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Diagram showing the anatomy of a tropical cyclone with a top view and a vertical cross section. The top view highlights the cyclone's spiral shape with a central eye and surrounding eyewall. The cross section illustrates the eye, eyewall, spiral rainbands, outflow cloud shields, and airflow patterns including spiraling winds, rotation, and descending air.
Satellite image showing three labeled hurricanes—Florence, Isaac, and Helene—across the Atlantic Ocean in September 2018.
Satellite view of a rotating hurricane, showing swirling cloud bands and a defined central eye.
3D cross-sectional illustration of a hurricane over ocean, showing cloud bands and vertical structure of storm systems.
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tropical cyclone
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Diagram showing the anatomy of a tropical cyclone with a top view and a vertical cross section. The top view highlights the cyclone's spiral shape with a central eye and surrounding eyewall. The cross section illustrates the eye, eyewall, spiral rainbands, outflow cloud shields, and airflow patterns including spiraling winds, rotation, and descending air.
tropical cyclone Infographic showing the anatomy of a tropical cyclone.

A tropical cyclone is an intense, circular storm that forms over warm tropical oceans. It is characterized by low atmospheric pressure, high winds, and heavy rain. These storms draw energy from the sea surface and can strengthen significantly. When winds exceed 119 km (74 miles) per hour, they are classified as hurricanes, typhoons, or cyclones, depending on the region.1

A key feature of a tropical cyclone is its eye, a central area with clear skies, warm temperatures, and very low atmospheric pressure. Around the eye is the eyewall, where winds are strongest and rainfall is heaviest, making it the most dangerous part of the storm. Secondary spiral bands of rain also extend from the center. These storms rotate counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere due to the Coriolis force.23

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4 Britannica Sources
  1. tropical cyclone
  2. tropical cyclone
  3. tropical cyclone - The eye
  4. tropical cyclone: Top Questions

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