Storm fundamentals
Hurricanes, typhoons, and cyclones
Hurricane and typhoon are regional names for the same kind of weather system: a tropical cyclone.
One phenomenon, different names
A tropical cyclone is an organized, rotating storm system that develops over tropical or subtropical waters. Regional terminology changes with location. NOAA explains the naming conventions.
| Region | Term |
|---|---|
| North Atlantic and eastern/central North Pacific | Hurricane |
| Northwestern Pacific | Typhoon |
| Indian Ocean and South Pacific | Tropical cyclone |
Not every tropical cyclone is a hurricane
“Tropical cyclone” is also the umbrella term for weaker systems. Tropical storms begin at 34 knots; hurricane strength begins at 64 knots on the one-minute wind scale. Regional agencies use their own classifications and wind-averaging conventions. Source: NOAA National Ocean Service.
Explore them on the same map
Hurricanes Mapped brings global records together in one timeline. Open the storm explorer, choose a year, and select a system from that year’s archive. Its profile shows the basin, recorded dates, track, and available intensity measurements.
The site name is shorthand for that wider archive. It includes typhoons, cyclones, depressions, and other tracked systems, including unnamed records. The homepage’s total is a count of archived systems, not a count of hurricanes.
Compare the measurements as well as the names
Our global map colors use US-agency one-minute categories. A missing category stays unknown. The profile can show a WMO wind value when no US wind is available, with its averaging-period caveat. The climate charts use only US-agency tropical-stage winds to avoid combining averaging periods.
Continue with the wind categories or a guide to reading tracks, then explore the map.