Cyclone

A cyclone is a large-scale weather system with winds that rotate around a center of low atmospheric pressure.

A cyclone is a large-scale weather system with winds that rotate around a center of low atmospheric pressure. In meteorology, the term can refer broadly to low-pressure systems or more specifically to tropical cyclones, depending on regional usage. In Canadian weather reporting, the term cyclone is more often used for extratropical cyclones or low-pressure systems, while tropical storms are typically called hurricanes.

Definition and usage

In meteorology, a cyclone is a rotating system of winds around low atmospheric pressure. The word is also used regionally as a name for tropical cyclones, especially in parts of the Indian Ocean and South Pacific.

Rotation and structure

Cyclones rotate in opposite directions in the two hemispheres because of Earth’s rotation. The center is the lowest-pressure area, and in mature tropical cyclones this central region is often called the eye.

Types of cyclones

Cyclones include mid-latitude or extratropical cyclones and tropical cyclones. Tropical cyclones are stronger warm-ocean systems that may be called hurricanes, typhoons, or cyclones depending on location.

Weather effects

Cyclones usually bring cloudy, unsettled conditions and can produce heavy rain, strong winds, thunderstorms, and in some cases snow. Their severity depends on the type and strength of the system.