Tropical cyclones regularly affect the coastlines of most of Earth's major bodies of water along the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans. Also known as hurricanes, typhoons, or other names, tropical cyclones have caused significant destruction and loss of human life, resulting in about 2 million deaths since the 19th century. Powerful cyclones that make landfall – moving from the ocean to over land – are some of the most impactful, although that is not always the case. An average of 86 tropical cyclones of tropical storm intensity form annually worldwide, with 47 reaching hurricane/typhoon strength, and 20 becoming intense tropical cyclones, super typhoons, or major hurricanes (at least of Category 3 intensity).

In Africa, tropical cyclones can originate from tropical waves generated over the Sahara Desert, or otherwise strike the Horn of Africa and Southern Africa. Cyclone Idai in March 2019 hit central Mozambique, becoming the deadliest tropical cyclone on record in Africa, with 1,302 fatalities, and damage estimated at US$2.2 billion. Réunion island, located east of Southern Africa, experiences some of the wettest tropical cyclones on record. In January 1980, Cyclone Hyacinthe produced of rain over 15 days, which was the largest rain total recorded from a tropical cyclone on record. In Asia, tropical cyclones from the Indian and Pacific oceans regularly affect some of the most populated countries on Earth. In 1970, a cyclone struck Bangladesh, then known as East Pakistan, producing a storm surge that killed at least 300,000 people; this made it the deadliest tropical cyclone on record. In October 2019, Typhoon Hagibis struck the Japanese island of Honshu and inflicted US$15 billion in damage, making it the costliest storm on record in Japan. The islands that comprise Oceania, from Australia to French Polynesia, are routinely affected by tropical cyclones. In Indonesia, a cyclone struck the island of Flores in April 1973, killing 1,653 people, making it the deadliest tropical cyclone recorded in the Southern Hemisphere.

Atlantic and Pacific hurricanes regularly affect North America. In the United States, hurricanes Katrina in 2005 and Harvey in 2017 are the country's costliest ever natural disasters, with monetary damage estimated at US$125 billion. Katrina struck Louisiana and destroyed much of the city of New Orleans, while Harvey caused significant flooding in southeastern Texas after it dropped of rainfall; this was the highest rainfall total on record in the country. Europe is rarely affected by tropical cyclones; however, the continent regularly encounters storms after they transitioned into extratropical cyclones. Only one tropical depression – Vince in 2005 – struck Spain, and only one subtropical cyclone – Subtropical Storm Alpha in 2020 – struck Portugal. Occasionally, there are tropical-like cyclones in the Mediterranean Sea. The northern portion of South America experiences occasional tropical cyclones, with 173 fatalities from Tropical Storm Bret in August 1993. The South Atlantic Ocean is generally inhospitable to the formation of a tropical storm. However, in March 2004, Hurricane Catarina struck southeastern Brazil as the first hurricane on record in the South Atlantic Ocean.

Background Traditionally, tropical cyclones form in seven basins. These include the north Atlantic Ocean, the eastern and western parts of the northern Pacific Ocean, the southwestern Pacific, the southwestern and southeastern Indian Oceans, and the northern Indian Ocean (Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal). The western Pacific is the most active and the north Indian the least active. An average of 86 tropical cyclones of tropical storm intensity form annually worldwide, with 47 reaching hurricane/typhoon strength, and 20 becoming intense tropical cyclones, super typhoons, or major hurricanes (at least of Category 3 intensity). Scientists initially believed that there were no South Atlantic tropical cyclones, an assertion proved false in 2004 when Cyclone Catarina struck southeastern Brazil. Occasionally, there are tropical-like cyclones in the Mediterranean Sea.

Since the 19th century, tropical cyclones have killed about 2 million people worldwide.

Effects by area

Africa Indian Ocean Horn of Africa

The Horn of Africa is a peninsula in eastern Africa that is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the south and east, as well as the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea to its northeast. The region includes Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia.

In November 2013, a deep depression struck Somalia and killed 162 people while also causing extensive livestock damage. In 2018, Cyclone Sagar traversed the Gulf of Aden and made landfall on Lughaya in northwestern Somaliland with winds of . Sagar killed 53 in Somalia, 2 in Djibouti, and 23 in eastern Ethiopia. In 2020, Cyclone Gati became the strongest landfalling cyclone in the Horn of Africa on record, making landfall in Somalia near Hafun with winds of . Gati killed at least 9 people in Somalia.

Southern Africa

About 5% of cyclones in the south-west Indian Ocean make landfall along the east coast of Southern Africa, mostly affecting Mozambique, Tanzania, and South Africa.

In April 1952, a cyclone moved ashore southeastern Tanzania near Lindi with maximum sustained winds estimated at ; this made the cyclone the strongest on record to strike the country. The cyclone left 34 fatalities in Tanzania. In January 1984, Tropical Storm Domoina struck southern Mozambique and later crossed into eastern South Africa. The storm killed 109 people in Mozambique, 73 people in Eswatini, and 60 people in South Africa.

