Cyclone

A cyclone is like a giant whirling wind that can happen in the sky or on the sea. It's like a really big, spinning circle of wind that can sometimes be dangerous. Imagine throwing a piece of paper in the air and watching it spin around and around really fast. That's kind of what a cyclone looks like, but hundreds of times bigger.

Cyclones form when warm, moist air rises up from the surface of the ocean and begins to cool. When the rising air reaches a certain height, it starts to spin, and the spinning gets stronger as more and more air is drawn in. That's why you'll often hear that a cyclone is "powered" by warm water from the ocean.

Cyclones can do a lot of damage if they hit a populated area, knocking down trees and power lines, flooding homes, and causing landslides. People who live in areas prone to cyclones have to be prepared and make sure they have enough food, water, and shelter to ride out the storm.

Scientists are always working to better understand cyclones so they can predict when and where they will form and help people stay safe. With enough preparation and knowledge, we can stay safe when these big spinning storms come our way.