tropical cyclone

Table of Contents

References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics

Images & Videos

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

Hurricane Sandy . The Aftermath Ocean Grove, New Jersey

8 Nonhuman Casualties of Hurricanes

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

When Katrina Struck

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?

This close-up image of a dust storm on Mars was acquired by the Mars Color Imager instrument on NASA Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter on Nov. 7, 2007. This image is centered on Utopia Planitia

Do Hurricanes Happen on Other Planets?

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

16 Questions About Earth’s Atmsophere and Weather Answered

Discover

July, 2006, Launch of Space Shuttle Discovery STS-121. See attached for full caption information.

Will Light-Speed Space Travel Ever Be Possible?

Queen Elizabeth II addresses at opening of Parliament. (Date unknown on photo, but may be 1958, the first time the opening of Parliament was filmed.)

All 119 References in “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” Explained

Mona Lisa, oil on wood panel by Leonardo da Vinci, c. 1503-06; in the Louvre, Paris, France. 77 x 53 cm.

Why Is the Mona Lisa So Famous?

Artist interpretation of a Space meteoroid impact. Meteor impact. Asteroid, End of the world, danger, destruction, dinosaur extinct, Judgement Day, Planet Earth, Doomsday Predictions, comet

10 Failed Doomsday Predictions

Space race (1957-1969) infographic between United States (U.S.) and Russia. America, Soviet Union, U.S.S.R., space exploration

Timeline of the Space Race, 1957–69

Agnes with a lamb near her feet. St. Agnes (Saint Agnes) design drawing for stained glass window by J&R Lamb Studios, ink, mount size 10.5 x 14.5 in.

Roman Catholic Saints

African Americans demonstrating for voting rights in front of the White House as police and others watch, March 12, 1965. One sign reads, "We demand the right to vote everywhere." Voting Rights Act, civil rights.

Timeline of the American Civil Rights Movement

tropical cyclone: Facts & Related Content

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

News •

Hurricane Season Hasn't Been Truly Quiet In 10 Years • Apr. 23, 2025, 3:11 AM ET (The Weather Channel)

Hurricane-hit Grenadians see climate change and reparations as one struggle • Apr. 22, 2025, 1:43 AM ET (The Guardian)

Florida’s Hurricane-Battered Gulf Coast Beckons Spring Breakers: ‘We Are Open’ • Apr. 14, 2025, 8:46 AM ET (New York Times)

Hurricane named after last Battle of Britain pilot • Apr. 2, 2025, 9:10 AM ET (BBC)

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

Dig Deeper: More Articles That Discuss This Topic

Quiz

Umbrella colored like a rainbow sticking out above a sea of black umbrellas while it rains. (storm, weather)

Weather Words Vocabulary Quiz

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

Facts You Should Know: Weather Quiz

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

April Showers to March’s Lions and Lambs

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.

Disasters of Historic Proportion

List

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

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

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?