Totally Cooked: Episode 9 – Is climate change making storms & cyclones worse?

Cyclones, hurricanes, typhoons – whatever the name, these major storms are being reshaped by climate change. Warmer oceans and shifting atmospheric patterns are fuelling storms that are stronger, wetter, and potentially more destructive than ever before.

In this episode of Totally Cooked, hosts Professor Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick and Iain Strachan are joined by cyclone expert Professor Liz Ritchie-Tyo of Monash University and 21st Century Weather to explore the science behind these powerful systems. They unpack how cyclones form, why forecasting is so complex, and whether climate change is altering their frequency, intensity, or both.

The conversation also looks at the human side of the story – how vulnerable communities can prepare, and how planning and communication can reduce the risks of future storms. With the right knowledge and action, there’s hope for weathering the next cyclone season in a rapidly changing climate.

Show Notes

In this episode, we look at:

• The science behind storms and cyclones, from thunderstorms to massive rotating weather systems
• How tropical cyclones form, and why they don’t occur right on the equator
• The differences between tropical, extra-tropical, and subtropical cyclones
• Why storms have different names around the world, and how naming lists are chosen
• Cyclone categories: what they mean, what they miss, and the debate over a possible “Category 6”
• The impacts of landfall, from storm surge and destructive winds to flooding and tornadoes
• Australia’s most infamous cyclones, from Tracy to Debbie, and their lessons
• How scientists forecast cyclone tracks, and why it’s still such a challenge
• What climate change means for the future of storms: fewer overall, but stronger, wetter, and slower-moving cyclones
• How vulnerable communities can better prepare for extreme storms in a warming world

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Timestamps

00:00 – X-Men Banter & Storm Teaser
Iain and Sarah kick things off with a playful chat about their favourite X-Men characters, before landing on Halle Berry’s Storm as the perfect segue into today’s topic: fierce weather and tropical cyclones.

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00:58 – Introducing the Hosts & the Show
Sarah and Iain introduce themselves and Totally Cooked: The Climate & Weather Podcast, setting up this episode’s focus on storms and cyclones.

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01:26 – Episode Theme & Guest Introduction
The hosts outline the key questions: What are storms? What are cyclones? How is climate change affecting them? They welcome their guest, Professor Liz Ritchie-Tyo, a leading expert on tropical cyclones from Monash University and 21st Century Weather.

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02:25 – What is a Storm?
Liz explains the science of thunderstorms — from rising warm, moist air to cloud formation, ice crystals, lightning, and the ear-splitting thunder that follows. She even shares how researchers use rockets to trigger lightning.

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07:44 – From Thunderstorms to Cyclones
Liz connects thunderstorms to cyclones, describing cyclones as vast systems made up of hundreds of storms. The discussion turns to Trump’s infamous suggestion of “nuking hurricanes” — and why that would never work.

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11:51 – Liz’s Path Into Storm Science
Liz shares how she became fascinated with cyclones, from her early days at the Bureau of Meteorology to flying through a super typhoon on a NASA research mission — an experience that set the course of her career.

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19:01 – What is a Cyclone?
Liz defines cyclones as giant rotating wind vortices, and uses everyday analogies — from teacups to bathtubs — to explain vortex motion and the Coriolis force.

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21:11 – Ingredients for a Tropical Cyclone
Warm oceans, humidity, atmospheric circulation, and the Coriolis effect: Liz breaks down the conditions that allow cyclones to form, and why they don’t develop right on the equator.

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26:48 – Origins & Types of Cyclones
The hosts and Liz explore where the term “cyclone” comes from, then discuss the three main types: tropical, extra-tropical, and subtropical. Liz explains how they differ in structure and energy sources.

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32:46 – Naming Conventions & Storm Names
Why do we call them cyclones here, but hurricanes or typhoons elsewhere? Liz explains regional naming differences, the history of storm names, and how today’s naming lists are decided.

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37:22 – Cyclone Categories & Classification
Liz explains how cyclones are ranked from Category 1 to 5 based on wind speeds, why there’s no Category 6, and how classification doesn’t capture all the dangers like storm surge and flooding.

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40:31 – Impacts of Landfall
Storm surge, extreme winds, torrential rain, and even tornadoes — Liz outlines the multiple hazards when a cyclone makes landfall and why the damage can extend far inland.

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43:55 – Australia’s Most Infamous Cyclones
From Cyclone Tracy in 1974 to Debbie in 2017, the hosts and Liz reflect on the devastating impacts of Australia’s worst storms, including building code failures, flooding, and even banana shortages.

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53:05 – Forecasting & Cyclone Tracks
Why do cyclone paths wobble? Liz explains the forces that steer cyclones, the challenges of modelling, and why forecasting remains tricky despite major improvements.

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57:19 – Climate Change & Cyclones
Liz unpacks what the science shows so far: fewer cyclones overall, but stronger and wetter ones. She explains why a warmer world fuels more intense rainfall and how slowing cyclone movement adds to the risks.

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01:02:34 – Cyclones in a Warmer World
The team discusses whether cyclones could track further south in the future — even towards Sydney — and what changing ocean and atmospheric conditions could mean for storm patterns.
Wil ends with the tale of a snake in the bedroom, and the team wraps up with hopes for the next generation of climate science.

Further Reading

Australian Geographic – Australia’s most destructive cyclones: a timeline

BBC Future – Modern hurricanes are rewriting the rules of extreme storms

BBC News – Climate change and hurricanes

Bureau of Meteorology – Thunderstorms educational guide (PDF)

Bureau of Meteorology – Tropical cyclone knowledge centre

Cairns Regional Council – About Cyclones (PDF)

Emanuel, K. (2021). Response of global tropical cyclone activity to increasing CO₂: results from downscaling CMIP6 models. Journal of Climate, 34(1), 57–70. https://doi.org/10.1175/jcli-d-20-0367.1

Encyclopaedia Britannica – Storm

Encyclopaedia Britannica – Tropical cyclone: location and patterns

Esmaeili, M., & Barbato, M. (2021). Predictive model for hurricane wind hazard under changing climate conditions. Natural Hazards Review, 22(3). https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)nh.1527-6996.0000458

Fatichi, S., Ivanov, V., & Caporali, E. (2011). Simulation of future climate scenarios with a weather generator. Advances in Water Resources, 34(4), 448–467. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advwatres.2010.12.013

GPM NASA – Hurricane, cyclone, typhoon FAQ

James Cook University – Personal cyclone preparedness and safety procedures

Monash Lens – Hurricane Milton and climate change

NASA Earthdata – Tropical cyclones and climate change

National Geographic – Hurricanes, cyclones, and typhoons explained

NOAA – What’s the difference between a hurricane, typhoon, and cyclone?

NPR – Hurricanes and climate change

The Conversation – How cyclones get their names

UNDRR – Definition of extra-tropical cyclone

Wehner, M. (2021). Simulated changes in tropical cyclone size, accumulated cyclone energy and power dissipation index in a warmer climate. Oceans, 2(4), 688–699. https://doi.org/10.3390/oceans2040039

World Weather Attribution – Climate change key driver of catastrophic Hurricane Helene impacts

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Hosted by climate scientist Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick and science communicator Iain Strachan, Totally Cooked breaks down how human activity is changing the Earth’s systems—from our skies to our seas—and what we can do about it.

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