Cyclones and hurricanes explained
What is the difference between a tornado, a cyclone and a hurricane?
What is the difference between a tornado, a cyclone and a hurricane? Read below to find out more:
Tornado: Tornados are the most violent type of storms.
A tornado appears as a rotating, funnel-shaped cloud that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground with whirling winds that can reach 480 kilometres per hour.
Damage paths can be in excess of one mile wide and 80 kilometres long. Occasionally, tornadoes develop so rapidly that little, if any, advance warning is possible.
Tropical Cyclone: The terms "hurricane" and "typhoon" are regionally specific names for a strong "tropical cyclone".
A hurricane is the generic term for a low pressure system that generally forms in the tropics. A typical cyclone is accompanied by thunderstorms.
Hurricanes can cause catastrophic damage to coastlines and several hundred kilometres inland.
They are classified into five categories based on their wind speed, central pressure, and damage potential.
Category Three and higher hurricanes are considered major hurricanes.
Storm Surge
vegetation and signs.
small crafts, flooding.
roads cut off.
down, roads cut off, mobile homes
destroyed. Beach homes flooded.
4-5.5m
destroyed. Vegetation destroyed.
Major roads cut off. Homes flooded.
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