This FAQ about hurricanes, typhoons and tropical cyclones was compiled and written by Chris Landsea landsea@aoml.noaa.gov with numerous contributions by others.
Sim Aberson, Jack Beven, Gary Padgett, Tom Berg, Julian Heming, Neal Dorst, Gary Gray, Stephen Caparotta, Steven Young, D. Walston all provided substantial bits to this FAQ. Also thanks to the many people who provided additional questions and information for this FAQ: Ilana Stern, Dave Pace, Dave Blanchard, Ken Fung, James (I R A Aggie) Stricherz, Mike Dettinger, Jan Schloerer, Eric Blake, Jeff Kepert, Frank Woodcock, Roger Edson, Bill Cherepy, Stephen Jascourt, Kelly Dean, Malcolm ???, Jon Gill, Ken Waters, Derek West, Gert van Dijken, George Gumbert III, Edward Reid, Tim Trice, Michael Scott, Kerry Emanuel, George Sambataro, James Lewis Free, Sam Biller, David Faciane, Eric Gross, Jeff Hawkins, Mike Fiorino and Madeleine Hall. Many thanks also to Jan Null for providing the first .html version of the FAQ.
01 What is a hurricane, typhoon, or tropical cyclone?
02 What are "Cape Verde"-type hurricanes?
03 What is a super-typhoon?
04 Where do these easterly waves come from and what causes them?
05 What is a sub-tropical cyclone?
06 How are tropical cyclones different from mid-latitude storms?
07 How are tropical cyclones different from tornadoes?
08 What does the acronym "CDO" in a discussion of tropical cyclones mean?
09 What is a "TUTT"?
10 How do tropical cyclones form?
11 Why are tropical cyclones named?
12 What are the tropical cyclone names through 2001?
13 What names have been retired in the Atlantic basin?
14 Doesn't the low pressure in the tropical cyclone center cause the storm surge?
15 Doesn't the friction over land kill tropical cyclones?
16 Aren't big tropical cyclones also intense tropical cyclones?
17 Why don't we try to destroy tropical cyclones by: pick one or more - a) seeding them with silver iodide, b) nuking them, c) placing a substance on the ocean surface, d) etc. ?
18 During a hurricane are you supposed to have the windows and doors on the storm side closed and the windows and doors on the lee side open?
19 How are Atlantic hurricanes ranked?
20 How are Australian tropical cyclones ranked?
21 Why do tropical cyclones' winds rotate counter-clockwise (clockwise) in the Northern (Southern) Hemisphere?
22 How do I convert from mph to knots (to m/s) and from inches of mercury to mb (to hPa)?
23 Which is the most intense tropical cyclone on record?
24 Which tropical cyclone intensified the fastest?
25 Which tropical cyclone has produced the highest storm surge?
26 What are the largest rainfalls associated with tropical cyclones?
27 Which are the largest and smallest tropical cyclones on record?
28 Which tropical cyclone lasted the longest?
29 Which tropical cyclones have caused the most deaths and most damage?
30 What are the average, most, and least tropical cyclones occurring in each basin?
31 What are the most and least tropical cyclones occurring in the Atlantic basin and striking the USA?
32 For the U.S., what are the 10 most intense, 10 costliest, and 10 highest death toll hurricanes on record?
33 What tropical storms and hurricanes have moved from the Atlantic to the Northeast Pacific or vice versa?
34 What regions around the globe have tropical cyclones and who is responsible for forecasting there?
35 What is Prof. Gray's seasonal hurricane forecast for this year and what are the predictive factors?
36 How has Dr. Gray done in previous years of forecasting hurricanes?
37 What are those track and intensity models that the Atlantic forecasters are talking about in the tropical storm and hurricane Discussions?
38 What is the annual cycle of occurrence seen in each basin?
39 How does El Nino-Southern Oscillation affect tropical cyclone activity around the globe?
40 What may happen with tropical cyclone activity in a 2xCO2 world?
41 Are we getting stronger and more frequent hurricanes, typhoons, and tropical cyclones in the last several years?
42 Why do tropical cyclones occur primarily in the summer and autumn?
43 What determines the movement of tropical cyclones?
44 Why doesn't the South Atlantic Ocean experience tropical cyclones?
45 Does an active June and July mean the rest of the season will be busy too?
46 Why do hurricanes hit the East coast of the U.S., but never the West coast?
47 How much lightning occurs in tropical cyclones?
48 What is the Dvorak technique and how is it used?
49 Who are the "Hurricane Hunters" and what are they looking for?
50 References p1: Who are the "Hurricane Hunters" and what are they looking for?
51 References p2: Who are the "Hurricane Hunters" and what are they looking for?
52 References p3: Who are the "Hurricane Hunters" and what are they looking for?
53 Where can I get real-time advisories for tropical cyclones?
54 Where can I get real-time tropical weather analyses and forecast fields?
55 Where can I get real-time ship and buoy data?
56 Where can I get real-time sea surface temperature data?
57 Where can I get real-time satellite pictures?
58 Where can I get real-time radar data?
59 Where can I get real-time hurricane aircraft reconnaissance data?
60 Where can I get real-time tropical cyclone motion and intensity model forecasts?
61 Where can I get tropical cyclone preparedness information?
62 What computer software is available for tracking tropical cyclones?
63 Where can I get historical data of tropical cyclones?
64 What journals have regular articles on tropical cyclones?
65 What books have been written about tropical cyclones?
66 What refereed articles were written in recent years about tropical cyclones?