Difference Between Hurricane and Tornado

Which area is the most common tornado? Where is the most likely hurricane? What was the worst hurricane in history? What was the deadliest tornado ever? These are the most common questions when discussing extreme weather phenomena. Although hurricanes and tornadoes are powerful storms that can cause widespread damage, their formation, characteristics and effects vary greatly.

People often look for terms like this “The difference between hurricanes and tornadoes,” “Tornado and hurricane wind speed” or “Which hurricane or tornado, which is worse?” Better understand these storms. Both events involve high-speed winds and destructive power, but their origin, size, duration and affected areas make them unique. An in-depth understanding of these storms is not only beneficial to general knowledge, but also essential for disaster preparation, especially in areas that are frequently affected by these natural disasters.

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This article delves into the scientific differences between hurricanes and tornadoes and explains their formation, characteristics, and effects. Finally, readers will also have a clear understanding of how these powerful atmospheric events differ, the naming of hurricanes and tornadoes and the naming of the top ten deadliest hurricanes and tornadoes in history.

What is a hurricane?

Image: NOAA

Hurricanes, also known as tropical cyclones or typhoons (depending on the region), are large-scale storm systems that form on warm seawater. It is characterized by low pressure centers, strong winds and heavy rain. Hurricanes usually develop in tropical and subtropical areas where sea surface temperatures exceed 26°C (79°F). These storms draw energy from the heat of the ocean and can last for days or even weeks.

According to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, hurricanes are divided into five categories, of which 5 are the most intense. The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale takes hurricanes from 1 to 5 minutes based on the intensity of a given time. Developed by wind energy engineer Herb Saffir and meteorologist Bob Simpson, the scale specializes in measuring wind speeds, but does not take into account other hurricane-related effects such as storm surges, rainfall or tornadoes.

• Category 1: Continuous wind is 74-95 mph (119-153 km/h)

• Category 2: Continuous wind is 96-110 mph (154-177 km/h)

• Category 3: Continuous wind is 111-129 mph (178-208 km/h)

• Category 4: Continuous wind is 130-156 mph (209-251 km/h)

• Category 5: Continuous wind is 157 mph or higher (252 km/h or higher)

Note: Hurricanes classified as category 3 or above are considered “main” hurricanes.

Hurricanes mainly occur in the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico and the Eastern Pacific. Among the casualties, the worst hurricane in history is often considered a huge hurricane of 1780, killing more than 20,000 people in the Caribbean. In terms of economic losses, Hurricane Katrina (2005) was one of the most devastating hurricanes hitting the United States.

What are the eyes of a hurricane?

Image: NASA

The whirling wind creates the characteristic of the hurricane “eye”, a calm, almost cloudless center surrounded by the most intense winds and thunderstorms called Eyewall. Due to the rapid spiral of warm, humid air formed by the eye formation, it rises and cools, leaving a low pressure area in the center. As the air sinks inside the eyes, it warms and stabilizes, clear skies and relatively calm conditions compared to surrounding storms. Despite its tranquility, the eyes are surrounded by the strongest winds and heavy rains of the storm.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70n7rir6fcm

How to name a hurricane?

Hurricanes are named according to the systematic approach established by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Before the 1950s, hurricanes were determined by latitude and longitude coordinates, and communication proved inefficient. In 1953, the United States began naming hurricanes using female names, and later expanded to male and female names in 1979 for inclusiveness.

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Each ocean basin has a rotating list of names used in a six-year cycle. If the hurricane is particularly devastating, its name will be retired and replaced with a new one. The name follows alphabetical order and excludes certain letters such as Q, U, X, Y, and Z due to limited name availability. For example, some retired hurricane names include Hurricane Katrina (2005), Sandy (2012), and Harvey (2017).

In the North Atlantic and in the central and eastern North Pacific, these storms are called “hurricanes.” In the western North Pacific, they are called “typhoons”, while in the South Pacific and Indian Oceans, they are called “cyclones”.

