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

For Students

tropical cyclone summary

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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

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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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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?

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

16 Questions About Earth’s Atmsophere and Weather Answered

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Scolex (head) of the tapeworm Taenia solium. The hooks of the scolex enable the tapeworm to attach to the intestinal wall.

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Paul Revere. "The bloody massacre perpetrated in King Street Boston on March 5th 1770 by a party of the 29th Regt.," engraved by Paul Revere. Boston Massacre.

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Lake Mead (the impounded Colorado River) at the Hoover Dam. The light-coloured band of rock above the shoreline shows the decrease in water level in the first few years of the 21st century.

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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.

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tropical cyclone: Facts & Related Content

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

Last Updated: May 31, 2025

News •

Storm tracker: Hurricane forecasters watch tropical waves and more • May 28, 2025, 4:56 AM ET (USA Today)

Even weak tropical cyclones raise infant mortality in poorer countries, finds research • May 22, 2025, 12:10 PM ET (Medical Xpress)

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

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

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Topics

eye outflow inflow eyewall rainband tornado storm surge Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale disaster extratropical cyclone 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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Umbrella colored like a rainbow sticking out above a sea of black umbrellas while it rains. (storm, weather)

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

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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.

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

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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?