Cyclone
A large-scale atmospheric circulation around a low-pressure centre, rotating anticlockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.
Cyclone is a general meteorological term and includes extratropical depressions as well as tropical cyclones. Air converges towards lower pressure and is deflected by Earth’s rotation, commonly producing cloud, precipitation, shifting winds and unsettled conditions.
In regional usage, “cyclone” may specifically mean a mature tropical cyclone, while “hurricane” and “typhoon” describe the same class of tropical system in other ocean basins. Mariners should use official forecasts and warnings rather than infer severity from the name alone.
