Cyclones and tornadoes are two different types of storms that cause extensive damage to the ground. If you live or travel in an area where cyclones and tornadoes are common, it’s important to know how they differ so that you can protect yourself and others from the dangers they pose.
A cyclone is a windstorm that has low pressure at its center. It usually forms in tropical regions as moist air rises above the ocean, then condenses to form a low pressure area and winds.
It is also a powerful storm that can cause widespread damage and death to people. For example, a cyclone in India killed more than 300,000 people back in 1839 and the Bhola cyclone that raged over Bangladesh in 1970 claimed more than 250,000 lives.
A typhoon is a type of hurricane that develops over the Pacific ocean. It has high winds and can be classified as a Category 3 or greater hurricane. Typhoons are also very dangerous and can annihilate coastal areas.
A tornado is a violent rotating column of air that extends from a Cumulonimbus cloud (or much more rarely, a cumulus cloud). It is a violently rotating windstorm with possible winds of more than 300+ miles per hour.
