How a cyclone and a hurricane are different from each other
Cyclones are hurricanes are the names given to tropical storms that are characterized by violently high winds that swirl in a circular direction as they form over tropical waters. There are heavy downpours of rain in this type of storm. Although they may be similar in characteristics, they differ in the location in which they occur and on where they make landfall.
What is a cyclone?
A cyclone is a violent tropical storm that occurs in the Indian Ocean or the Southwestern portion of the Pacific Ocean. The winds usually form over the equator or in a tropical location and rotate at an extremely high speed. There are different types of cyclones depending on where they make landfall. They are usually referred to as tropical cyclones. A cyclone that occurs in the Northwestern portion of the Pacific Ocean is called a typhoon.
What is a hurricane?
Hurricane is the name given to a cyclone that occurs in the Atlantic Ocean or in the Eastern Pacific near Central and South America. This is a very powerful storm with high winds and rain that can cause a lot of damage. It forms over tropical waters and the wind speeds are higher than that of a cyclone. They are very common between the months of June and November in the northern part of South America, the Caribbean and the southern coast of the US. On times they can track farther north and hit the east coast of Canada. In order for a storm to be classed as a hurricane the wind speed has to be 74 miles an hour or higher. All hurricanes are cyclones, but not all cyclones are hurricanes.
The difference between a hurricane and a cyclone
There are more similarities between a hurricane and a cyclone, yet they are different in some ways. The main difference is in the area where they occur. A cyclone occurs in the Indian Ocean and in the southwestern part of the Pacific Ocean. It can also occur in the northwestern Pacific, but in this case it is known as a typhoon. A hurricane occurs in the Atlantic Ocean and in the southeastern portion of the Pacific.
A hurricane has stronger winds than a cyclone and can therefore cause much more damage. Both types of storms form in the same way over tropical waters. They do differ in the speed of the wind and its rotation and in the locations where they make landfall. It should also be remembered that some hurricanes and cyclones do not hit land at all.
Summary
- All hurricanes are cyclones, but not all cyclones are hurricanes.
- They both form in the same way and are accompanied by strong winds and torrential rains.
- Cyclones occur in the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific.
- Hurricanes occur in the Atlantic Ocean and the Southeaster Pacific.
- Hurricanes are more powerful than cyclones because they have higher wind speeds.