BELOW SUPERNAV drop zone ⇩

Hurricane, cyclone or typhoon: What’s the difference?

This image provided by the National Hurricane Center National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows a satellite view as Hurricane Fiona moves up the United States Atlantic coast, Thursday night, Sept. 22, 2022. (NOAA via AP)

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

ovp test

mLife Diagnostics LLC: Oral Fluid Drug Testing

Male shot by female at Shreveport apartment

Class to create biodiverse backyard

Rules for outbursts at Caddo School Board Meeting

(NewsNation) — Hurricane Fiona wrecked havoc on Puerto Rico earlier this week, before transforming into a post-tropical cyclone when it made landfall in Canada on Saturday.

While the term “hurricane” and “cyclone” both refer to a tropical system, their different names are based on the region where they form and exist in, according to NewsNation local affiliate KXAN.

A tropical cyclone, as defined by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, is a generic term given to a low-pressure system that “formed over tropical waters (25°S to 25°N) with thunderstorm activity near the center of its closed, cyclonic winds.” These cyclones get their energy from vertical temperature differences and have a warm core, according to NOAA.

Tropical systems with winds that exceed 39 mph are called storms and are then given a name, as Fiona did. Once these winds go over 74 mph, that’s when a cyclone becomes designated as a hurricane or typhoon.

A hurricane, according to NASA and NOAA, develops over the North Atlantic, Northeast Pacific Ocean, or South Pacific Ocean. Cyclones form over the Southwest Pacific and the Indian Ocean, while typhoons are in the Northwest Pacific.

Hurricane Season in the Atlantic Ocean spans from June 1 to Nov. 30, according to NOAA. In 2022, the administration’s Climate Prediction Center predicted a 65% chance of having an above-normal season. It predicted a 25% chance of a near-normal season and a 10% chance of a below-normal season.

So far this season, the New York Times reports, there have been nine named storms. NOAA is forecasting a likely range of 14 to 21 named storms in 2022.

One of these storms, Ian, is tracking toward Florida and has the potential to strengthen into a major hurricane before making landfall.

Weather

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed

Site Settings Survey

 

MAIN AREA MIDDLE drop zone ⇩

Trending on NewsNation

MAIN AREA BOTTOM drop zone ⇩

tt

KC Chiefs parade shooting: 1 dead, 21 shot including 9 kids | Morning in America

Witness of Chiefs parade shooting describes suspect | Banfield

Kansas City Chiefs parade shooting: Mom of 2 dead, over 20 shot | Banfield

WWE star Ashley Massaro 'threatened' by board to keep quiet about alleged rape: Friend | Banfield

Friend of WWE star: Ashley Massaro 'spent hours' sobbing after alleged rape | Banfield

Clear

la

55°F Clear Feels like 55°
Wind
1 mph E
Humidity
57%
Sunrise
Sunset

Tonight

A clear sky. Low around 50F. Winds light and variable.
50°F A clear sky. Low around 50F. Winds light and variable.
Wind
2 mph NNE
Precip
1%
Sunset
Moon Phase
Waxing Gibbous