Large Rotating Storms What’s the Difference? (Images from Wikipedia Pages)

2015 Atlantic Hurricanes

2015 Pacific Hurricanes

2015 Typhoons

Cyclones (Southern Hemisphere Tropical Storms)

All Tropical Storms from 1985 to 2005

Big Ideas All large rotating storms can be called cyclones. When the storms occur in the Northern and Western Hemisphere they are referred to as Hurricanes. When the storms occur in the Northern and Eastern Hemisphere they are referred to as Typhoons. In the Southern Hemisphere they are commonly referred to as Cyclones. All are fueled by warm water near the equator. Due to the Coriolis Effect the storms never cross the equator.

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