However, this is equal to Category 3 on the Australian scale (see table below). The Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale is used for hurricanes only, and the winds must reach 119 km/h (33 m/s, 64 knots, 74 mph) in order for the storm to be officially named as a Category 1 hurricane. So, the categories don't always match up, and some measure winds at different heights, for various lengths of time, arriving at different averages.

There are also many different scales of measurement for tropical cyclones used by Regional Specialized Meteorological Centres (RSMC). Typhoon and Super-Typhoon are reserved for the Northwest Pacific Ocean west of the International Date Line (IDL). Hurricane is the Atlantic word, plus it is used for any storm that appears in the Northeast Pacific (east of the International Date Line or 160º E). Choosing the correct name depends on where they form.Ĭyclone is the generic term used in the Indian Ocean and the Southwest Pacific Ocean (west of 160º E). Cyclone, hurricane, or typhoon are all geographically specific names for strong tropical depressions.

Storm over the pacific 1960