Traditionally, areas of tropical cyclone formation are divided into seven basins. These include the north Atlantic Ocean, the eastern and western parts of the Pacific Ocean (considered separately because tropical cyclones rarely form in the central Pacific), the southwestern Pacific, the southwestern and southeastern Indian Oceans, and the northern Indian Ocean. The western Pacific is the most active and the north Indian the least active. An average of 86 tropical cyclones of tropical storm intensity form annually worldwide, with 47 reaching hurricane/typhoon strength, and 20 becoming intense tropical cyclones (at least of Category 3 intensity).^[2] The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is an intergovernmental organization with a membership of 187 Member States and Territories. ... National Weather Service Logo The U.S. National Hurricane Center is the division of National Weather Services Tropical Prediction Center responsible for tracking and predicting the likely behavior of tropical depressions, tropical storms and hurricanes. ... National Weather Service Logo The U.S. National Hurricane Center is the division of National Weather Services Tropical Prediction Center responsible for tracking and predicting the likely behavior of tropical depressions, tropical storms and hurricanes. ... On September 11, 1992, Hurricane Iniki caused more than USD $3 billion of damage in Hawaii. ... Japan Meteorological Agency (気象庁) is a government agency, which is a central place responsible for gathering and reporting weather data and forecasts in Japan. ... IMD logo The India Meteorological Department is a government of India organisation that is responsible for meteorological observations, weather forecasts, detecting earthquakes etc. ... Météo-France is a French public establishment, tasked with the forecasting and study of weather in France. ... Location of Fiji in the Pacific Ocean The Fiji Meteorological Service is a Department of the government of Fiji responsible for providing weather forecasting and is based in Nadi. ... View of the MetService building in the Wellington Botanic Garden, from Tinakori Hill. ... The Bureau of Meteorology is an Australian government organisation responsible for providing weather services to Australia and surrounding areas. ... The Bureau of Meteorology is an Australian government organisation responsible for providing weather services to Australia and surrounding areas. ... Cyclone Catarina, a rare South Atlantic tropical cyclone viewed from the International Space Station on March 26, 2004 Hurricane and Typhoon redirect here. ... The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale is a scale classifying most Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the levels of tropical depression and tropical storm and thereby become hurricanes; the categories it divides hurricanes into are distinguished by the intensities of their respective sustained winds. ...

Northwestern Pacific Ocean

Tropical storms in this region often affect China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, the Philippines, and Taiwan, as well as countries in Southeast Asia such as Vietnam and parts of Indonesia, plus numerous Oceanian islands. This is by far the most active basin, accounting for one-third of all tropical cyclone activity. The coast of China sees the most landfalling tropical cyclones worldwide.^[3] The Philippines receives an average of 6-7 tropical cyclone landfalls per year.^[4] For the fictional superstate in George Orwells novel, see Oceania (Nineteen Eighty-Four). ...

Northeastern Pacific Ocean

Main article: Pacific hurricane

This is the second most active basin and has the highest number of storms per unit area. Storms that form here often affect western Mexico, and less commonly the Continental United States (in particular California), or northern Central America. No hurricane included in the modern database has made landfall in California; however, historical records from 1858 speak of a storm that brought San Diego winds over 75 mph/65 kts (marginal hurricane force), though it is not known if the storm actually made landfall.^[5] Tropical storms in 1939, 1976 and 1997 brought gale-force winds to California.^[5] A Pacific hurricane is a tropical cyclone that develops in the northeastern part of the Pacific Ocean. ... Depending on usage, the term continental United States can refer to either: the 48 contiguous states plus the District of Columbia; or the 48 contiguous states plus the District of Columbia and Alaska. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... Map of Central America Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. ... The 1858 San Diego Hurricane was a very unusual event. ... Flag Seal Nickname: Americas Finest City Location Location of San Diego within San Diego County Coordinates , Government County San Diego Mayor City Attorney         City Council District One District Two District Three District Four District Five District Six District Seven District Eight Jerry Sanders (R) Michael Aguirre Scott Peters Kevin... The Long Beach Tropical Storm was the only modern tropical cyclone(1939). ... Hurricane Kathleen was a tropical cyclone of the 1976 Pacific hurricane season. ... Hurricane Nora was the fourteenth named tropical cyclone and seventh hurricane of the 1997 Pacific hurricane season. ...

