Outline of tropical cyclones

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to tropical cyclones:

Tropical cyclone – storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor contained in the moist air. They are fueled by a different heat mechanism than other cyclonic windstorms such as nor'easters, European windstorms, and polar lows. The characteristic that separates tropical cyclones from other cyclonic systems is that at any height in the atmosphere, the center of a tropical cyclone will be warmer than its surroundings; a phenomenon called "warm core" storm systems.

Nature of tropical cyclones

Tropical cyclones can be described as all of the following:

Storm – disturbed state of an environment or astronomical body's atmosphere especially affecting its surface, and strongly implying severe weather. It may be marked by significant disruptions to normal conditions such as strong wind, hail, thunder and lightning (a thunderstorm), heavy precipitation (snowstorm, rainstorm), heavy freezing rain (ice storm), strong winds (tropical cyclone, windstorm), or wind transporting some substance through the atmosphere such as sand or debris.
Natural disaster – major adverse event resulting from natural processes of the Earth; examples include floods, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis, and other geologic processes. A natural disaster can cause loss of life or property damage, and typically leaves some economic damage in its wake, the severity of which depends on the affected population's resilience, or ability to recover.

Types of tropical cyclones

Cumulative graph of tropical cyclones in the eastern Pacific

Tropical cyclone observations

**Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale**
Category	Wind speeds
Five	≥70 m/s, ≥137 knots ≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h
Four	58–70 m/s, 113–136 knots 130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h
Three	50–58 m/s, 96–112 knots 111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h
Two	43–49 m/s, 83–95 knots 96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h
One	33–42 m/s, 64–82 knots 74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h

**Related classifications**
Tropical storm	18–32 m/s, 34–63 knots 39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h
Tropical depression	≤17 m/s, ≤33 knots ≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h

Tropical cyclone scales –
- Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale –
- Accumulated cyclone energy –
- Hurricane Severity Index –
- Carvill Hurricane Index –
- Dvorak technique –
Tropical cyclone naming –

Forecasting

Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre –
- Canadian Hurricane Centre –
- Central Pacific Hurricane Center –
- Eastern Pacific Hurricane Center –
- Joint Typhoon Warning Center –
- Joint Typhoon Warning Center –
Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert –
Tropical cyclone forecast model –
Tropical cyclone forecasting –
Tropical cyclone rainfall forecasting –
Tropical cyclone track forecasting –
Tropical cyclone warnings and watches –

Tropical cyclone history

Tropical cyclone seasons

Specific tropical cyclones

Hurricane Isabel

References

External links

Regional Specialized Meteorological Centres

US National Hurricane Center – North Atlantic, Eastern Pacific
Central Pacific Hurricane Center – Central Pacific
Japan Meteorological Agency – NW Pacific
India Meteorological Department – Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea
Japan Meteorological Agency – NW Pacific
Météo-France – La Reunion – South Indian Ocean from 30°E to 90°E
Fiji Meteorological Service – South Pacific west of 160°E, north of 25° S

Tropical Cyclone Warning Centers

Indonesian Meteorological Department – South Indian Ocean from 90°E to 125°E, north of 10°S
Australian Bureau of Meteorology (TCWC's Perth, Darwin & Brisbane). – South Indian Ocean & South Pacific Ocean from 90°E to 160°E, south of 10°S
Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited – South Pacific west of 160°E, south of 25°S

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