A tropical cyclone whose maximum sustained winds reach or exceed a threshold of 119 km/h (74 mi/h). In the western North Pacific ocean it is known as a typhoon. Many tropical cyclones do not reach this wind strength. Cyclone Maximum surface winds in hurricanes range up to about 200 mi (320 km) per hour. However, much greater losses of life and property are attributable to inundation from hurricane tidal surges and riverine or flash flooding than from the direct impact of winds on structures. Tropical cyclones of hurricane strength occur in lower latitudes of all oceans except the South Atlantic and the eastern South Pacific, where combinations of cooler sea temperatures and prevailing winds whose velocities vary sharply with height prevent the establishment of a central warm core through a deep enough layer to sustain the hurricane wind system. In the United States, property losses resulting from hurricanes have climbed steadily because of the increasing number of seashore structures. However, the loss of life, which has been huge in many storms, has decreased markedly. This is due mainly to the fact that warnings, aided by a more complete surveillance from aircraft and satellite, and extensive programs of public education, have become more accurate and more effective. Improvements in methodology for hurricane prediction have reduced the error in pinpointing hurricane landfall and have greatly reduced the probability of larger errors in prediction. Tropical meteorology | 
