What is a tropical storm?
A tropical storm is a very powerful weather system characterised by strong winds and heavy rainfall that can be disruptive and dangerous.
Every year, tropical storms—also called hurricanes, typhoons, or cyclones depending on where they occur—affect millions of children worldwide. In November 2025, Typhoon Kalmaegi struck the Philippines, forcing families to evacuate and leaving children without safe shelter, clean water, or access to school. In 2023, Cyclone Freddy battered Madagascar, and in 2022, Tropical Storm Nalgae devastated communities across the Philippines.
These powerful weather events are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change.
What Tropical Storms Are and Their Dangers
Tropical Storms can be life-threatening as well as cause serious hazards such as flooding, storm surge, high winds and tornadoes.
Initially high winds will cause major damage and are usually followed by heavy rains and floods and in some flat coastal areas, by tidal waves.
A tropical storm becomes classified when sustained wind speeds reach 63 km/h (39 mph). When winds exceed 119 km/h (74 mph), it's upgraded to a hurricane, typhoon, or cyclone—depending on where it forms.
Although they can often be predicted several days in advance, only a few hours’ notice can be given for accurate landfall predictions for cyclones.
At the end of September 2024, Hurricane John impacted the state of Guerrero, causing significant damage and suffering in communities that were still recovering from Hurricane Otis, which struck the region the previous October.
Lakshmy, 9, smiling while outside in the improvised dining area of the shelter where she is staying with her family. Hurricane Erick has caused families to lose their roofs due to the strong winds, leaving many people exposed to the elements.
Hurricane, Typhoon or Cyclone: What's the Difference?
They are the same type of storm – the name changes based on where they occur. Hurricanes originate in the Caribbean, typhoons originate from the China Sea and cyclones originate from the Indian ocean.
The intensity of tropical storms is measured using the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, which categorises storms from Category 1 (sustained winds of 119-153 km/h) to Category 5 (winds exceeding 252 km/h)—the most catastrophic level.
Tropical storms are known by different names depending on location:
Hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean and Northeast Pacific
Typhoons in the Northwest Pacific (affecting countries like the Philippines, China, and Japan)
Cyclones in the South Pacific and Indian Ocean (including Madagascar, Mozambique, and island nations)
How Tropical Storms Form and Why They're Getting Stronger
How tropical storms develop
Tropical storms form over warm ocean waters near the equator. When seawater heats to at least 26.5°C, it evaporates rapidly, creating warm, moist air that rises. As this air rises and cools, it forms clouds and thunderstorms. The Earth's rotation causes these storm systems to spin—creating the characteristic spiral shape of a hurricane or cyclone.
Climate change is making tropical storms more destructive. Warmer ocean temperatures provide more energy for storms to intensify, while rising sea levels increase the risk of devastating storm surges—walls of seawater pushed ashore by hurricane-force winds.
Research shows that while the total number of tropical storms may not be increasing dramatically, the proportion of major storms (Category 4 and 5) is rising. This means that when storms do strike, they're more likely to cause catastrophic damage—particularly for children living in vulnerable communities with inadequate housing and infrastructure.
Predicting and Tracking Storms
Storm tracks can be forecasted up to 72 hours. However, it is difficult to accurately predict where, when and at what strength a tropical cyclone will strike.
Tropical storm seasons vary by region:
Atlantic hurricane season: 1 June to 30 November
Northwest Pacific typhoon season: Year-round, with peak activity May to October
North Indian Ocean cyclone season: April to June and October to November
Early warning systems have improved significantly, giving communities precious time to evacuate and prepare. But for families living in remote areas or those without access to weather information, even a 72-hour warning may not be enough.
The Immediate Dangers
Major hazards that can be produced by a tropical cyclone are storm surges (an increase in the level of the sea), large amounts of rain which can lead to (flash) floods or landslides, and wind which can lead to structural damage and loss of life. Prominent causes of death and injury are electrocutions from downed power lines, flying debris, or blunt trauma from falling trees.
Why Children Are Especially Vulnerable
Young children are especially vulnerable to the immediate effects of a severe cyclone – they can be easily swept away in floods, killed by collapsing buildings or hit with lethal flying debris. Young children may not know how to swim yet or be too weak to fight against the tide. They may not know what to do if their homes are swept away, or where to go if they become lost in the chaos.
But the dangers don't end when the winds die down. In the days and weeks following a tropical storm, children face:
Displacement and separation. Families evacuate to temporary shelters, and in the chaos, children can become separated from parents and caregivers. When Tropical Storm Nalgae struck the Philippines in 2022, thousands of families were forced from their homes, with many children spending weeks in overcrowded evacuation centres.
Disease outbreaks. Contaminated water supplies and damaged sanitation systems create perfect conditions for cholera, typhoid, and other waterborne diseases to spread rapidly.
