EarthBrowserLive · Tropical cyclones worldwide
Active hurricanes and tropical storms
3 active systems in the Western Pacific, Central Pacific, Southern Hemisphere basins; the strongest is Typhoon Cempaka at 105 mph (165 km/h, 90 kt). Every storm on a live 3D globe with infrared satellite clouds, its track and forecast cone, updated with each advisory.
- Active systems
- 3
- Hurricane strength
- 1
- Strongest
- CempakaCategory 2 typhoon
- Peak winds
- 105mph
- Basins active
- 3
Updated · advisories every 6 hours, intermediate every 3 when land is threatened
The full globe adds the 3D storm column for each system, 48 hours of infrared cloud playback, lightning, sea surface temperature and ensemble model tracks.
Active storms
| Storm | Intensity | Winds | Pressure | Movement | Basin | Advisory (UTC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Typhoon Cempaka | Cat 2 | 105 mph | — | N 0 mph | Western Pacific | |
| Tropical Storm Pena | Tropical storm | 40 mph | 1004 mb | W 10 mph | Central Pacific | |
| Tropical Depression Three | Tropical depression | 30 mph | — | NNW 10 mph | Southern Hemisphere |
Reading the list
Tropical cyclones are ranked by sustained wind: tropical depression below 39 mph, tropical storm from 39 mph (when a system is named), and hurricane, typhoon or cyclone from 74 mph, split into Saffir-Simpson Categories 1 to 5. Central pressure is the other measure of strength; the lower it is, the more intense the storm, and a falling pressure usually means strengthening is under way.
Wind is only part of the hazard. Storm surge and rainfall flooding cause most deaths, and they depend on the storm's size, speed and the coast it meets rather than its category. The globe shows the forecast cone (where the center is likely to go), the watches and warnings along the coast, and the infrared cloud field that reveals the storm's structure.
Frequently asked questions
Are there any hurricanes right now?
This page lists every tropical cyclone currently under advisory anywhere in the world, from the National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and Joint Typhoon Warning Center, and updates within minutes of each new advisory. If the list is empty, nothing is active.
What is the difference between a hurricane, a typhoon and a cyclone?
Nothing but geography: all three are tropical cyclones with sustained winds of at least 74 mph. They are called hurricanes in the Atlantic and eastern Pacific, typhoons in the western Pacific, and cyclones in the Indian Ocean and South Pacific.
When is hurricane season?
Atlantic: June 1 to November 30, peaking in early September. Eastern Pacific: May 15 to November 30. Western Pacific typhoons form year-round with a July to October peak. The Southern Hemisphere season runs November to April. The North Indian Ocean has two peaks, before and after the monsoon.
How are storms named?
Each basin keeps rotating lists of names; a system gets the next name when its winds reach 39 mph (tropical-storm strength). Names of especially deadly or costly storms are retired. Before naming, systems carry a number ("Tropical Depression Fourteen") or an invest designation.
What does the forecast cone show?
The probable path of the storm’s center over the next five days, drawn so the center has historically stayed inside about two-thirds of the time. It does not show the storm’s size or where its impacts will be felt.
Where does the data come from?
The NOAA/NHC and JTWC combined active tropical cyclones feed (positions, winds, pressure, forecast tracks and cones), NHC advisory text products for headlines and wind radii, and GOES, Himawari and Meteosat infrared imagery for the clouds. EarthBrowser ingests the feed every few minutes. The hurricane season context above is from NOAA.