Whether they are called a Hurricane, Typhoon, Willy-willy or Cyclone, tropical storm systems can bring devastating weather to tropical locations throughout the world.

What is a Tropical Cyclone?

Commonly referred to as hurricanes in the eastern Pacific, north Atlantic, Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, tropical cyclones are large swirling storm systems that have a common pinwheel shape in satellite images.

Powered by the energy stored in the warm tropical waters, cyclones go through numerous stages. They often begin as a cluster of tropical thunderstorms called a tropical wave. When conditions are just right, these waves will eventually organize into an even larger system with a central circulation - - counter-clockwise in the northern hemisphere, clockwise south of the equator. This becomes known as a tropical depression.

Once top sustained winds reach 39 mph or higher, these depressions become classified as a tropical storm and are usually given a name off a list of storm names maintained for that region of the world. Here is a list of storm names (Courtesy: NHC) from around the world.

These storm machines, if they stay over tropical waters with temperatures greater than 80 degrees Fahrenheit and remain in a relatively low shear environment, have a good chance to grow stronger. Once maximum sustained winds exceed 74 mph, these storms become classified as a hurricane, typhoon, Willy-willy or Cyclone. These systems, when making landfall, can cause massive and devastating wind and flood damage.

A few of the many countries that can and have been hit by powerful storms recently include: Japan, China, India, Australia, Mexico and the U.S.

Where Do Tropical Cyclones Form?

Tropical cyclones generally form in any ocean where water temperatures are greater than 80 degrees Fahrenheit and the upper-level winds are benign. Here are oceans where they can form and their commonly used names:

North Atlantic (including Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico): Hurricanes
Eastern and Central North Pacific: Hurricanes
Western Northern Pacific: Typhoons
Arabian Sea/Northern Indian Ocean: Tropical Cyclones
South Indian Ocean: Tropical Cyclones/Willy-Willy for southwest Australia
Coral Sea/South Pacific: Tropical Cyclone

There are several tropical oceans where colder water currents and strong upper-level winds usually prevent tropical cyclones from forming. These locations include the parts of the Atlantic Ocean near the African coast and south of the Equator and Pacific Ocean off of the South American Coast.

However, a rare tropical cyclone did form just off the Brazilian Atlantic Coast in March 2004. This cyclone made landfall on the Brazilian coast with winds estimated to be 100 mph, causing millions of dollars of damage.

Hurricanes, Typhoons, Cyclones: Where In The World?