Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Science/2025 December 7

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December 7

Boundary between cyclones and typhoons

Terminology for tropical cyclones on a world map

I drew this diagram based on http://nesdis.noaa.gov/news/hurricanes-cyclones-and-typhoons-whats-name but am unsure where to put the boundary between cyclones and typhoons in the South China Sea (so made it a gradient). Would anyone here know exactly? Thanks, cmɢʟee τaʟκ (please add {{ping|cmglee}} to your reply) 01:51, 7 December 2025 (UTC)

Sources agree that typhoons are associated with the Northwest Pacific, and the South China Sea is part of the Pacific Ocean. Nothing in the NOAA diagram contradicts that as far as I can see, and the article that goes with the diagram consigns cyclones to "the western South Pacific and Indian oceans" (no mention of North Pacific).

On an unrelated note, there doesn't appear to be a definition for storms in the South Atlantic; the NOAA says they're hurricanes, whereas we have South Atlantic tropical cyclone. Clarityfiend (talk) 09:45, 7 December 2025 (UTC)

Thanks very much, @Clarityfiend: I would've thought so, but for Cyclone Senyar which has a track on the South China Sea. Is there any reason for this exception? cmɢʟee τaʟκ (please add {{ping|cmglee}} to your reply) 14:40, 7 December 2025 (UTC)

When the Joint Typhoon Warning Center issued a warning for Cyclone Senyar, at the time referred to as as Tropical Cyclone 04B but named "Senyar" a few hours later, it was centred over the Strait of Malacca, in the "Cyclone" area. When the system crossed into the "Typhoon" area, it was as a tropical depression. I don't know if it would have been renamed if it had gained storm strength again.  ​‑‑Lambiam 16:06, 7 December 2025 (UTC)

Thanks, I'll use the Malay Peninsula as the boundary then.  Done cmɢʟee τaʟκ (please add {{ping|cmglee}} to your reply) 20:39, 7 December 2025 (UTC)

@Cmglee: That leaves the South China Sea south of the equator in a sort of naming no-man's-land. Clarityfiend (talk) 09:53, 7 December 2025 (UTC)

It is very rare for a tropical storm to develop that close to the equator. List of tropical cyclones near the Equator does not list any from that area.  ​‑‑Lambiam 16:26, 7 December 2025 (UTC)

The first line of our article Typhoon states "A typhoon is a tropical cyclone that develops between 180° and 100°E in the Northern Hemisphere and . . . ."

As a former resident of Singapore (103°E) I can confirm that the name 'typhoon' is used there. [Edited to add} This would extend the 'pink zone' to halfway up the Strait of Malaysia. {The poster formerly known as as 87.81.30.195} ~2025-31359-08 (talk) 09:58, 7 December 2025 (UTC)

The designation Typhoon is also used in England, while Cyclone can be found used in Singapore, like for Cyclone Senyar mentioned above. The choice of designation does not depend on the location of the utterer but on that of the storm, in particular its location at the time it developed hurricane-level strength and was named by a warning centre.  ​‑‑Lambiam 14:52, 8 December 2025 (UTC)

In Kansas it is a cyclone - or so 'The Wizard of Oz' describes it! NadVolum (talk) 21:55, 7 December 2025 (UTC)

That's talking about a tornado, not a hurricane. --~2025-39159-56 (talk) 00:50, 8 December 2025 (UTC)

An old-fashioned term, in common American usage in the 19th century. It's how Cy Young got his nickname. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 04:58, 9 December 2025 (UTC)

Resolved

Thanks for the insights, cmɢʟee τaʟκ (please add {{ping|cmglee}} to your reply) 01:04, 19 December 2025 (UTC)