<P> An Atlantic hurricane or tropical storm is a tropical cyclone that forms in the Atlantic Ocean, usually in the summer or fall . A hurricane differs from a cyclone or typhoon only on the basis of location . A hurricane is a storm that occurs in the Atlantic Ocean and northeastern Pacific Ocean, a typhoon occurs in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, and a cyclone occurs in the south Pacific or Indian Ocean . </P> <P> Tropical cyclones can be categorized by intensity . Tropical storms have one - minute maximum sustained winds of at least 39 mph (34 knots, 17 m / s, 63 km / h), while hurricanes have one - minute maximum sustained winds exceeding 74 mph (64 knots, 33 m / s, 119 km / h). Most North Atlantic tropical storms and hurricanes form between June 1 and November 30 . The United States National Hurricane Center monitors the basin and issues reports, watches, and warnings about tropical weather systems for the North Atlantic Basin as one of the Regional Specialized Meteorological Centers for tropical cyclones, as defined by the World Meteorological Organization . </P>

When do hurricanes occur in the atlantic ocean