Outline of tropical cyclones

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

Tropical cyclones, storm systems characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones develop or 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

Tropical cyclone – a rapidly rotating low-pressure system consisting of a spiral band of thunderstorms, strong winds, and atmospheric circulation that can produce heavy rain and squalls. Depending on the location, they are given different names such as hurricanes, cyclones, or typhoons.
Annular tropical cyclone – a tropical cyclone that possesses annular characteristics. Annular characteristics are often seen in major cyclones, where they possess a symmetrical eye and a thick ring of convection.
Subtropical cyclone – a low-pressure system that gains both tropical and extratropical-like quantities.
Extratropical cyclone – a low-pressure system that is capable of producing weather conditions such as tornadoes, thunderstorms, gales, etc.
Post-tropical cyclone – a former tropical cyclone that no longer has enough tropical quantities to be considered a tropical cyclone. Post-tropical cyclones, such as remnant lows, no longer possess tropical quantities through either unfavorable conditions (e.g. increased wind shear) or land interaction.
Pacific hurricane – a tropical cyclone that forms west of 100°W to the International Date Line in the Northern Hemisphere. The National Hurricane Center is responsible for the region east of 140°W, while the Central Pacific Hurricane Center is responsible for storms forming west of 140°W to the International Date Line.
Atlantic hurricane – a tropical cyclone that forms in the Atlantic Ocean. The National Hurricane Center is responsible for the region.
Typhoon – a tropical cyclone that forms between the International Date Line and 100°E in the Northern Hemisphere. The main RSMC for this region is the Japan Meteorological Agency.
Mediterranean tropical-like cyclone – a tropical cyclone that forms in the Mediterranean Sea.
Cape Verde hurricane – a tropical cyclone that forms from a tropical wave over or near the Cape Verde islands. Cape Verde hurricanes occur between August and October and contain some of the most destructive hurricanes to strike land in the Atlantic. Examples include Hurricane Ivan, Hurricane Isabel, Hurricane Dorian, etc.
Tropical wave – an atmospheric trough or low-pressure area that forms along the subtropical ridge or supported from an area of high pressure, which lies either north or south of the Intertropical Convergence Zone.

Tropical cyclone observations

Saffir–Simpson scale, 1-minute maximum sustained winds
Category	m/s	knots	mph	km/h
5	≥ 70	≥ 137	≥ 157	≥ 252
4	58–70	113–136	130–156	209–251
3	50–58	96–112	111–129	178–208
2	43–49	83–95	96–110	154–177
1	33–42	64–82	74–95	119–153
TS	18–32	34–63	39–73	63–118
TD	≤ 17	≤ 33	≤ 38	≤ 62

Tropical cyclone scales –
- Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale –
- Accumulated cyclone energy –
- Hurricane Severity Index –
- Chicago Mercantile Exchange Hurricane Index –
- Dvorak technique –
Tropical cyclone naming –
- History of tropical cyclone naming –

Forecasting

Tropical Cyclone Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre – a centre responsible for the distribution of information, advisories, and warnings in a specific region, which are often approved by the World Meteorological Organization.
- National Hurricane Center – an RSMC that tracks and monitors systems within the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific Oceans (east of 140°W).
- Central Pacific Hurricane Center – an RSMC that tracks and monitors systems within the North Central Pacific Ocean (west of 140°W to the International Date Line (180°)).
- Japan Meteorological Agency – an official RSMC of the Western Pacific Ocean (west of the International Date Line). It is responsible for monitoring systems in the Northwestern Pacific.
- China Meteorological Administration – a weather service located in China that is responsible for systems entering China or in the South China Sea.
- The India Meteorological Department – an RSMC responsible for tracking and monitoring systems in the North Indian Ocean.
- Météo-France – (specifically La Réunion) an RSMC responsible for tracking systems in the South-west Indian Ocean (west of 90°E)
- Fiji Meteorological Service – an RSMC responsible for tracking systems in the South Pacific Ocean.
Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre – (see definition of Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre)
- Bureau of Meteorology – an RSMC responsible for tracking systems within the Australian Region.
- Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency – a forecast agency responsible for systems affecting Indonesia and the surrounding islands. It is also an unofficial RSMC in the Australian Region.
- Meteorological Service of New Zealand – (also known as MetService), a warning centre responsible for systems affecting New Zealand.
Other forecasting agencies –
- Brazilian Navy Hydrographic Center –
- Canadian Hurricane Centre – an unofficial RSMC that tracks tropical cyclones entering or affecting Canada.
- Eastern Pacific Hurricane Center – a former RSMC that tracked systems east of 140°W prior to folding with the National Hurricane Center in 1988.
- Hong Kong Observatory – a forecast agency located in Hong Kong.
- Joint Typhoon Warning Center – (formerly the Fleet Weather Center), an unofficial RSMC that tracks systems in the Central Pacific, Western Pacific, South Pacific, and Indian Oceans.
- Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration – a forecasting agency that tracks systems within the Philippine Area of Responsibility. It is also an unofficial RSMC in the Northwestern Pacific.
Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert –
Tropical cyclone forecast model –
Tropical cyclone forecasting –
Tropical cyclone rainfall forecasting –
Tropical cyclone track forecasting –
Tropical cyclone warnings and watches –