A powerful extratropical cyclone over the North Pacific Ocean in January 2017, with an eye-like feature and a long cold front extending to the tropics
Extratropical cyclones (also known as mid-latitude cyclones or wave cyclones) are low-pressure areas which, along with the anticyclones of high-pressure areas, drive the weather over much of the Earth. Extratropical cyclones are capable of producing anything from cloudiness and mild showers to heavy gales, thunderstorms, blizzards, and tornadoes. These types of cyclones are defined as large scale (synoptic) low pressure weather systems that occur within the middle latitudes of the Earth. In contrast with tropical cyclones, extratropical cyclones produce rapid changes in temperature and dew pointalong broad lines, called weather fronts, about the center of the cyclone.