Cyclone

In meteorology, a cyclone refers to an area of closed, circular fluid motion rotating in the same direction as the Earth. This is counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere. Cyclones are characterized by inward spiraling winds that rotate about a zone of low pressure. The largest cyclones are known as “tropical cyclones” or “hurricanes” in the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific, or “typhoons” in the Western Pacific. However, not all cyclones are as intense as these storm systems. Cyclones can also occur at mid-latitudes as areas of low pressure, known as extratropical cyclones. These systems can bring a range of weather conditions from rain and snow to clear, sunny conditions depending on the side of the cyclone and its characteristics.