thunderstorm of August 17, 2005.

16 Questions About Earth’s Atmsophere and Weather Answered

Hurricane Sandy . The Aftermath Ocean Grove, New Jersey

8 Nonhuman Casualties of Hurricanes

Hurricane Catarina, which hit Brazil, was taken by an Expedition 8 crewmember on the International Space Station, March 27, 2004. Tropical cyclones below the equator rotate clockwise when viewed from space.

How Are Hurricanes and Typhoons Named?

Discover

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tropical cyclone: Facts & Related Content

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Facts

Also Known As	hurricane • cyclone • typhoon

Photos and Videos

tropical cyclone

Life cycle of a North Atlantic hurricane

Hurricane Dennis

Tracks and frequency of tropical cyclones and tropical storms

Superstorm Sandy

Earth's Western Hemisphere

“Supertyphoon” Chaba

Hurricane Helene

flooding on Bhola Island

Go inside a tropical cyclone's eye to learn how low-pressure cores exist amid cloud walls and high winds

Know about the hurricanes, its formation, and the challenges in forecasting

Learn about cyclones and how they are formed

See how cloud formation near a low-pressure system or ongoing tropical storm fuels a hurricane

Understanding tornadoes, thunderstorms, and hurricanes

See All Videos and Images →

Topics

outflow eyewall rainband inflow eye tornado hurricane intensity scales extratropical cyclone storm surge Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale tropical storm polar vortex monsoon bomb cyclone intertropical convergence zone trade wind lee cyclone volcano earthquake tsunami

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Warm water fuels Hurricane Katrina. This image depicts a 3-day average of actual dea surface temperatures for the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, from August 25-27, 2005.

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Lightning over a farm field. Weather electricity thunderstorm light energy tree

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rain. Child in the rain, wearing a rain coat, under a yellow umbrella. April Showers weather climate rain storm water drops

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In this aerial photo, structures are damaged and destroyed October 15, 2005 in Balakot, Pakistan. It is estimated that 90% of the city of Balakot was leveled by the earthquake. The death toll in the 7.6 magnitude earthquake that struck northern Pakistan on October 8, 2005 is believed to be 38,000 with at least 1,300 more dead in Indian Kashmir. SEE CONTENT NOTES.

6 of the World’s Deadliest Natural Disasters

Lightning over the outskirts of Oradea, Rom., during the thunderstorm of August 17, 2005.

16 Questions About Earth’s Atmsophere and Weather Answered

Hurricane Sandy . The Aftermath Ocean Grove, New Jersey

8 Nonhuman Casualties of Hurricanes

Demystified

Hurricane Catarina, which hit Brazil, was taken by an Expedition 8 crewmember on the International Space Station, March 27, 2004. Tropical cyclones below the equator rotate clockwise when viewed from space.

How Are Hurricanes and Typhoons Named?