A hurricane, typhoon, and cyclone are all the same type of tropical storm, but their names vary by region:
Hurricane: Forms in the North Atlantic and Northeastern Pacific (e.g., U.S., Caribbean).
Typhoon: Forms in the Northwestern Pacific (e.g., Japan, Philippines).
Cyclone: Forms in the Indian Ocean and South Pacific (e.g., Australia, South Asia).
The storm structure is identical across these terms; only the names differ based on location.
Forecasting Tropical Storms
Forecasting hurricanes, typhoons, and cyclones is complex, and predicting their exact location, movement, and intensity can be difficult. At PredictWind, we recommend always reviewing all weather models to get the most accurate picture.
The GFS model tends to overestimate wind speeds, which can be misleading.
The ECMWF model is recognized as the most accurate, with the highest rating from the National Weather Center for hurricane prediction.
Our PredictWind models, PWG and PWE, do not qualify for a rating as you need to be a National Weather Center. They are optimized for coastal conditions and do not provide the gust forecasts required for storm systems like hurricanes. These models show average wind speeds, but if wind speeds reach 45 knots or above, conditions are considered extreme, with gusts likely to be much higher.
Using Multiple Weather Models
The multi-model approach is essential for forecasting complex weather events like tropical storms. PredictWind offers six weather models:
Global models: ECMWF, GFS, UKMO, SPIRE (best suited for large-scale weather events such as hurricanes).
PredictWind models: PWG and PWE (high-resolution models optimized for local conditions and coastal forecasts).
By comparing these models, you'll get a more accurate and reliable forecast. The key to predicting hurricanes is analyzing the position and movement of the storm’s center across all six models.
Additional Forecasting Tools in PredictWind
We recommend monitoring GMDSS text and AI graphical forecasts for tropical storms, which can be accessed in PredictWind Maps and the Offshore App. GMDSS forecasts are particularly useful for predicting hurricanes, typhoons, and cyclones:
GMDSS text forecasts: Free to download in the Offshore App.
Graphical AI GMDSS forecasts: Available from the Basic subscription and up.
For more details, see our Help Article: AI-Generated GMDSS Maps.