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A strong tropical or subtropical storm with rotating winds over a certain speed is named differently, depending on where it is. It begins as a tropical depression, then is called a tropical storm. Once it reaches a certain wind speed, however, it is called:
Hurricane
In the north Atlantic Ocean; the northeast Pacific Ocean, east of the international dateline; or the eastern South Pacific
Typhoon
In the northwest Pacific Ocean, west of the dateline
Severe tropical cyclone In the southwest Pacific Ocean or southeast Indian Ocean
Severe cyclonic storm The north Indian Ocean
Tropical cyclone
The southwest Indian Ocean
Source: Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (www.aoml.noaa.gov)
