Quote:
Originally Posted by AndyK
Yep, just depends where it is ...
Hurricanes, typhoons and tropical cyclones are different names for the same type of storm. A tropical cycloneis called a hurricane in the North Atlantic Ocean, South Pacific Ocean, or the Northeast Pacific Ocean on the eastern side of the dateline. A typhoon occurs in the Northwest Pacific Ocean west of the dateline. In other parts of the world, these storms are called severe tropical cyclones. In Britain, it's just a bit wet and windy, until the press get hold of the story, then it's armageddon  |
From what I remember from geography lessons ..
Cyclones are large wind systems rotating around an eye of low pressure, but not all cyclones produce the spinning column of air that is a tornado which is also of far smaller diameter, and generally formed over land (at sea they're usually referred to as waterspouts). Hurricanes are formed over water when a wet mass of air over the sea evaporates, may or may not hit landfall, and can cause tsunamis and floods. Tornados are usually created by thundertorms or by hurricanes when they hit land.
Doubtless Wiki will have many other versions ..
but Wiki is only as good as the last poster.
Whatever the definition .. they are not restricted to the USA
Caryl