Do Typhoons Occur in the Indian Ocean?
No. The term "typhoon" applies only to tropical cyclones in the Northwest Pacific Ocean (west of the International Date Line, north of the equator).
Regional Names for Tropical Cyclones
| Basin | Name |
|---|
| Northwest Pacific | Typhoon |
| North Atlantic, Northeast Pacific | Hurricane |
| South Pacific, South Indian Ocean | Cyclone (or Tropical Cyclone) |
| North Indian Ocean (Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea) | Cyclone |
Indian Ocean Storms
They form, intensify, and behave like typhoons/hurricanes—but are called cyclones. Notable: 1999 Odisha Cyclone, 2008 Nargis, 2019 Fani, 2020 Amphan, 2023 Mocha.
Terminology is meteorological convention, not physics. All are rotating, warm-core low-pressure systems fueled by ocean heat.
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