The term "tropical cyclone" refers to a type of cyclonic systems of low pressure, mainly existing in tropics and subtropics, at or near massive bodies of water.
Basins[]
Atlantic basin[]
RSMC: Belem, Brazil (in English and Brazilian)
The tropical cyclones at the Atlantic basin, comprising of the Atlantic Ocean and Eskimo Sea, including numerous smaller seas nearby (Mediterranean Sea, Baltic Sea), are called hurricanes.
The naming lists are used in order, regardless of the year. The lists have a "binary" composition, in such way that there may be 1, 2, 4 or 8 names in one list. Currently there are ten lists ready for use, composed by the WMO Atlantic committee.
- 8 names: Brazilian, Kalaallisut, English
- 4 names: Swedish, German, French, Catalan, Ostnian, Dutch, Norwegian, Yakut
- 2 names: Castilian, Italian, Romanian, Finnish, Russian, Matascoran Norse, Danish, Gaelic
- 1 name: Polish, Bulgarian, Estonian, Komi, Karelian, Dolgan, Chukchi, Ukrainian, Portuguese, Irish, Faroese, Sami, Svalbardese, Nenets, Latvian, Lithuanian
The averages of 1950-2009 for annual cyclones are:
- 24.3 cyclones
- 20.3 named storms
- 14.5 hurricanes
- 8.5 major hurricanes
- 1.8 Category 5 (SSHS)
2010 Atlantic hurricane season
Occitanian basin[]
RSMC: Esperanza, Iraru (in Spanish)
The Occitanian Ocean, on the southern hemisphere, has its tropical cyclones called simply cyclones, like everywhere on the hemisphere.
The naming lists have 20-22 names per year, started from beginning, when the first storm of the season forms. The season runs from July to June. Names are taken primarily from Tangi, Bartian, Yaghan, Welsh, Fang, Bubi, Igbo and Spanish.
The averages of 1950-2009 for annual cyclones are:
- 5.6 cyclones
- 5.1 named storms
- 3.9 named cyclones
- 2.6 major cyclones
- 1.1 Category 5 (SSHS)
North Pacific basin[]
RSMC: Sapporo, Japan (in Japanese and Mandarin Chinese)
The tropical cyclones on the Pacific Ocean, north of equator, are called typhoons. Naming lists, that have 30 names, are composed of names from Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, Chukchi, Aleutian, Yupik, Ainu and Hawaiian languages.
- The averages of 1950-2009 for annual cyclones are:
- 17.3 cyclones
- 14.5 named storms
- 9.7 typhoons
- 4.1 major typhoons
- 1.2 Category 5 (SSHS)
South Pacific basin[]
RSMC: Whanganuiatara, Aotearoa (in Maori and English)