Tropical Cyclone A tropical cyclone is a powerful low-pressure system forming over warm tropical oceans. When winds hit 62 kmph (34 knots) and pressure drops sharply, it evolves into a vast spinning storm — stretching 150 to 800 km across and moving up to 500 km a day! The term cyclone comes from the Greek word ‘cyclos’ meaning "coiling of a snake" coined by Henry Piddington in the 19th century. Region-wise, it's known as: Cyclone - Indian Ocean Hurricane - Atlantic Ocean Typhoon - Pacific Ocean

What are cyclones, and how are they formed? This episode of Weather on the Go will help you learn about them, including how they are catergorised according to their intensity. | ABC Asia