Disrupted education. Schools are damaged, destroyed, or used as emergency shelters. After Cyclone Idai hit Mozambique in 2019, countless children were out of school for months.
Loss of livelihoods. When crops are destroyed and fishing communities lose their boats, families struggle to afford food, medicine, and school fees—pushing children deeper into poverty.
Mental health impacts. The trauma of experiencing a disaster, losing a home, or witnessing death and destruction can affect children's psychological wellbeing for years.
Water, sanitation and health are major issues after cyclones and floods, and a speedy response is crucial to prevent the spread of diseases, such as cholera or malaria.
HOW DO SAVE THE CHILDREN HELP CHILDREN AFFECTED BY STORMS?
When a tropical storm strikes, every hour counts. Save the Children works before, during, and after disasters to protect children and help communities recover.
- Health: Deploy our innovative Emergency Health Unit, staffed by specialists from around the world. The initial team, made of up doctors and health experts, will focus preventing the spread of waterborne diseases like cholera and the provision of basic health services.
- Wash: Treat dirty water and run education sessions around the safe management of water to reduce the risk of vector-borne and diarrheal diseases and hygiene promotion.
- NFI: Distribute urgently needed items such as blankets, clothes, shelter supplies and hygiene and household kits, as often thousands of families lose everything they own – including their homes.
- Child Protection: Set up child and adolescent friendly spaces to provide displaced children with a safe and protected space and rehabilitate schools so children can continue their education.
- Food and Livelihood: Distribute cash vouchers and implement other food security programmes to help families support themselves and get their livelihoods back on track.
Monthly donations allows us to respond immediately when disaster strikes, reaching children in the critical first hours and days. In 2024, when Typhoon Kalmaegi hit the Philippines, our teams were on the ground quickly, providing emergency relief to affected families. In 2023, we pre-positioned supplies ahead of Cyclone Freddy in Madagascar, enabling us to reach children faster when the storm made landfall.
Cyclone Idai 2019 (Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi)
On 15 March 2019, Cyclone Idai hit central Mozambique, leaving a trail of devastation. Winds of up to 110mph swept across the country and destroyed homes, schools, hospitals and roads – leaving a trail of devastation. Entire communities were cut off submerged under filthy, fast-moving floodwater, and some families had to climb onto the roofs of their homes to escape. Crops were destroyed, livestock were lost, and many families were left with nothing. The Government of Mozambique estimated 1.85 million people were affected, including 900,000 children.
- We helped children to survive and recover in the aftermath of this catastrophe. Thanks to our support like yours, we:
- Reunited children with their families
- Trained staff and volunteers to help protect vulnerable children, especially girls, from abuse
- Provided over 12,000 people with essentials like tents, blankets, mosquito nets, buckets to collect water, and solar lights
- Set up 128 temporary learning spaces, which gave 28,968 children a positive and safe place to learn
- Set up 37 child-friendly spaces, where children could go to feel safe, play, and learn
- Screened children and pregnant and nursing women for malnutrition
- Helped 9,500 children catch up on education at our temporary learning spaces
- Gave families cash transfers to enable them to buy food and support the recovery of local markets
- Distributed food supplies to more than 285,557 people, including 164,467 children
Frequently asked questions about tropical storms
What's the difference between a tropical storm, hurricane, typhoon and cyclone?
They're all the same weather phenomenon—a rotating storm system with strong winds that forms over warm tropical waters. The name depends on location: hurricanes form in the Atlantic and Northeast Pacific, typhoons in the Northwest Pacific, and cyclones in the South Pacific and Indian Ocean.
Which countries are most affected by tropical storms?
The Philippines experiences the most tropical cyclones annually, followed by China, Japan, Mexico, and the United States. Island nations in the Caribbean and Pacific, along with coastal regions of India, Bangladesh, Madagascar, and Mozambique, are also frequently affected. Vulnerable communities in these regions—often those with the fewest resources—bear the brunt of tropical storm devastation.
What is storm surge and why is it so dangerous?
Storm surge is a rise in sea level caused by a tropical storm's winds pushing ocean water toward the shore. It can raise water levels by several metres, flooding coastal communities within minutes. Storm surge is often the deadliest aspect of a tropical storm, particularly for low-lying areas and small island nations. During Cyclone Idai, storm surge combined with heavy rainfall submerged entire communities in Mozambique.
How quickly can Save the Children respond when a tropical storm strikes?
Our monthly donations and pre-positioned supplies mean we can often respond within 24-48 hours of a disaster. We work with local partners who understand their communities and can act immediately. When warnings allow, we pre-position emergency supplies in areas likely to be affected—as we did ahead of Cyclone Freddy in Madagascar in 2023.
How can I help children affected by tropical storms?
Supporting organisations like Save the Children helps ensure rapid emergency response when disaster strikes. Our donations allows us to reach children immediately with life-saving assistance including shelter, clean water, medical care, and protection.
