Hurricane, Cyclones, and Typhoons

We have heard of Hurricane Katrina in the United States, and floods in Asia. You may think these three terms are not related to one another and the use of these may get confusing at times. But, believe it or not, these descriptions refer to the same thing.

Typhoon and hurricane are actually regional labels for tropical cyclones. Cyclones are general terms for low pressure systems accompanied by winds and thunderstorms over tropical waters. Hurricane is a word used most often in the region of the Atlantic Ocean, and North and South Pacific Oceans. On the other hand, the word typhoon often describes the weather condition in the northwest area of the Pacific Ocean.

You may ask, what about tropical depressions and tropical storms? Well, both of these are weaker versions of cyclones. Whereas cyclone, hurricane, or typhoon winds have a capacity of strong winds, specifically approaching or rather, attaining a minimum of 74 miles per hour, a tropical depression occurs when the winds reach less than 39 miles per hour. Meanwhile, a tropical storm has winds that are at least 39 miles per hour, but does not come close to about 70 miles per hour. Tropical storms are given names.