2000 was the first year on record in which two tropical cyclones of hurricane intensity struck Mozambique. In February 2000, Cyclone Eline hit central Mozambique after weeks of flooding, and their combined effects killed around 700 people and caused an estimated $500 million (USD) in damage. Eline also killed 12 people in Zimbabwe and 21 people in South Africa. The storm was followed weeks later by Cyclone Hudah, which killed three people in Mozambique. The only other year to feature tropical cyclone landfalls in the country was 2019. In March 2019, Cyclone Idai hit central Mozambique, becoming the second-deadliest tropical cyclone in the Southern Hemisphere, and the deadliest on record in Africa. Across southern Africa, Idai killed 1,302 people – and affected more than 3 million others. Total damages from Idai across Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, and Malawi were estimated to be at least $2.2 billion (2019 USD). About a month later, Cyclone Kenneth became the strongest tropical cyclone on record to strike Mozambique, when it moved ashore just north of Pemba. The JTWC estimated landfall winds of . Kenneth killed 45 people in Mozambique, less than two months after Idai's deadly trek through the region.

Comoros and Mayotte

The archipelago of the Comoros and the French overseas territory of Mayotte are located in the southern Indian Ocean in the Mozambique Channel. Due to their low latitude, the islands are rarely affected by tropical cyclones. In January 1983, Cyclone Elinah moved through the Comoros with winds of at least . High waves killed 33 people and left US$23.1 million in damage. In April 2019, Cyclone Kenneth produced wind gusts of around , along with waves. Kenneth killed nine people and destroyed 4,482 homes, while damaging another 7,013. Damage was estimated at CF81.7 billion (US$188 million), equivalent to 16% of the country's GDP.

In April 1984, Cyclone Kamisy passed about south of Mayotte, producing wind gusts of . Kamisy killed one person, cut power for 48 hours, and destroyed the island's crops, with damage estimated at €25 million. In December 2024, Cyclone Chido destroyed much of Mayotte and caused moderate damage in Comoros.

Mascarene Islands

The Mascarene Islands consist of Mauritius, the Mauritian island of Rodrigues, and the French overseas territory of Réunion, along with other smaller islands in the region.

In April 1892, a late-season cyclone impacted Mauritius, leaving 1,200 fatalities and causing $9.75 million (1892 USD, $277 million 2020 USD) in damage; this was the deadliest cyclone to affect the region in recorded history. In February 1975, Cyclone Gervaise made landfall on Mauritius, producing the highest wind gust recorded on the island of at Mon Desert. Damage was estimated at US$200 million, and 10 people died as a result of the storm. In 1994, Cyclone Hollanda passed near Mauritius, leaving US$135 million in damage. Severe Tropical Storm Monique passed just northwest of Rodrigues in 1968, producing a pressure of on the island. Combined with a previous tropical cyclone that affected the island earlier that year, Cyclone Carmen, the storms caused at least US$5 million in damage.

The costliest tropical cyclone on record in Réunion was Cyclone Dina, which caused $190 million (2002 USD) in damage on the island, in addition to $97 million in Mauritius. Dina also produced the highest wind gust recorded on Réunion, at . The storm indirectly killed 10 people; 6 in Réunion and 4 in Mauritius. In January 1948, a tropical cyclone struck Réunion, causing 165 deaths; this is the deadliest tropical cyclone on record on the island.

Some of the wettest tropical cyclones on record have impacted Réunion, including the wettest tropical cyclone of all time, Cyclone Hyacinthe. In January 1980, Hyacinthe took an erratic track near the island, resulting in torrential rain falling across almost all of the island; nearly the entire island received over of rain. At Commerson Crater, Hyacinthe dropped of rain, the largest rain total recorded from a tropical cyclone on record. Overall, Hyacinthe caused $167 million (1980 USD) in damage, and killed 25 people. Other record-breaking rainfall events caused by tropical cyclones in Réunion include Cyclone Denise, which dropped of rain in 12 hours and in 24 hours at Foc Foc; an unnamed tropical cyclone in 1958 caused of rain to fall at Aurere; and Cyclone Gamede dropped of rain at Commerson Crater. Gamede caused an estimated $120 million (2007 USD) in damage in Réunion, and killed 4 people overall in the Mascarene Islands.

Madagascar On average, 1.5 tropical cyclones strike Madagascar each year, which is the most affected area in Africa. Each year, tropical cyclones cause an average of U$87 million in damage, resulting in $20 million in emergency costs. Most of the island is susceptible to flooding from tropical cyclones, with the northern portion of the country most likely to experience a significant storm surge. Toamasina, located in east-central Madagascar, is the most likely area to experience tropical cyclone damage.

In March 1927, a tropical cyclone struck eastern Madagascar, killing at least 500 people. On 7 March 2004, Cyclone Gafilo made landfall in northeastern Madagascar just south of Antalaha as a very intense tropical cyclone, making it one of the strongest cyclones on record to hit the country. Gafilo killed 363 people in the country and left $250 million in damage (2004 USD). Nationwide, Gafilo destroyed over 20,000 homes, leaving 304,000 people homeless, more than half near Antalaha. The ferry Sansom, sailing from Comoros to Mahajanga in northwestern Madagascar, capsized amid high waves, killing 117 of the 120 people on board.

Seychelles Due to its proximity to the equator, the Seychelles is rarely affected by tropical cyclones. In December 2006, Cyclone Bondo passed through the Farquhar Group of islands, producing damaging high winds and waves.

Northern Africa