| Tropical Cyclone | Extra tropical cyclone |
| It has thermal origin and derives its
energy from the latent heat of condensation |
It has dynamic origin involving coriolis force and movement of air masses. The energy of a temperate cyclone depends on the densities of air masses. |
| It is confined to 10o – 300 N and S of
equator. |
It is confined to 350 – 650 N and S of equator. It is more pronounced in Northern hemisphere due to greater temperature contrast. |
| It is limited to small area. Its typical
size is 100 – 500 kms in diameter. It varies with the strength of the cyclone. |
It covers a larger area. Its typical size is 300 – 2000 kms in diameter. |
| Doesn’t last for more than a week | It lasts for two to three weeks |
| It moves from east to west | It moves from west to east |