Tropical Cyclone Categories

A tropical cyclone is a rotating, organized system of clouds and thunderstorms that originates over tropical or subtropical waters and has a closed low-level circulation. Depending on location, tropical cyclones have different names around the world. In the Atlantic/Eastern Pacific Oceans, they are called hurricanes. Click on the symbols on the map to learn more about the different classifications of tropical cyclones in the Atlantic Basin.

Learn more about Hurricane Katrina in our educational lesson.