extratropical cyclone

A powerful extratropical cyclone over the North Atlantic Ocean on 20 March 2022; Greenland at the top left, and Iceland at the top right

Extratropical cyclones, sometimes called mid-latitude cyclones or wave cyclones are low-pressure areas which, along with anticyclones, drive the weather over much of the mid-latitudes of the Earth. Extratropical cyclones are capable of producing a range of weather conditions from wind, cloudiness and mild showers to severe hail, thunderstorms, blizzards, and tornadoes. This type of cyclone is thus defined as a large scale (synoptic) low pressure weather system occurring in the middle latitudes of the Earth. In contrast with tropical cyclones, extratropical cyclones produce rapid changes in temperature and dew point along broad lines called weather fronts, which are present about the center of the cyclone.