Polar cyclones (also known as Arctic Cyclones) are vast areas of low pressure. They should not be confused with what are commonly referred to as polar lows that behave similarly to hurricanes. Radar image of a tropical cyclone in the northern hemisphere. ... Polar lows are similar in behavior and size to tropical cyclones, although generally much shorter lived. ...

A polar cyclone is a low pressure weather system usually spanning 1,000–2,000 kilometers in which the air is circulating in a counterclockwise fashion (in the northern hemisphere). The reason for the rotation is the same as tropical cyclones, the Coriolis effect. Cyclone Catarina, a rare South Atlantic tropical cyclone viewed from the International Space Station on March 26, 2004 Hurricane and Typhoon redirect here. ... In the inertial frame of reference (upper part of the picture), the black object moves in a straight line. ...

Cyclone activity is most prevalent in the Eurasian Arctic with approximately 15 cyclones per winter. Polar cyclones also occur in Greenland and the Canadian arctic.

Polar cyclones can occur at any time during the year. However, summer cyclones tend to be weaker than winter cyclones. They are not well studied and seldom destructive as they typically take place in sparsely populated areas.

See also