Hurricane (Tropical Cyclone)
A regional name for a tropical cyclone whose maximum sustained surface winds have reached hurricane strength.
The term is used in the North Atlantic and the eastern and central North Pacific; the same class of rotating warm-core storm is called a typhoon in the western North Pacific and a severe tropical cyclone in several other regions. The precise sustained-wind threshold and averaging period follow the responsible meteorological authority’s convention.
Hazards extend far beyond the eye and include destructive wind, extreme waves, storm surge, torrential rain, flooding, lightning and tornadoes. Track and intensity forecasts contain uncertainty, so mariners must use official warnings and make decisions early rather than relying on the forecast centreline alone.
