Atlantic Hurricanes: In the North Atlantic, tropical cyclones rotate counterclockwise and are called hurricanes. They typically form in the deep tropics (low latitudes) and move generally in a NW fashion. North Atlantic hurricanes can threaten the US mainland, the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America. They form between June and November. Eastern Pacific Hurricanes: As in the Atlantic, tropical systems are called hurricanes in the Eastern Pacific. They develop along the ITCZ and either move NW or W and either dissipate over colder waters or occasionally make landfall. They threaten Mexico, Hawaii, and all islands in the Eastern Pacific. These hurricanes form between May and November. North Pacific Typhoons: In the Northwest Pacific, tropical cyclones are called typhoons and rotate counterclockwise. They, like Atlantic hurricanes, form in the deep tropics and move in a NW fashion. They sometime threaten the Philippines, Tawian, China, Vietnam, North and South Korea, Japan, and several island chains. Typhoons can form all year, but they most frequently form during the summer months. South Atlantic Cyclones: Tropical systems can form in the South Atlantic. They form during the Southern Hemisphere's summer, which is the Northern Hemisphere's winter. They rotate clockwise and can slam into the west coast of Africa or the east coast of South America. Indian Ocean Cyclones: In the Indian Ocean, tropical systems are called tropical cyclones. Like the South Atlantic cyclones, they form during the Southern Hemisphere's summer and rotate clockwise. These systems can grow very intense and slam into Madagascar and the east coast of Africa. They typically form on the ITCZ and move in a SE direction.

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