Extratropical cyclones, sometimes called mid-latitude cyclones or wave cyclones, are low-pressure areas which, along with the anticyclones of high-pressure areas, drive the weather over much of the Earth. Extratropical See more

There are two models of cyclone development and life cycles in common use: the Norwegian model and the Shapiro–Keyser model.
Norwegian cyclone model
Of the two theories on extratropical cyclone structure … See more

General
Extratropical cyclones can bring little rain and surface winds of 15–30 km/h (10–20 mph), or they can be dangerous with torrential rain and … See more

The term "cyclone" applies to numerous types of low pressure areas, one of which is the extratropical cyclone. The descriptor extratropical signifies that this type of cyclone generally occurs outside the tropics and in the middle latitudes of Earth between 30° and … See more

Surface pressure and wind distribution
The windfield of an extratropical cyclone constricts with distance in relation to surface level … See more

Extratropical cyclones are generally driven, or "steered", by deep westerly winds in a general west to east motion across both the … See more

The most intense extratropical cyclone on record was a cyclone in the Southern Ocean in October 2022. An analysis by the See more