Home
Weather London
WeatherRadar
RainfallRadar
TemperatureRadar
WindRadar
LightningRadar
Weather News
Editor's Pick
Discover the app
Weather widget
Contact us
Apps
Career
    Home / Weather News /

    Tropical storms: what's the difference?

13:00
19 December 2021

Hurricanes, cyclones, typhoons
Tropical storms: what's the difference?

Hurricane

Typhoon Rai hit the Philippines this week as the Atlantic hurricane season ends and Australia's cyclone season commences. You may be wondering, what's the difference between these storms?

The answer is, not much. All three are tropical storms simply named differently based on the basin they form in.

Check out our Weather Explained video to learn more.

More on the topic
Summer in full flow. Your weather - Your shots. . . Sunday, 5 July 2026
Split image showing golden crepuscular rays streaming through sunset clouds over the countryside on the left, and glowing blue noctilucent clouds above silhouetted trees and traffic lights at twilight on the right.
Sunday, 5 July 2026

Your weather - Your shots

Summer in full flow
Yet another typhoon in the Pacific. Gusts of over 185 mph. . . Friday, 3 July 2026
Wind forecast map of the western Pacific showing a powerful typhoon east of Guam with a well-defined eye, strong wind circulation, and a windsock warning icon.
Friday, 3 July 2026

Gusts of over 185 mph

Yet another typhoon in the Pacific
Heatwave versus storm system. Contrasts in Europe. . . Tuesday, 7 July 2026
A temperature map of Europe showing a major heatwave in the south-west and significantly cooler air in the north. Two thermometer symbols illustrate the stark contrast in temperature.
Tuesday, 7 July 2026

Contrasts in Europe

Heatwave versus storm system
All weather news
This might also interest you
A frozen start to the weekend. Icy conditions. . . Friday, 13 February 2026
UK temperature map dated 14.02 showing widespread subzero values in blue shading, with readings such as −4 in Glasgow, −3 in Dublin, and −2 in London, alongside a blue thermometer icon.
Friday, 13 February 2026

Icy conditions

A frozen start to the weekend
Flooding, gales, and heavy snow. Storm Chandra. . . Tuesday, 27 January 2026
Split image showing aerial flooding in a town with muddy water covering roads on the left, and a rural road on the right blocked by heavy snowfall with vans stopped and a person walking in snow.
Tuesday, 27 January 2026

Storm Chandra

Flooding, gales, and heavy snow
New records for England and Wales. Broken again tomorrow?. . . Thursday, 25 June 2026
Temperature map of southwest Britain on 25.06 showing extreme heat across southern Wales and southwest England, with Bute Park in Cardiff highlighted at 34.2°C and Yeovilton at 36.4°C amid widespread deep red heat zones.
Thursday, 25 June 2026

Broken again tomorrow?

New records for England and Wales
All articles
Weather & Radar

Weather & Radar is also available on

Google Play StoreApp Store

Company

Contact us Privacy Policy Legal info Accessibility statement

Services

Uploader

Socials

facebooktwittertikToklinkList