The top ten deadliest hurricanes in history

1. The Great Hurricane of 1780 (Caribbean Sea)

2. Hurricane Galveston of 1900 (USA)

3. Bhola Cyclone in 1970 (Bangladesh)

4. Typhoon Nina (1975) (China and Taiwan)

5. Hurricane Mickey (1998) (Central America)

6. Hurricane Katrina (2005) (USA)

7. Cyclone Nargis (2008) (Myanmar)

8. Typhoon Haiyang (2013) (Philippines)

9. Hurricane Maria (2017) (Caribbean)

10. Cyclone Idai (2019) (Mozambique and Zimbabwe)

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What is a tornado?

Image: NOAA

The tornado is a rapidly rotating column of air that extends from thunderstorm clouds to the ground. Tornadoes form when warm, and humid air collides with cool and dry air, causing instability in the atmosphere. This interaction creates a powerful upward airflow, leading to the development of Zhonghuanlong, a rotating storm system that can produce tornadoes.

Unlike hurricanes, tornadoes are much smaller in size, usually with a diameter of 100-600 meters (300-2000 feet). However, they can produce extremely violent winds, with the most intense tornadoes having speeds of more than 480 km/h (300 mph). The enhanced Fujita (EF) scale classifies tornado wind speed and damage potential from EF0 (weakest) to EF5 (strongest) and (strongest).

Tornado Alley is the most common in Tornado Alley, a central U.S. region, including Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. They can also occur in other parts of the world, including Canada, Argentina and Bangladesh. The deadliest tornado in history was the Daulatpur-Saturia tornado in Bangladesh in 1989, killing about 1,300 people.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lt7yrmlakcy

How to name a tornado?

Unlike hurricanes, tornadoes not get a personal name. Instead, they are classified by location, date, and power. Tornadoes were named using the enhanced Fujita (EF) scale that measures wind speed and damage potential.

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Tornadoes are usually mentioned by the region and year they are affected. For example:

• Tri-State Tornado (1925) – Affected Missouri, Illinois and Indiana

• Joplin Tornado (2011) – Popular Joplin, Missouri

• Daulatpur – Saturia Tornado (1989) – The Deadest Tornado in History (Bangladesh)

Since tornadoes are short-lived and unpredictable, it would be impractical to assign names such as hurricanes.

The top ten deadliest tornados in history

1. Daulatpur – Saturia Tornado (1989) Bangladesh

2. Tri-State Tornado (1925) United States

3. Manikganj, Bangladesh Tornado (1964)

4. Magra, Bangladesh Tornado (1996)

5. Sicily, Italy Tornado (1851)

6. Ganges Delta Tornado (1838) Bangladesh

7. Natchez Tornado (1840) United States

8. St. Louis Tornado (1896) United States

9. Madarganj, Bangladesh Tornado (1996)

10. Joplin Tornado (2011) United States

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The main differences between hurricanes and tornadoes

Although hurricanes and tornadoes have similarities in their destructive capabilities, their formation, size, lifespan and impact vary greatly.

Comparison table: Hurricane vs. Tornado

feature	hurricane	tornado
form	Over the warm sea water	Thunderstorm on the land
size	Diameter 100–2,000 km	Diameter 100–600 meters
Wind speed	157 mph or higher (252 km/h or higher)	Up to 480 km/h (300 mph)
life	How many days to weeks	How many minutes to hours
Rotate	Counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere	Mostly counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere
occur	Mainly in tropical and subtropical oceans	Mainly in the United States, but also globally
Warning time	A few days in advance	How many minutes to hours
Damage impact	Extensive floods, storms and strong winds	Local but intense wind damage
Measurement scale	Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale	Enhanced Fuji (EF) Scale

in conclusion

Hurricanes and tornadoes are the most powerful and destructive weather phenomena on Earth. While hurricanes are large storms that develop on warm seawater, the tornado is smaller but more intense, forming in thunderstorms on the land. Understanding the differences between these two natural disasters is essential for improving preparation and response efforts, especially in areas that are often affected by extreme weather.

For those who study meteorology, disaster management, and even prepare for exams like UPSC, it is invaluable to have a clear grasp of these differences. Someone asks next time “Which is worse: a hurricane or a tornado?” You will get a wise answer with science as the back.

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