Northern Atlantic Ocean

Main article: Atlantic hurricane

This region includes the North Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico. Tropical cyclone formation here varies widely from year to year, ranging from one to over twenty per year with an average of around ten.^[6] The United States Atlantic coast, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean Islands, and Bermuda are frequently affected by storms in this basin. Venezuela, the south-east of Canada and Atlantic Macaronesian islands also are occasionally affected. Many of the more intense Atlantic storms are Cape Verde-type hurricanes, which form off the west coast of Africa near the Cape Verde islands. Occasionally, a hurricane that evolves into an extratropical cyclone can reach western Europe, including Hurricane Gordon (2006), which spread high winds across Spain and the British Isles in September 2006.^[7] Tropical Storm Vince, which made landfall on the southwestern coast of Spain as a tropical depression in September 2005, is the only known system to impact mainland Europe as a tropical cyclone.^[8] Atlantic hurricane refers to a tropical cyclone that forms in the Atlantic Ocean north of the equator, usually in the Northern Hemisphere summer or autumn. ... Map of Central America and the Caribbean A Caribbean beach in Isla Margarita, Venezuela. ... Gulf of Mexico in 3D perspective. ... Map of Central America Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. ... This is a list of inhabited islands in the Caribbean. ... Macaronesia Macaronesia, not to be confused with Micronesia, is a modern collective name for several groups of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean near Europe and North Africa belonging to three countries: Portugal, Spain, and Cape Verde. ... Hurricane Ivan, a category 5 Cape Verde-type hurricane A Cape Verde-type hurricane is an Atlantic hurricane that develops near the Cape Verde islands, off the west coast of Africa. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa. ... A fictitious synoptic chart of an extratropical cyclone affecting the UK & Ireland. ... World map showing the location of Europe. ... Lowest pressure 955 mbar (hPa) Damage Unknown Fatalities None reported Areas affected Azores, Iberian Peninsula, British Isles Part of the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season Hurricane Gordon was a strong Category 3 hurricane – the third hurricane of the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season – that crossed the Azores as a Category 1 hurricane... Location of the British Isles The British Isles are a group of islands off the north west coast of continental Europe comprising Great Britain, Ireland and a number of smaller islands. ... Lowest pressure 988 mbar (hPa) Damages Minimal Fatalities None reported Areas affected Madeira Islands, southern Portugal, southwestern Spain Part of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season Hurricane Vince was one of the most unusual hurricanes ever to develop in the Atlantic basin, forming in October during the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season. ...

Northern Indian Ocean

This basin is divided into two areas, the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea, with the Bay of Bengal dominating (5 to 6 times more activity). This basin's season has a double peak: one in April and May, before the onset of the monsoon, and another in October and November, just after.^[9] The most deadly tropical cyclones have formed in this basin, including the 1970 Bhola cyclone that killed 200,000 people. Nations affected include India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, and Pakistan. Rarely, a tropical cyclone that forms in this basin affects the Arabian Peninsula. A map showing the location of the Bay of Bengal. ... Map of the Arabian Sea. ... Monsoon in the Vindhya mountain range, central India A monsoon is a wind pattern that changes direction depending on the specific season. ... Lowest pressure Unknown Damages Unknown Fatalities 500,000 direct (Deadliest tropical cyclone of all time) Areas affected Bangladesh Part of the 1970 North Indian cyclone season The Bhola cyclone was a powerful tropical cyclone that made landfall in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) on 13 November 1970. ... The Arabian Peninsula The Arabian Peninsula (in Arabic: شبه الجزيرة العربية, or جزيرة العرب) is a peninsula in Southwest Asia at the junction of Africa and Asia consisting mainly of desert. ...

Southwestern Pacific Ocean

Tropical activity in this region largely affects Australia and Oceania. Tropical storms rarely reach the vicinity of Brisbane, Australia and into New Zealand, usually during or after extratropical transition.^[10] For the fictional superstate in George Orwells novel, see Oceania (Nineteen Eighty-Four). ... Brisbane (pronounced ) is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Queensland, and is the third largest city in Australia, with a metropolitan population of 1. ...

Southeastern Indian Ocean

Tropical activity in this region affects Australia and Indonesia. According to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, the most frequently hit portion of Australia is between Exmouth and Broome in Western Australia.^[11] There are several places named Exmouth: Exmouth in Western Australia, Australia Exmouth in Devon, England This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Locations named Broome: Broome, Western Australia - a town in Western Australia Broome County, New York - a county in the USA Broome, New York - a town in Schoharie County, New York Adam A.K.A Trap Door In England: Broome, Norfolk Broome, Shropshire Broome, Worcestershire People named Broome: Sir Frederick Broome... Capital Perth Government Const. ...

Southwestern Indian Ocean

Despite nearly a half century of historical data, research at Reunion Island into tropical cyclones has been a priority only since 1999, when Météo-France began assigning additional personnel for research purposes.^[12] Cyclones forming in this area can affect Madagascar, Mozambique, Mauritius, Reunion, Comoros, Tanzania, and Kenya.^[12] 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... Météo-France is a French public establishment, tasked with the forecasting and study of weather in France. ...

See also

• Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre

These centres are responsible for the distribution of information, advisories, and warnings regarding the specific program they have a part of, agreed by consensus at the World Meteorological Organization as part of the World Weather Watch. ...

References