What is the difference between typhoon, cyclone, hurricane and tornado?

jonnowales

So, first, when dealing with cyclones and tornados, you have to understand a little bit of history. About a hundred years ago, cyclones and tornadoes were considered pretty much the same thing -- land based circular wind storms. But that doesn't hold true today. Technically, a cyclone is any kind of circular wind storm. But now, only used to describe a strong tropical storm found off of the coast of India, something you definitely would not call a tornado. As for hurricanes and typhoons, well, that was a bit of a trick question. Hurricanes and Typhoons are the same thing, but in different places. If you're standing on the coast of Florida and there's a strong tropical storm coming, you may be hit by a hurricane. If you're fishing in the Philipines, be careful, because you're in typhoon territory. http://www.weathernotebook.org/transcripts/1997/05/02.html Aug 22 07, 9:55 AM

zbeckabee

A cyclone is any kind of circular wind storm. A cyclone is an area of low atmospheric pressure characterized by inward spiraling winds that rotate counter clockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern hemisphere of the Earth. Hurricanes and Typhoons are the same thing, but in different places. On the coast of Florida it is called hurricane. In the Philipines, it is called typhoon. Hurricanes occur in the Atlantic and typhoons, in the Pacific. Tornados form over land and are much smaller in size. A tornado is a violent windstorm characterised by a twisting, funnel-shaped cloud. In the United States, twister is used as a a colloquial term for tornado. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclone http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-1317404,prtpage-1.cms Aug 22 07, 10:23 AM

star_gazer

Hurricane Flossie recently hit Hawaii which is in the Pacific. http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=3472133 Aug 22 07, 11:25 AM