Hurricane vs. Tornado vs. Cyclone: Know the Difference

N othing is scarier than learning about an NOAA warning that notifies a particular severe weather event will hit your area. However, we must consider ourselves lucky that we now have these watches and warnings in place since the preparation time they provide makes all the difference in the world for our safety.

Today, I want to talk about three of the scariest weather events that can occur, namely hurricanes, tornadoes, and cyclones. These are weather phenomena with high devastation potential for which you must prepare beforehand to stay safe. Aside from discussing what you should do if any of these weather events occur, I want us to go over their characteristics and differences so that you better understand each type of storm.

Tornado Over Grass Field

By Definition – Characteristics and Differences

First, we must understand what differentiates these three severe weather phenomena. All are types of storms, so I recommend you check out my piece on severe thunderstorm safety rules to learn how you must generally proceed in this weather to keep yourself and your loved ones safe.

Approximately 36 hours before the landfall of a hurricane, the pressure begins to drop. Afterward, wind speed grows until the final landfall. These are the weather changes you must be on the lookout for when you check the data collected by your personal weather station if you live in an area prone to hurricanes. Even if you’re not paying attention, the NOAA will broadcast a warning over weather stations approximately 36 hours before the event.

While weather conditions indicate the possibility of a tornado forming, like changes in atmospheric pressure, wind speed, temperature, and humidity, the NOAA broadcast is your best friend in this situation. Keep the weather radio on so you are notified of tornado watch and warning broadcasts provided by forecast specialists.

The term cyclone comes from the Greek word “kyklos”, which means wheel or circle. As seen from above, the large air mass rotates clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere. Meteorologists use computers, weather radars, and satellites to track cyclones as they form and try to provide timely warnings for people living in areas where they might hit. Unfortunately, cyclones are more challenging to predict than other weather events because of their sudden shifts in strength and course.

How to Stay Safe

You hear the NOAA alert on your weather radio of an upcoming weather event that you must prepare for. No warning is good news since it alerts you that bad weather is coming. However, you have a valuable advance to do your best and stay safe regardless of the storm type that will strike. So, before we draw a conclusion, let me first teach you about safety when dealing with a hurricane, tornado, or cyclone.

Heavy Traffic During City Evacuation Before Hurricane

…In Case of a Hurricane Warning

First, if you live in an area prone to this specific weather event, hurricane-proof your home before hurricane season. In the U.S., hurricane season lasts from June until November. August and September are the months of the year when most hurricanes are registered. Try your best to take all the necessary measures and fortify your home for future hurricanes before the start of the season so that you can have a safe shelter. Otherwise, when a hurricane warning is issued, you must evacuate the area ASAP. And when you come back, there might not be much of your home left there waiting for you since you didn’t safeguard the construction at all.

Say that you hurricane-proofed your home and a warning comes up. Check the emergency kit to ensure nothing is missing in case you are trapped for a while because of the weather. Food and water supplies must last each household member for three days. Clear the yard to ensure the wind won’t project any outdoor furniture into your home. Cover doors and windows to keep them from breaking or having glass shatter inside the house. You should also turn off the power until the hurricane passes.

Listen to the weather radio throughout the whole event to receive important updates regarding the situation. Leave your home only when forecasters say it is safe to get out of your shelter. Speaking of, pick a room without windows as a refuge. If the room has windows, try to get inside a closet to ensure you won’t be hit even if the windows break and glass and debris fly through the room.

…In Case of a Tornado Warning

Take shelter as soon as the warning is issued because it takes minutes to hit your area. Use the basement or a low-level room without windows for shelter if you are at home. For extra protection, get under a sturdy item like a workbench or heavy table and cover yourself up with a mattress or sleeping bag.

Say that the tornado catches you behind the wheel, and you can’t make it to a safe shelter in time. You should get down in your car and cover your head and neck. If the warning catches you when you’re outside and you can’t get to a nearby shelter, lie flat in a ravine or ditch while covering your head and neck with your hands.

…In Case of a Cyclone Warning

There is some preparation that you should do beforehand if you live in a cyclone-prone area. The steps are the same as with hurricanes. After all, a hurricane is a type of cyclone, so this doesn’t come as a surprise. When the warning is issued, stay indoors in your designated safe room and listen to the TV or radio to receive further information. If forecasters advise local evacuation, turn off the water, gas, and power before you leave the house. Make sure you leave early to avoid flooding or heavy traffic if you evacuate inland.

During the cyclone, if you haven’t evacuated and left for a different area that won’t be affected by the weather event, stay inside until officials give the “clear” that it’s safe to go outside. Keep emergency and survival kits in your proximity to easily access any supplies in case you need them. You must also avoid rooms with windows at all costs. If the cyclone starts breaking up the construction of your home, sit under a workbench or strong table, hold onto a solid fixture tightly, and cover yourself with a blanket or mattress.

The Takeaway

Hurricanes, tornados, and cyclones are some of the worst weather events that one can deal with. But we can do nothing to stop them, only take shelter and stay safe until it all passes. These storms are pretty similar, but what they have in common is their high potential for destruction. Having a plan set in place to stay safe when either of them hits and following it to a tee when emergency strikes is a life-saving strategy. We can make it through hazardous weather, we just have to pay attention to weather warnings, prepare, and act accordingly depending on the event.