tropical cyclone
English
![](../I/m/Maria%2C_Bopha_and_Saomai_2006-08-07_0435Z.jpg)
Three tropical cyclones of the 2006 Pacific typhoon season at different stages of development. The weakest (left), a tropical depression, demonstrates only the most basic circular shape. A stronger storm (top right) demonstrates spiral banding and increased centralization, while the strongest (lower right), a typhoon, has developed an eye.
Noun
tropical cyclone (plural tropical cyclones)
- (in the broad sense) a rapidly rotating storm system characterized by a low-pressure center, strong winds, and a circular/spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain, ranging in increasing strength from tropical depressions and tropical storm to hurricanes.
- (in the narrow sense) typhoon, hurricane
Synonyms
- (in the narrow sense) severe tropical cyclone, very intense tropical cyclone (used in the southern hemisphere and the Indian Ocean)
Translations
(broad sense)
|
See also
- cyclone
- hurricane
- typhoon
- tropical storm
- cyclonic storm
- tropical depression
- tempest
- willy-willy
This article is issued from
Wiktionary.
The text is licensed under Creative
Commons - Attribution - Sharealike.
Additional terms may apply for the media files.